HISTORY
East Coast of Florida is composed of five counties: Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie.
Brevard County:
It was said that, in 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon landed on the shores of the present day Brevard County. Mosquito County came to existence while the state was had yet been a territory. On other maps, it has been integrated in the unoffical “Leigh Read” county around 1839 to 1845. In 1844, the Saint Lucia county was established, and the name was changed to Brevard County in 1855 in tribute to George Washington Brevard, Florida State Controller from 1854 to 1860. Space Coast is the nickname attributed to Brevard County.
Volusia County:
This county was named for the Volusian port. This country was established in 1854. The etymology of the word “Volusia” was uncertain.
Indian River:
The Indian River County, which got its name from the Indian River Lagoon, was established in 1925.
Okeechobee:
The county, which was established in 1917, got its name from the Lake Okeechobee. The name was derived from Hitchiti words oki (water) and chubi (big).
St. Lucie:
The county got its name from St. Lucie of Syracuse, a Roman Catholic martyr. The county was established in 1844.
GETTING THERE
By plane:
*Orlando International Airport – the ideal airport for visitors wanting to go to Disney World
*Orlando-Sanford International Airport
*Daytona Beach International Airport
*Melbourne International Airport
By bus:
* Greyhound bus – connected with other important cities in the United States.
WEATHER
The high average temperature in the East Coast is 90°F, usually on July. Average low temperature is around 46°F-50°F, usually on January.
WHAT TO WEAR
During summer months, it is advisable to wear light-colored and cool clothing, especially those made from cotton. Women can wear skirts and cool sundresses. Flip flops are definitely something to bring. If you plan to stay outdoors for longer hours, bring along a hat, a pair of shades for eye protection, and apply a generous amount of sunblock with a high SPF, applying every 2 to 3 hours.
When on business meetings, wear appropriate clothing made of light-colored and cool materials. For night outs, it is advisable to wear appropriate outfits.
During the rainy and cold seasons, be sure to have a jacket or sweatshirt.
ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS
Since the region is composed of different counties, different attractions and beaches are available for tourists to enjoy.
Some of the beaches located in this region are:
*Daytona Beach
*Cocoa Beach
*Bethune Beach
*Fernandina Beach
*Flagler Beach
*Playalinda Beach
*Summer Beach
*Indialantic Beach
*Melbourne Beach
Other attractions include:
*Kennedy Space Center
SR 405, Kennedy Space Center, FL, 32899
(866) 737-5235
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
*Brevard Zoo
8225 North Wickhan Road
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 254-9453
*Ron Jon Surf Shop
4151 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 799-8888
http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/
*Animal Adventures
5001 SW Rucks Dairy Road Okeechobee, FL 34974
(863) 467-1616
http://animaladventureslive.com
*Wagon Wheel Horse Farm Day Rides
1225 NE 42nd Terrace Okeechobee, FL 34972
(863) 634-6397
http://www.wagonwheelhorsefarm.com
m@wagonwheelhorsefarm.com
*Wildlife Expedition
2355 SW 28th Street # 30d, Okeechobee, FL 34974
(863) 634-2969
*Thornberry Concessions Inc
3975 Highway 441 SE, Okeechobee, Florida 34974-7219
(863) 763-3055
*Florida Wines of Daytona
1426 S. Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 253-0332
http://www.ormondbeachwinery.com
*Richard Petty Driving Experience
1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(407) 939-0130, 1-800-Be Petty
Fax: (407) 939-0137
*Daytona 500 Experience
1801 West International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (Formerly Daytona USA)
(386) 681-6800
*Motorized Kayak Adventures
2116 Old Dixie Hwy Fort Pierce, FL 34953
(772) 380-6815
http://www.motorizedkayakadventures.com
*Fort Pierce Lady Deep Sea Fishing
125 Fishermans Wharf
Harbortown Marina Fort Pierce, FL 34946
(772) 466-4848
*Al’s Family Farms
2001 N Kings Hwy Fort Pierce, FL 34951
1-800-544-3366
(772) 460-0556
*Earl’s Hideaway Lounge & Tiki Bar
1405 Indian River Drive Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-5700
*Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum
1322 U.S. Highway One Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-9874
FISHING
The seas in East Coast are not only familiar to surfers and beach lovers. This is also a good spot for anglers to catch fish. Below are the list of those fishes.
