The Best of Florida

Exploring Orlando, the Space and Treasure Coasts

Story and photos by Ron and Nancy Stern

Mention Florida to the uninitiated and many will tell you about alligators, swamps, and hot summers. While all of these are facets of the Sunshine State, there are many other areas to explore that offer the best in accommodations, family entertainment, great beaches and yes, sunshine galore.

Orlando

My family and I started our excursion in Orlando and we decided to rent a vehicle with Dollar Rent-a-Car at the Orlando Airport. Unlike other companies who had off-site facilities, Dollar is conveniently located right downstairs from the ticket counter. We opted for a mid-sized Dodge Stratus that was more than adequate for our needs. Both checkout and check-in was effortless and their prices are some of the lowest you will find. You can even confirm your car reservation right over the Internet at their website (see resources below).

We stayed at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World.  We especially liked the fact that the property has easy access to all major attractions and is situated right across the street from Sea World. We have stayed at other Renaissance hotels and found all of them to be outstanding, and this four-diamond location was no exception. Having won many prestigious awards, The Renaissance has 778 deluxe guest rooms—the largest in central Florida—and 64 suites. Each room is beautifully decorated and has all of the amenities you would expect from an upscale resort. Standard features include in-room safes, room service, high-speed Internet access, in-room refreshments, play stations and marble bathrooms. 

Upon check-in, we were treated to a glass of champagne (kids get hot chocolate) that immediately put us in a festive mood. Right in the middle of the central courtyard is the world’s largest resort atrium that is landscaped with over 13,000 plants, an indoor waterfall and koi pond. The kids will love their Olympic-sized pool, basketball and tennis courts and adults will like the 24-hour health spa and nearby championship golf courses.

This hotel boasts four restaurants including the four-diamond Atlantis, which we heard was famous for its seafood. The décor was quiet with subtle paintings, frosted glass, individual booths and white linens. A harpist strumming lovely notes added to the ambiance. Our server immediately brought us warm bread and rolls and some Panna water from Italy. We were taken with the presentation of the dishes, which were works of art. My wife Nancy had the Florida greens in a puff pastry and I had crab cakes blended with fennel and onion. All were delicious. We also tried the lobster bisque with sweet crème and chives, and we were told that people come from miles away just for this one dish. In fact, the manager, Kevin Hidey related a flattering story about this rich bisque. “A man came in and said, ‘I’m a chef from Shreveport and for 10 years I’ve been trying to find someone who can make bisque as good as me…this is better.’”  There are many wonderful desert options, including a chocolate and grand mariner soufflé that must be ordered in advance but is well worth the wait.

Rooms at the Renaissance Orlando Resort are quite reasonable, especially in off-peak times where they go for as little as $139 per night. Even during the Fourth of July, where you would expect them to be booked solid, there are usually rooms available. By paying just a little bit more, you can have access to their club level that serves continental breakfast and several appetizers throughout the day.

Downtown Disney is among the attractions for old and young alike and offers a wide variety of unusual retail shops, restaurants and entertainment.  At nighttime, downtown Disney is lit up like the Las Vegas Strip and is one of the best times to visit.  We ate at the popular Planet Hollywood which gets pretty backed up on weekends but they do have 24-hour advance seating so do call if you intend to visit during prime time.

If you, or your kids, have never been to Planet Hollywood, you are in for a treat. There are several levels, all crammed to the gills with movie memorabilia. We saw the dress that Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz, the bus from Speed and costumes from The Planet of the Apes to name a few. Music reverberates throughout the restaurant and at one point, the servers all started to sing and dance on the tabletops.. I wonder if they get minimum wage for that?  Unlike other theme restaurants I have tried, the food was fantastic. Nancy had the lasagna, my daughter Veronica tried the brisket and I had the salmon. All were flavorful and more than we could finish. The service was also equally impressive and the servers went out of their way to attend to our every need.

Sea World is one of the top attractions in Florida and is fun for the whole family.  Here you can find penguins, sea otters, tropical birds and rides. One of the big draws, is of course, the Shamu killer whale show.  We sat in the “splash zone” in a huge amphitheater in hopes of getting drenched during the noontime sun and we weren’t disappointed.

