Explore Melbourne Beach

HEADER.MELBOURNE BEACH-SPESSARD HOLLAND NORTH BEACH PARK 3 copyEXPLORE MELBOURNE BEACH
MELBOURNE BEACH and its surrounding community beach parks are located on a barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.

Along this extraordinary stretch of A1A, you’ll find approximately 10 miles of unspoiled beaches including Melbourne Beach, Spessard Holland South Beach Park, and Spessard Holland North Beach Park.

These beach parks offer seasonal lifeguards, a 100’ dune boardwalk (South Beach Park), pavilions, showers, restrooms, and dune crossovers that provide access for beachgoers of all ages. And whether you’re into wildlife viewing, walking, jogging, fantastic surfing, or swimming you’ll find much to do here.

Rather be golfing? Then it might be time to explore the Spessard Holland Golf Course. Designed by Palmer Enterprises, this stretched executive 18-hole course is a golfer’s haven nestled between the passing sails on the lagoon to the west and the gorgeous waters of the Atlantic on the east; this facility is complete with a clubhouse, golf shop, tournaments, events, and fundraisers.

When your day in the sun comes to an end, be sure to check out the great local restaurants. And at the end of the day whether you’re looking for a hotel, motel, or vacation rental to call home during your stay, you’ll discover why visitors from around the corner and around the globe, find Melbourne Beach a great place to relax and unwind. If you’re interested in reading more about the recent happenings, here’s a link to our Melbourne Beach Journal (blog) page.

Don’t Miss These…

 

MELBOURNE BEACH 16OCEAN PARK: In 1883, Major Cyrus Graves began buying government land comprising present-day Melbourne Beach for the sum of $1.25 an acre. Bear in mind, no streets of any kind would be built for another 40 years so unless one was willing to hack their way through the brush, this extraordinary view of Melbourne Beach would likely have been masked to all except a determined few. And so to all the engineers and skilled laborers who have made it SO much easier for a majority of us to explore (without a machete); cheers and thank you! If you decide to make your way here to explore, find Ocean Park  on Atlantic Street (near the corner of Ocean Avenue & A1A), Melbourne Beach, 32951.

 

 

MELBOURNE-PARADISE BEACH 1PARADISE BEACH: According to the City’s website (melbourneflorida.org) the area formerly known as “Crane Creek” became the “Village of Melbourne” on the morning of December 22, 1888. Credited with suggesting the Melbourne name was Mrs. R.W. Goode and although there is more than one version of how the naming was accomplished, it appears that straws representing various names were drawn and the “Melbourne” straw was the one drawn. This is a pic of the appropriately named Paradise Beach and if you decide to come here and explore it for yourself, the address is 113 Paradise Blvd, Melbourne, 32903.

 

 

PARADISE BEACH: From MelbourneBeachFL.org we learned that during the winter of 1888-1889 present day Ocean Avenue, which runs east-west from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River, was first excavated and cleared by burning huge palmetto brush piles on the spot. A pier, nearly identical to the present day one was constructed and a railroad soon ran the length of Ocean Avenue and out onto the pier. The Melbourne and Atlantic Railroad, pointing straight as an arrow east and west along Ocean Avenue, ran one modest push-car. While it’s hard for us to wrap our brains around, at the time Melbourne Beach was the only access to the ocean for many miles in either direction unless you could hack your way through the brush as no streets of any kind were built on the island until incorporation in 1923. We shot this pic on spectacular Paradise Beach and if you want to make your way here and explore, head to 2301 N. Highway A1A, 32903.

 

VERO BEACH-SEBASTIAN INLET STATE PARK 1SEBASTIAN INLET: Sebastian Inlet is a man-made cut through the barrier island. This cut through connects the Atlantic Ocean with one of the most bio-diverse estuaries in the world, the Indian River Lagoon (we needed to look up the word ‘estuary’ – it’s where an ocean tide meets a river current). The Main Park Entrance and northern rec area address is 9700 South Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951. We chose to explore the southern rec area (it was WAY less crowded and equally stunning) if you want to get to the southern area, the address is 14251 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, 32963. Since it’s a State Park there are fees to get in; $8 for vehicles (up to 8 people), $4 individual (in a vehicle), $2 walkers/bicyclists, or buy an annual pass; any route you choose it’s quite a bargain for a truly memorable place to spend the day, with parking, concessions, and tidy restroom facilities!

 

MELBOURNE BEACH-SPESSARD HOLLAND NORTH BEACH PARK 3BSPESSARD HOLLAND SOUTH BEACH PARK: For all those who responsibly enjoy beach cocktails, there’s a fantastic stretch of beach called Spessard Holland South Beach Park (there’s a North Beach Park too) where we verified via their website that adult beverages are actually permitted in designated areas – if you decide to check it out the address is 2545 Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach 32951; cheers!

 

 

07-05 MELBOURNE BEACHJUAN PONCE DE LEON LANDING: From multiple sources we learned that Juan Ponce de León was the first Westerner to reach Florida. Hearing tales of a wonderfully rich island called Bimini which was thought to be north of Cuba, Juan Ponce de León secured a commission in 1512 to conquer and colonize the land. On March 3, 1513 leaving Puerto Rico with three vessels, he sailed north west through the Bahamas sighting the Florida peninsula which he took to be an island. Probably because his arrival in Florida occurred at the time of the Easter feast (Pascua Florida), when Juan Ponce de León came ashore on April 2, 1513 he named the land which he claimed for Spain “La Florida”. This pic was taken on spectacular Melbourne Beach and if you want to make your way to the Ponce de León Landing, now a historical site, head to 4005 Highway A1A, 32951.

 



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