Space and speed, and the attractions they inspire–the Kennedy Space Center and Daytona International Speedway–are the dynamic duo of Central East Florida and they keep visitors pouring into this region set directly east of Orlando and south of St. Augustine.
But there’s more in the tank here than rocket launches and NASCAR. Nature preserves large and small, including Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, span the coastline, introducing visitors to wading birds, shorebirds, raptors, alligators, manatees and sea turtles.
Historical sites point the way back to the colonial era and into the distant timelines of Native America. Breezy restaurants and cafes celebrate local flavor while offbeat surf shops prepare visitors for another of the region’s favorite pastimes.
Following are a few rare finds from the Space Coast and Daytona areas.
Dunn’s Attic & Auction House
You never know what you’re going to see at Dunn’s Attic & Auction House in Ormond Beach, featuring a 12,000-square-foot showroom packed with jewelry, furniture, handmade gifts and collectibles of every kind.
“It’s a very high-end consignment store,” says Wes Dunn, owner of the venue. “We have things coming and going all the time, so it’s a real treasure hunt.”
But don’t shop and run; stay for live music and a cafe serving more than 70 different flavors of old-fashioned sodas, along with frequent art shows and other displays.
“It’s the type of place where people can literally spend hours,” Dunn says.
It might go that long should groups decide to rent the 3,000-square-foot auction room, which has space for 250 chairs.
“We host a lot of different functions and have a catering service as well,” Dunn says.
The Canaveral Lock
Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 to get vessels safely from the Banana River to Port Canaveral and the Atlantic Ocean, the Canaveral Lock was built on a larger-than-usual scale to allow passage of the Saturn Rocket’s first stage.
Today, it takes 20 to 30 minutes for boats to navigate the lock, but when they do, observers are treated to the sight of birds coming along for the ride, as water is released from the ocean side to the Banana River side and vice versa.
“As the locks open it creates a little waterfall, and the birds and manatees are right there,” says Bonnie King, deputy director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. “Have you ever seen a pelican smile? They know they’re going to have fun, riding that water down.”
Foodie Finds
The Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill might not stay hidden for much longer. Overlooking scenic Ponce Inlet across from the landmark Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, this authentic Florida eatery serves a varied menu of seafood, steaks and pasta, though it is in the process of revamping its banquet menus, says Danielle Weber, banquet manager at the restaurant.
Also for groups? An enclosed area that can host up to 40 for sit-down dinners or up to 75 for cocktail parties, and plenty of outdoor space with incredible waterfront views.
“It’s kind of nice to be outside on the water with live music in the background,” Weber says.
In fact, an event at Hidden Treasures can cap a full or half day of fun at Ponce Inlet, home to fishing charters, Jet-skiing and a marine science center.
“The restaurant is right in the mix of it,” Weber says.
Meanwhile just up the road to the north, sister restaurant Hidden Treasure Bar & Grill is set on Rose Bay in Port Orange and features a tiki bar with a fire pit that is used for events and parties.
If you’re looking for something even more hidden away, try the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp in Cocoa, where airboat rides on the St. Johns River provide the entertainment, while dining specialties include gator tail, frogs’ legs, turtle and catfish. A back deck is available for group shindigs.
At Home with History
The genteel Victorian era comes into focus at the Pritchard House in Titusville, built for Captain James Pritchard in 1891 and inhabited by Pritchard family descendants until it was purchased by Brevard County in 2005.
The meticulously restored Queen Anne home features period furnishings, accessories and art, with tours by appointment as well as public Family History Gardens that are open daily.
The house also welcomes group events, accommodating about 15 in the dining room and close to 50 in an outdoor area near a stately oak tree encircled by a 24-person bench.
“We also offer a wrap-around porch, where we hold our teas,” says Sandi Meyers, secretary of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation, which operates Pritchard House. “We can easily seat 24 there.”
Treasure Hunting
At the turn of the millennium, geocaching updated the traditional treasure hunt with GPS navigation units, while the recent proliferation of smart phones with built-in GPS advanced the popular activity even further.
But the Space Coast takes it to another level with what is touted as the country’s first walk-in geocaching store, Space Coast Geocaching, located on Merritt Island. Stocked with the paraphernalia of the game–including containers, geocoins, hiking sticks and backpacks–the store makes a convenient base point if you want to set up a hunt for attendees.
“We’d start off with an explanation of what geocaching is, then we’d give them a taste of what it’s like,” says Dale Swinehart, owner of the company. “At minimum, you’d want 45 minutes and probably a maximum of two or three hours.”
Swinehart says groups can opt to find geocaches already stashed throughout the Space Coast, or he can work with the planner to customize the hunt.
“We’ll go in the morning and hide temporary caches, then take people out in groups of four or five,” he says. “Once they find them, they’ll get a geocoin or something like that.”