There are several different whales performing all types of acrobatics that amazed the audience. Shamu, however, decided not to cooperate on this particular day. Apparently, he was being trained to carry a camera on his back for an upcoming Discovery TV show. It fell off into the bottom of the tank and he began playing with it. He would pick it up into his teeth and then bring it to within inches of the trainers only to playfully pull it back out of reach. This went on for about 30 minutes but we thought it was better than any planned performance. The audience loved it as well watching this huge mammal act more like a frisky dog than a killer whale.

For another enjoyable day visit Disney’s Epcot.  This multi-acre park is like visiting many different countries all at once. Here you can see the Beatles (a group that looks and sounds like them) in the U.K Pavilion, eat decadent pastries or buy perfume in France, see beautifully costumed performers in Italy or visit an authentic Pagoda in China. Be sure to try the Honey I Shrunk the Kids 3-D exhibit. I guarantee that you will love it. During one part of the show, some phantom rats are released and with the magic of special effects, you will swear they are running around your feet. During the summer months make sure that you drink plenty of water and bring a hat, as you will be walking quite a bit in the sunshine.

Space Coast

This section of Florida is aptly named for the area around the Kennedy Space Center. Each year the space center attracts nearly two million visitors from around the world. Built in 1967, this facility has grown into a major tourist attraction.  There is a “rocket garden” featuring full-sized versions of early spacecraft, a full sized space shuttle, Astronaut Hall of Fame with interactive exhibits, Imax Theater and a memorial for the astronauts who lost their lives in the conquest of space. While we were there we saw the Imax film “Space Station” narrated by Tom Cruise. This was well worth the visit all by itself and will leave you with tears in your eyes. Check their website for prices and special events.

Now if you are a seafood lover, you have to make your way to the nearby Dixie Crossroads restaurant in Titusville. Famous for their shrimp, their fresh seafood will be on your table in as little as 20 minutes from the time it is picked up from the dock. We absolutely loved their rock shrimp and coconut shrimp and I can honestly say it was the best I have ever had. The rock shrimp tastes like a miniature lobster and they even employ folks to split the shells so all you have to do is enjoy.

One of the owners of Dixie Crossroads is Laurillee Thompson whose family has more history with shrimp than Forest Gump. An avid conservationist, Ms. Thompson has embarked on a one-woman crusade to save the wildlife along the Space Coast. Passionate about her mission, she offered us a crash education course in wildlife 101 with a kayaking tour of the Indian River Lagoon courtesy of Day Away Kayaking Tours. This was the first time that any of us had been on a kayak and we found the experience quite tranquil and interesting. Laurilee pointed out the many varieties of waterfowl including pelicans, egrets, herons and spoonbills.  We also saw gentle Manatees feeding along the edges of the river right next to our kayaks. This is a great opportunity for families to learn about the fragile ecosystem that makes up much of Florida. After our dusk adventure we had a great tailgate picnic of rock shrimp, fried chicken and chocolate pudding.

Another tour company that is worth checking out is Island Boat Lines. Their owner, Penny Flaherty offers eco tours of Cocoa Beach, Thousand Islands and the Indian River Lagoon. They also host field trips, birding tours, weddings and even space shuttle launch viewings.

No trip to the Space Coast would be complete without visiting the ocean and Cocoa Beach is where we chose to spend a good deal of time. Located only about 45 minutes from Orlando via the “Beeline” highway, Cocoa Beach has clean beaches, gentle swells and breezes that keep the temperature under control. You can rent umbrellas, chairs and boogey boards right on location but you can save money by bringing your own.  The water was about 80 degrees during our visit which made it easy to relax in the surf and take in the fresh air and salt water. If complete relaxation is your thing then take a long nap under an umbrella, which my wife chose to do, being lulled to sleep by the sounds of waves lapping at the seashore.

For a great place to stay while exploring the Space Coast, try the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn located in Titusville. Rated 3 diamonds by AAA they have many hotel/attraction packages that will save you money. These include the space fantasy, space “n” splash, birding and romantic getaway. They have a large outdoor pool, sauna, laundry facilities, 27” televisions with HBO and a free expanded continental breakfast.

Treasure Coast

The Treasure Coast gets its name from what else? Treasure.  It seems that in 1622 the Atocha, a Spanish Galleon along with 26 other vessels set sail for Cuba with a heavy load of gold and silver coins. Unfortunately, a hurricane forced the ships onto the coral reefs off the coast of Florida and two hundred and sixty persons lost their lives. The Atochia was located again in 1975 along with much of her treasure and today you can see some of the booty at the Mclarty Treasure Museum in Sebastian Inlet State Park.

