Working our way north - Vero Beach, FL to Palm Coast, FL

Vero Beach, FL   

Vero Beach is also known in the local Florida boating community as Velcro Beach because many boaters arrive here and never seem to leave.

As far as marina facilities go, this Suntex Marina in Vero Beach has been the most posh.  We used every amenity while we visited.  The pool was heated and the water falls were soothing to listen to.  The Captain's Lounge, RR/showers/laundry facilities were top notch.  They even had complimentary bikes that we used to ride to Publix for groceries and for pleasure to ride around the beautiful golf course community.

Brent watched part of the Masters Golf Tournament in the Captain's Lounge. They also provide free popcorn there every afternoon!

The marina is tucked inside a residential community. Some homes and several condos have views directly over the marina. Many of the larger homes (and many condos) have views of the golf courses.

Brent trying to ride a bike while looking back at me (and not hit something in front of him).

Going grocery shopping above.

Nice scenery for a bike ride!

The construction method of the homes we've seen while in Florida are just like the ones pictured here. The outside walls are all constructed of cinder blocks while the interior walls use metal framing. Apparently this allows the structure to better endure hurricane winds. The exteriors are then finished with stucco, stone or brick (or any combination of the three).

This was actually Vero Beach on the Atlantic side. Our marina was more inland off the ICW.

Nice little restaurant we ate at on the beach below.

After lunch.

A1A goes all the way back to Key West.

This was our view as we were leaving the Vero Beach marina at 7am when the water was so still and no one else was around. We were bound for Cocoa Village to spend the next couple of days.

Cocoa Village, FL

Another nice Captain's lounge at Cocoa Village Marina.

We couldn't pass this restaurant up considering the name.  Huge portions and great pizza.  Even had some left over for the next day.

Brent had the Dragon's Milk (11% alcohol). Two was the limit.

This is looking off the deck at Ryan's restaurant out to the mooring field.

ANOTHER great donut shop!! These cities are killing me!

Cocoa Village (unlike Cocoa Beach) is lined with quaint little streets filled with local artisan shops and patio cafes. It is very charming. This photo outside one of the shops was cute.

Clearly from the photo below, we were very welcome in the shops.

This was insane....first of all there was a storm about to hit, second look at what he was doing! (No that's not Brent)

Here's the storm I mentioned. We took the photo from the safety of the Captain's Lounge.

Well this photo below brought back fond memories of the TV show I used to watch in the early 70s. The show was set in Cocoa Beach where, as I recall, Jeannie's bottle was found.

Of course, there is I Dream of Jeannie Lane and I Dream of Jeannie Park.

As we did in Vero Beach, we visited Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic side (no Genie bottle in sight).

Unlike Cocoa Village, Cocoa Beach is filled with chain stores, Tiki/Beach Bars and discount beach supply shops.

 

This Ron Jon shop was (by far) the largest. It was like a Bass Pro Shop back in Texas. Two levels with (of course) a water feature on the first floor.

Pretty impressive entrance to the Ron Jon above.

Another Tiki/Beach Bar below. But always a great view!

Yes, it was chilly that day (jacket required - for me at least).

As you can see in the picture below, it was a yellow flag day (high winds) and, as such, another reason we didn't travel that day.

Welcome to New Smyrna, FL

New Smyrna also has a nice little downtown with many restaurant options. On the day we visited it was National Grilled Cheese Day (see board below posted in the Harbor Master's office window).

Pelicans, pelicans everywhere!!

This is Tom Goldman and his bagpipes.  We first met Tom and Jody at the Looper Rendezvous in October in Alabama.  They passed us on our way to New Smyrna and we didn't know who they were but then ended up pulling into the same marina right next to them later that day. 

We introduced ourselves and as we visited I knew we had met them earlier.  They started their Loop 2 weeks ago from Tampa Bay.  Tom played the bagpipes at the Rendezvous each night and he played at the marina that evening right in front of our boat! There was also a labradoodle on the another boat and she howled right along with his playing.

We see all kinds of things like this sunken sailboat as we passed beneath a bridge below!!

The photo below reminded us so much of Rockport, TX. The oak trees were permanently swept back from the strong winds blowing onshore.

We finally saw our first Manatees on our way to New Smyrna.  It was about time since we have been going through no wake zones all through FL for the stinkin things.  They are quite ugly. We probably saw over 20 of them between the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon.

We've arrived in Palm Coast, FL and the first thing we've learned to check lately is the Tide Charts. The tides are beginning to really be an issue. As we travel through northern Florida and into Georgia the tides can be as much as 8 feet. That's crazy!

European Village in Palm Coast filled with restaurants and little shops and apartments on the upper floors.

This little village was about a 7 minute walk from our marina and was a great place to spend the one evening we were visiting the town before we moved on to St. Augustine.