Seeing Brevard through new residents' eyes offers fresh look at our beautiful Space Coast
Why is it we don’t appreciate where we live until we see it through the eyes of someone else?
I rarely go to the beach unless we have company. I lived in Brevard for 25 years without visiting the Merritt island National Wildlife Refuge. I’d started taking rocket launches for granted.
Luckily, my complacency has gotten a kick in the rear, thanks to the arrival of Ann Maloney and Colley Charpentier, who recently moved to Cocoa Beach.
Ann, Colley and I worked together in the early 1990s at The Daily Comet in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and formed a friendship that survived the years and the miles between us.
Now they’re here, and I feel a responsibility to show them the magic that is the Space Coast.
Last week found us taking advantage of the glorious spring weather. Ann and Colley aren’t afraid of the impending summer swelter — people who grew up in Louisiana are well-versed in heat and humidity — but we all know to accept the gift of temperate temperatures while we can.
Our first stop was on Tuesday at the Wildlife Refuge, a beautiful foray into natural Florida.
As we hiked a short loop through pines and palms and orange trees, we stopped to listen for birdsong, then peered through the filtered light trying to find the source of the music.
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We marveled at the artistry of spider webs and laughed at scampering lizards.
On one of the driving loops, we watched anhingas, egrets and moorhens in the shimmering water, and wished we could warn them about the gators swimming nearby.
We realized it would take more than a day to fully explore the area, and retreated to BurgerRobs in downtown Titusville for lunch.
Friday, we boarded the Indian River Queen, docked at Whitley Bay in Cocoa Village.
The paddle-wheeler offers an ideal water view of Central Brevard.
Crydermans barbecue was served in the Queen’s dining room, singer Joe Calautti performed a variety of favorites on Penny’s Party Deck and the topside deck offered stunning vistas of the sunset, moonrise and homes nestled along the banks of the Indian River.
After dinner, we carried our cocktails to the top deck and settled in with friends. Couples danced below us, and Joe’s music drifted up and out over the water as the sun painted the sky pink and magenta.
The three-hour cruise ended too soon.
Our final adventure of the week found us at Deer Park Peaches on Sunday. Yes, technically, Deer Park is across the county line in Osceola, but it’s close enough for us to claim.
The farm is only open when the peaches are ripe, so keep an eye out on their Facebook page for hours.
We arrived at 10 a.m., just as peach- and blueberry-picking began. Cars already lined the narrow lane leading to the grove.
Families and couples meandered through trees heavy with fruit. Laughter and excited children’s voices floated on the air with the bees, butterflies and the sweet fragrance of fruit.
It felt like an escape to a kinder, simpler time.
We were hesitant to leave the field, even after our bags were filled with stone fruit and berries.
We discussed peach recipes and blueberry muffins as we drove to Hell ’n Blazes Brewing in downtown Melbourne for brunch.
It was a full week of fun and nature, but there’s so much left to do. Kayaking the Thousand Islands. Bioluminescence tours. Playing tourist at the Cocoa Beach Pier. Shows at local theaters. Restaurants to try. Street festivals to attend.
And that’s just the top of the paddle board.
What else do you think we should do? What are some of your favorite adventures? Share your ideas, and we can discover — and rediscover — the beauty and richness of Brevard together.
I can’t wait to staycation all summer long.
Email Suzy Fleming Leonard at suzy@321creates.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Time with new kids in town remind me: There's magic on the Space Coast
