Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Marybeth
Though everyone insists it’s not about the destination, but the journey, most of us admit we are hell-bent on getting where we’re going. That’s especially true for some members of our Triple-B team. Naturally! We’ve planned, schemed, made reservations, and packed way more stuff than we’ll need. We want to just be there, flip-flopping around our room, pouring arrival drinks.
Dogged and obdurate are great when you’re trying to get a work report out for your supervisor, but here is a quote I found “Be stubborn about your goals, and flexible about your methods” which works perfectly for today. Yes, you want to arrive at that fervently-planned-for vacation spot, but ease up and take a look around as you drive (the method, in case my implication is a little foggy.) What places have turned your head out that car window that you wished you’d said “Hey, let’s stop here for lunch!” but didn’t?
And also, no offense to that vacation destination that has been on your List for years, but “somewhere better” isn’t always all the travel articles promise it will be! When we’ve (sometimes a tiny bit reluctantly) stopped at a cool little spot on our way to a better-known town, we find our heart rates have calmed and our steps slow a little. We’ll get there eventually. And in the meantime we’ve got a great recommendation for everyone else.
Palm Bay
Located just 4 miles south of Melbourne, Florida, and about 20 minutes north of Sebastian, Palm Bay has a riverfront presence but also stretches west and south and includes many public parks (I found 36! That includes a paintball park… does that count?) Some have intriguing names – Castaways Point Park, Grapefruit Trail – but the best known is Turkey Creek Sanctuary, with 130 acres of biodiversity and natural resources. Explore via the 1.85 mile boardwalk, or the mountain bike trail, jogging trails, or put your kayak or canoe in at the kayak launch on Briar Creek Blvd.
Another gem of Palm Bay is the Ted Moorhead Lagoon House, run by the Marine Resources Council. Serving as the Welcome Center for the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway, the Lagoon House is a wonderful venue for school field trips, workshops, and meetings. You’ll see educational exhibits, lagoon-species tanks, library, gift shop, boardwalk, and a nature trail with a mangrove restoration project in action.
Now onto that lunch stop!
Lazy Turtle Riverfront Grill & Tiki Bar
Lazy Turtle is a fun addition to the waterfront bar and restaurant scene in Brevard County. For years the site was an Italian restaurant, I believe, and I remember hoping it looked better from the riverfront than it did from the highway. Italian tiki bar perhaps? Not important now, because this place is now tiki bar paradise, with two outdoor patios, two tiki bars, two indoor dining rooms, Happy Hour specials Mon-Thurs 3-6 pm, Sunday brunch with bottomless Mimosas, and live music.
Choose from Charred Buffalo Cauliflower Bits, Crispy Caribbean Lamb Lollipops, Peruvian Snapper & Shrimp Ceviche, Coconut Shrimp to name a few appetizers (not just your typical bar food!) There are many seafood and meat/chicken entree options, sushi, sandwiches, salads, burgers and tacos. Our Lazy Conch Fritters were outstanding!
The Shack Riverside Restaurant & Tiki Bar
The Shack has been around for a lifetime – owned by the same people for 46 years! Hurricane Irma devastated the structure in 2017 but The Shack came back, bigger and better – if you’d visited in 2015 (like we did) and then came back recently, you’d feel like you had come to the wrong restaurant. Make that the right one, because even if you’d messed up the address (and your friends were waiting for you somewhere else) you’d stay because it is so awesome.
It’s not polite to ask what things cost but WOW. The Shack’s outdoor renovation/giant addition is travel magazine-worthy. With multiple spots to sit outside, mostly undercover or under sun sails, you might not visit the dining areas inside but they’re beautiful as well. The interiors have that old-world Florida feeling, with clubby wood paneling reminiscent of your grandfather telling stories around a cigar while sipping fine whiskey.
Happy Hour is Monday through Friday 11-6. Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s on Saturday and Sunday 11-2. Menu items include Grouper Bites, classic cheeseburger, Shrimp Creole, burgers, wraps, salads, and multiple meat-lovers options, pasta, and fried entrees. Our Coconut Shrimp were giant and delicious.
Malabar
Besides being fun to say (for some reason I say it in my best villain voice, twisting my mustache) Malabar is a small town with big opportunities for exploring nature by trails and greenways. Proudly recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Greenways & Trails System, Malabar is a Florida Trails Town. Part of this system are the Cameron Wildlife Preserve, Malabar Scrub Sanctuary East and West, Sand Hill Trail Head, and Jordan Scrub Sanctuary.
Of course all of this activity leads us to lunch!
Since 1987 Malabar Mo’s has been entertaining guests with live music Thursday through Sunday, some of the best wings you’ve ever tasted plus much more to choose from for your meal, plenty of spots to hang out inside or out, upstairs or down, or out back. With a view of and breezes from the river and shaded by huge trees, you’re going to want to stay awhile. I just read that watching the traffic on Rt. 1 is a big Florida locals’ pastime. Who knew? Do this at Malabar Mo’s.
Appetizers include Fried Pickle Chips, Raw Ahi Tuna Nachos, and Mo Famous Jumbo Wings. Sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers and platters – my husband always gets the Mahi Mahi BLT. All delicious – but you must try those wings! Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, 2-6
Don’t let the name fool you – yes, it’s comfort food, but as their tagline says, “with a flair.” This restaurant has a special-occasion vibe and will not disappoint. It’s not your stop-in-on-your-way-to Lowes-in-your-paint-spattered-cut-offs kind of establishment. The menu is quite extensive – we always advise you to view menus online before visiting, to help save time and to get the overall vibe. Some appetizer choices are Baked Brie, Smoked Salmon & Caviar, Tuna Tataki, and Conch Fritters For lunch or dinner you can choose from salads, soups, sandwiches, Land Fare, Garden Fare, Sea Fare. There are freshly made desserts to choose from. Each meal is individually prepared by the chefs in the open kitchen.
Yellow Dog Café has won multiple awards, including Best Restaurant 2022 by Space Coast Living Magazine. Often in the press, we’ve seen articles on Florida Travel + Life, Home Town News Brevard, and Visit Space Coast Florida.
Locally owned since 1997, Yellow Dog Café’s recipes became so popular that Chef/owner Stuart Borton released his own cookbook, available through their website.
Sit outside with gorgeous river views or indoors in the modern-classic steak house atmosphere.
What are your favorite fun stops on your way to somewhere (not necessarily) better? We want to make this a regular column, because there are so many stops to explore!
Upper left photo via pexels.com – no attribution necessary but we like to give credit where credit is certainly due: Thank you to photographer Mathias P. R. Reding
