Last Updated on September 7, 2020 by Marybeth
True story: we know kids who grew up in this area who call it Mel-Boring Beach. While this secretly makes me want to grab them by their shirt fronts and push my face up close to theirs (which I would never do, especially during Covid) I’m thinking that no matter where we all grew up, a good number of us just couldn’t wait to get out of there and experience something that looked better.
But that’s those kids. Seen from their viewpoint, living here, putting up with annoying siblings and parents who were still wearing mom/dad jeans (before they became hip again.) Seemingly nothing to do but go to the beach.
Small town lassitude.
But vacationing here! When you’re traveling to a beach town in Florida for vacation, what are you seeking? Especially during Covid-19? Long lines? Sidewalks so crowded with people that you’re forced to step into treacherous traffic? Restaurant waits of 40 minutes so you can finally sit inside just feet from chancy-looking strangers?
So, ‘boring’ for those kids, could perhaps be translated into ‘mellow’ for us. Amiable, breezy. Safe.
A swath of coastline dotted with very few beach blankets, oiled bodies, screaming children or fractious teenagers. Shimmering mornings that force you (happily) out of bed to go explore or at least go get carry-out coffee from a local shop (along with a donut you finish before you get back to your hotel room so no one judges.) Balmy evening swims in the ocean that right now (almost September!) is so temperate you won’t want to get out.
Many of us are not traveling at this time. (We aren’t; we have a new – our first! I may have mentioned her a time or two already! – grandchild, so are being super careful and only venturing out for groceries right now.) We can all still dream and plan though, and hope that soon life will look somewhat like it used to. If you do decide to travel, we’re sure you will be abiding by all the CDC safety guidelines, and in this and all articles we write during Covid, we will only recommend places we’re certain are doing the same.
I couldn’t find any scurrilous history related to Melbourne Beach. No pirates, brothels-turned-dentist-offices, whiskey stills in the woods. No Florida Man of yore stories. Plus a friend once told me people hate reading about history. When we can deliver some good tales of raffish unseemliness we will, but for today we’ll just briefly tell you that pineapple crops used to thrive here until 1895 when they were wiped out by a freeze, and also the Melbourne Beach Pier, which reaches out into the Indian River, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Established in 1883, Melbourne Beach is Brevard County’s oldest beach community. That wasn’t too hard to get through, was it?
THE BEACH
Curtis Byrd Park
Ocean Ave. & A1A, Melbourne Beach FL 32951
PARK/WALK: Parking is free at this beachfront park – barely a walk from your car to the sand.
GO/RINSE: Bathrooms on site and outdoor showers to rinse off the sand.
CROWD FACTOR: This beach may have more people than others in Melbourne Beach because of the central location, and Sand on the Beach bar and restaurant being right here. Beaches in Brevard County are rarely crowded (minus Cocoa Beach) but with our current Covid situation there may be more people than usual coming over from Orlando on the weekends. You can continue south for practically empty beach parks; there are many. We’ll list them at the end of this post.
GUARDS: Lifeguards operate seasonly here, only on weekends until Memorial Day, after which they are on duty daily until the first week of August. After that weekends only again until Labor Day.
IMBIBE: Alcohol is allowed. No glass bottles.
BEST FRIEND: Dogs are not allowed on the beach here but you may walk your dog on a leash at the other end of Ocean Ave. at Ryckman Park, which is only a half mile away on the riverfront. The best dog beach in the area is Canova Beach Park in Indialantic, a 5 mile drive. Worth it!
THE BAR
1005 Atlantic St., Melbourne Beach FL 32951
321-327-8951
Open M-F 8 am-10 pm, Sat 7 am-11 pm, Sun 7 am-10 pm
Sand on the Beach is the only beachfront restaurant for miles. And while right now it feels weird to be talking about a beach bar, with bars – at the moment – not allowed to operate (unless they serve food) Sand on the Beach has plenty of outdoor spaces, upstairs (at The Bikini Bar) and down, overlooking the ocean, which feels just right. Open air, that sea breeze…
VIBE: Super casual, come in your flip-flops, tropical vacation feel. Staff is all wearing masks at the time of publication.