One of the more unusual aspects of this beach is that the surf frequently washes up gold and silver coins onto the seashore.  On any given day you can find people using metal detectors going up and down the sand and many have found coins and other relics, some of which are worth a small fortune. The park ranger said one of the best times for this activity is right after a storm when the churned up surf throws some of these treasures of history onto the beach just waiting to be discovered.

If you have never tried surfing, you have come to the right location in the Treasure Coast. Here you will find Lou Maresca’s Central Florida Surf School.  Lou has been teaching people to surf for many years and Men’s Health Magazine recently rated his school one of the best. Most of the classes are held at Ft. Pierce Inlet State Recreation area. Here the waves are gentle and there is flat sandy bottom, ensuring ideal conditions.

My daughter Veronica always wanted to try to learn how to surf and here she got her chance. Lou is very big on safety and a good deal of time is devoted to proper instruction. Classes are kept small and they can accommodate anyone from beginner up to advanced at either their Florida location or their Costa Rica Surf Camp.

Even though Veronica was apprehensive, she was told that most students are able to stand up on their first day. After several attempts, she was able to stand up and ride some waves into the shore. This was her personal goal. This was a great feeling of accomplishment and she is looking forward to future surfing adventures.

The cost of lessons is $100 per person for a full day with a one-hour lunch or $60 for a half day. Both male and female instructors are available as well as local lodging. Lou’s school is the largest on the East Coast and they have been in continuous operation since 1993. So, if you have kids who want to learn to “hang 10,” then give Lou a call.

One of the most well known cities of the Treasure Coast, Vero Beach is centrally located to many of the area’s attractions. Named one of four “Great Little Beach Towns,” by Family Fun Magazine, Vero Beach and Indian River County is located in Florida’s thermal belt which maintains an average year round temperature of 73 degrees.

In addition to fishing, wind surfing and boating, Vero Beach is also the spring training camp for the L.A. Dodgers (Feb-April).  If baseball doesn’t strike your fancy then how about shopping? The Indian River Mall is a huge complex with a Mediterranean flavor featuring well-known retail stores and a 24-screen AMC cinema. The Tangers Outlet at Vero Beach has another 85 stores for your spending pleasure.

Located a pleasant drive north of Vero Beach, Captain Hiram’s Key West Inn and Resort is a great place to stay during your visit to the area. Located on U.S. Highway 1 on Sebastian’s Riverfront, the Key West Inn offers clean, spacious rooms that will fit most budgets. They offer a free continental breakfast, heated pool with sun deck and rooms with Marina views.

Captain Hiram’s is located to the rear of the resort and is the place to go for sumptuous food, and a good time. There is a sandbar with live music that will make you feel like you are in the Bahamas. They also serve some fantastic crab cakes made from a long-time secret recipe.  We were able to sit outside next to the marina and enjoy a cool drink, some excellent seafood and a band ensemble that was playing some great swing music.

Back in Vero Beach we visited the McKee Botanical Gardens. Used as a jungle training facility by the U.S. Navy in World War II, this 18-acre subtropical garden highlights the foliage that is indigenous to Florida. Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, the gardens have some unique restored architectural treasures along with many varieties of plant life.

We ended our trip to Florida and the Treasure Coast by having dinner at Tangos Seafood & Steak House restaurant acclaimed the “best restaurant in Vero Beach and beyond” by the Press Journal and was awarded five stars by Wine Spectator Magazine.  This upscale eatery features fresh seafood, prime Black Angus Beef, pasta and homemade desserts. Since we had a late lunch we only tried the crispy coconut crusted Gulf Shrimp with tropical fruit salsa and key lime butter but found it to be tender and flavorful. The service was exquisite and judging from the satisfied looks of the other patrons, Tangos is on the top of our list for another visit to Vero Beach.

Florida is one of those states that has so many things to offer that it is difficult to define by a single trip. In fact, it would probably take a lifetime to discover all of the treasures that the Sunshine State has to offer, whether that’s a gold coin buried in the sand or a Blue Heron with outstretched wings along the rivers edge. Whatever your conceptions are, you owe it to yourself and your family to make it a regular part of your vacation destination. I’m sure that you will find, as we did, this state will warm your heart well as your skin.