amberjack
barracuda
bonito
cobia
dolphin
grouper
mackerel
marlin
shark
snapper
wahoo
yellowfin tuna
BEST MONTHS TO FISH
Listed are the best months when anglers can catch a whole lot of fish in the East Coast.
amberjack – February to April, November to December
barracuda – whole year round
bonito – January to March, September to December
cobia – January to April, November to December
dolphin – January to April, June to July, December
grouper – January to March, November to December
mackerel – April to May, October to December
marlin – April to August
shark – July to September
snapper – January to April, November to December
wahoo – November to January, May to June
yellowfin tuna – April to August
WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR WHEN FISHING
The following are the most appropriate outfit when going for a fish:
- hat
- sunglasses
- light long sleeves, cool light-colored cotton outfits
- jacket or other rain gear
- boat shoes
- sun screen with high SPF
The following should also be in your A-list:
- camera
- cooler
- water or your preferred beverages
- food
- medicine kit
ROOM & ACCOMMODATION
Tourists come to enjoy in any way they can here in the East Coast of Florida—going to the beach, going on educational tours, or even fishing. After a day’s expedition, they may want to lounge somewhere relaxing and comfortable. Listed are some of the accomodations to choose from.
*Best Western Inn Cocoa
4225 West King Street
Cocoa, FL 32926
Telephone: (321) 632-1065
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
Fax: (321) 631-3302
*Canaveral Towers Condominiums
7520 Ridgewood Avenue
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Telephone: (321) 784-1130
*Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Kennedy Space Center
3455 Cheney Highway
Titusville, FL 32780
Telephone: (321) 269-9100
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
Fax: (321) 383-4674
*Plaza Travel Inn
621 E Sugarland Hwy, Clewiston, FL 33440
863-983-5181
*Big Cypress Campground
HC 61 (PO Box 54 A), Clewiston, FL 33440
Voice: (863) 983-1330
Fax: (863) 983-3122
*Crooked Hook RV Resort
51700 US 27 Clewiston, FL 33440
Voice: (863) 983-7112
Fax: (863) 983-3022
E-mail: crhrv@onearrow.net
*Royal Holiday Beach Motel
3717 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 761-5984
www.royalholidaybeachmotel.com
*Shoreline All Suites Inn
2435 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 252-1692
*Nautilus Inn
1515 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 254-8600
*Sandhurst Hotel & Suites
1230 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949
(772) 595-0711
*La Quinta Inn Suites Fort Pierce
2655 Crossroads Parkway,
Fort Pierce, FL 34945
(772) 828-4199
WHERE TO DINE
In the region are choices of restaurants that tourists may want to try after a day of spending time outdoors. Here are some of those.
*Beef O’ Brady’s
4711 Babcock Street
Palm Bay, FL 32906
Telephone: (321) 724-9462, Fax: (321) 724-4270
*Boston Market
2450 Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
Telephone: (321) 254-6549
*Makoto
4700 Babcock Street Northeast
Palm Bay, FL 32905
Telephone: (321) 984-3587
*Brahma Bull Restaurant
2405 US Highway 441 SE, Okeechobee, FL
(863) 467-0050
*Speckled Perch Steakhouse
105 Highway 98 N, Okeechobee, FL
(863) 763-9983
*Clock Family Restaurant
1111 South Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee, FL
(863) 467-2224
*Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant
137 West International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 492-7935
*The Cellar
220 Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 258-0011
*Zen Bistro
112 Bay St, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 248-3071
*12A Buoy
22 Fisherman’s Wharf, Seaway Drive and Indian River Drive,
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
(772) 672-4524
*Mangrove Mattie’s
1640 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34949-3156
(561) 466-1044
*Mo-Bay Grill
13421 US Highway 1, Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-4223
*River Grille
480 US Highway 1, River Park Plaza,
Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-1412