ARRIVE: By car, bike or on foot. There is plenty of parking right beside the restaurant.
SIT: Outside! Upstairs or down.
SIP: Happy Hour is 11-7 M-F. Check out their Facebook Page for daily drink specials.
NOSH: Breakfast is served daily until 11 am and the menu is extensive. Try a breakfast special (Wicked Waffle!) breakfast basics, pancakes, various styles of Eggs Benedict or omelets. Lunch and dinner menus offer various starters including Bang Bang Shrimp, House Wings, and Maryland Crab Cakes. Choose from their raw bar, tacos and sandwiches, soups, salads or signature entrees such as Flat Iron Steak Frites, Fish & Chips, Chicken Paillard.
LISTEN: Visit the website by clicking their name above, or their Facebook Page for live music updates.
THE BUNGALOW
514 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach FL 32951
321-725-7558
Located in historic buildings shaded by a large canopy of tall oak trees and palms, Seaglass Inn offers the perfect respite from the hustle bustle and uncertain times we’re living in right now. Awarded the prestigious AAA Four-Diamond rating for five years in a row, innkeepers Karl and Alison uphold the highest standards for service, hospitality, and now a commitment to enhanced, rigorous cleaning protocols.
VIBE: Upscale, luxurious without pretension. Peaceful.
WALK: Centrally located within walking distance to the river, the beach, shops, restaurants, and historic sites: The Melbourne Beach Pier (1889, US National Register of Historic Places); Ryckman Park (playground, grills, picnic tables); historic buildings like The Ryckman House (1890), Community Chapel (1892), the Villa Marine Hotel (1912, now a dentist’s office).
DECOR: Classic, elegant, upscale without being stuffy (or granny: no frou-frou ruffles or antimacassers in sight.) Colors are a soothing palette, and each room is unique. Go to their website to choose which room will best suit you by clicking on their name above.
EXTRAS: Each room is furnished with a luxurious bed fitted with premium linens, flat-screen TV, desk, mini fridge, and free Wi-Fi. Some have swimming pool views, some have balconies or gardenside sitting areas. Enjoy the two-course breakfast, daily happy hour, and heated pool. Borrow bicycles, beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and tennis equipment for the courts across the street.
RATES: Check the website for current pricing. At the time of publication Seaglass Inn is offering 15% if you book directly.
Around the town of this peaceful haven:
Do you feel it? Can you sense this quiet beach town beckoning to the side of you that has been anxious since Covid broke out, not wanting to risk getting on a plane, or attending any kind of gathering, or even sitting down with a beloved friend across a restaurant table, drinks freshly poured, talking the evening away? Make note, put this on your list, or just pick up the phone and go ahead and book your perfect pandemic getaway.
Other beachfront parks in Melbourne Beach with room to spread out, (#coastaldistancing!), pavillions, restrooms, and no charge for parking:
Spessard Holland South Beach Park
I’m going to leave you with a mystery that has plagued me for years. I stumbled across an ocean block mysteriously unimproved cottage in 2017, took photos, and I revisit it often. It looks like someone may live there, and yet it also looks abandoned. I can’t figure it out, and it makes me a little bit crazy. Seriously. Why would such a valuable location, a cute fixer-upper, just sit there?? If you know anything, please tell me! Here it is:
Circling back around (I guess I’m not leaving you yet after all!) to the earlier idea of kids being bored with their hometown while other people would give anything to trade places: for part of my kids’ teenage years we lived in Orlando, which they call BoreLando, and by saying this you’ll want to grab my shirt front: I agree. We’re just not that into Disney, or any theme parks! I know! How dare I say that?? When the kids were little, yes. We saved up and traveled from Maryland for an enchanting visit to Disney. And when my granddaughter gets old enough, I will drag myself there with her and probably have an about-face change of my cranky opinion. Stay tuned to see….
