A weekend road trip to the Florida Space Coast, highlighting Indialantic’s Tuckaway Shores Resort, Merritt Island’s Kennedy Space Center, Shells of Melbourne, and more.
Indialantic Beach
We were guests of Tuckaway Shores Resort, Visit Space Coast, and Kennedy Space Center, but the expressed opinions and incredible Florida Space Coast experience are all ours!
Table of Contents
A Florida Space Coast Weekend Road Trip
A beach weekend during the month of May has become a tradition for us it seems, more by default than design. For some reason by late spring we just can’t wait to head to the coast, even though summer is only a few weeks away. Typically we cruise over to Daytona Beach, but this year we were invited to visit the Florida Space Coast as part of the Florida Superior Small Lodging travel blogger road trip. SSL is an association of independently owned and managed boutique inns, B&Bs, and hotels designed to give guests an authentic Florida travel experience.
Because we wanted time to enjoy the drive to the Atlantic coast, we both took the day off on Friday and headed east on State Road 60. This part of Central Florida is essentially one huge cow pasture interrupted by the occasional orange grove. Still, with the road tunes blasting and the work week over, this seemingly endless stretch of flatlands and wetlands got our weekend started.
Yeehaw Junction
Before long we pulled into Yeehaw Junction, a crossroads near the point where the Florida Turnpike intersects with Highway 60. We stopped to snap some photos of The Desert Inn motel and bar, a historical landmark and only point of interest for miles around. Strange how I still remember The Desert Inn from early childhood, having passed it many times on family road trips between Jupiter, where we lived for four years, and our hometown of Durant.
Originally named Jackass Junction, after the donkeys local ranchers rode to the watering hole and brothel in the early days, the esteemed Florida legislature elected to rename the crossroads Yeehaw in the late 1950s to make it more presentable when the turnpike came through. (There is so much I could say regarding this dubious legislation, but in order to keep Backroad Planet relatively apolitical, I will refrain.)
A sign on the property stated that the Desert Inn was currently closed for renovation, but we did not see evidence of much work going on. Hopefully this historic property will reopen before too long.
The Florida Space Coast was calling our names, and it was time to get back on the road.
Tuckaway Shores Resort
Our host for our beach weekend on the Florida Space Coast was Tuckaway Shores Resort in the small town of Indialantic, situated on a barrier island just across the Indian River lagoon from the city of Melbourne. The term “resort” can be defined in many ways, I am sure. Although we did not see any spas or golf courses during our stay at Tuckaway, strangely we never missed them.
In order to be a member of SSL, properties must undergo inspection for superior cleanliness and housekeeping standards to earn the White Glove Award, a recognition Tuckaway Shores has received six years running.
Suites
Love the retro key fobs!
Owner and manager Jacqui McPhillips greeted us warmly upon arrival and presented us keys to a first floor ocean front suite. All of Tuckaway’s rooms are two-room suites featuring either ocean front or ocean side views with a patio on the first floor and private balconies on the second and third floors. When your room opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean, who needs a golf course or spa?
The first thing that struck me when we opened the door to our suite was how Tuckaway Shores had designed the perfect blend of old and new. This historical Florida beach hotel has undergone a smart renovation, decorated with a beachy theme and updated to include every modern convenience. Jerry and I always enjoy the charm of retro beach motels as long as they are clean. In our experience with historical lodging, some properties have achieved such a balance, and some have not. In this regard, Tuckaway Shores has created a flawless fusion of Florida’s past and present.
One room of the two-room suites includes a bedroom, bathroom, and separate sink area. The other room features a sitting area, fully-equipped kitchenette, and an amazing view of the beach. Both rooms have wall-mounted flat-screen HDTVs.
Now that’s a room with a view!
Beachfront
Suite patios and balconies.
Although technically the beach itself is not private, (meaning neighboring beachcombers can walk through it) during our stay it remained quite secluded. Unlike other beachfront properties we have visited, the surfers, fishermen, and sunbathers we encountered on this stretch of sea and sand all seemed to have been guests at Tuckaway.
Tuckaway’s secluded stretch of Indialantic beachfront.
Private beach access.
The perfect companion to a sunrise.
Atlantic sunrise.
Tuckaway Shores bathed in a morning glow.
Sleepy-eyed beach bums.
Amenities
Tuckaway’s heated pool.
As amenities go, Tuckaway Shores has all the bases covered. For those who prefer fresh water to the Atlantic surf, Tuckaway offers a newly-resurfaced heated pool to enjoy year round. The Cabana Room, located in a poolside outbuilding, contains private restrooms, a dining table, sink and bar, seating area, small library, and a spacious seating area. This building can be reserved for a nominal fee.
The Cabana Room
Another view of the Cabana Room.
A small picnic area with a sheltered table and Big Green Egg grill adjoins the Cabana Room and pool.
Picnic area.
Tuckaway Shores offers many more amenities such as complimentary beach chairs and towels, a fish cleaning station, business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout the resort.
Food & Drink
Sand on the Beach Bar & Grill
Yeah, you know the type.
Although Tuckaway Shores does not have food services, Jacqui recommended Sand on the Beach Bar & Grill, located just down the road and around the corner from the resort. Because of its ideal location, we enjoyed breakfast there and drinks later on. The outdoor beachfront seating was exceptional in both the morning sun and cool of the evening.
The view from breakfast.
Shells of Melbourne
Shells signature seafood pasta. Nothing better!
Anyone who knows me well knows pasta is my favorite food group. And seafood pasta from Shells is hands down the best pasta I have ever had! Shells was a small Florida-based restaurant chain that declared bankruptcy in 2008, closing its doors to all but four independently-owned stores. For me, the closing of the Brandon, Florida, store was a sad day indeed. Imagine my joy when we discovered that one of the remaining open locations was Shells of Melbourne. We went there for dinner on Friday night and enjoyed it so much that we returned for a double dip on Saturday evening. The Shells signature seafood pasta was the same incredibly delicious blend of garlic, olive oil, and wine that I remembered.
You can’t beat those prices, if you are so inclined!
For some people, a restaurant may not rate at the same level as a resort or theme park, but for me, enjoying Shells’ seafood pasta once again was one of the highlights of the weekend.
Kennedy Space Center
A camera-toting international visitor agreed to take this touristy shot. We returned the favor.
The ever-amazing Jacqui from Tuckaway Shores assumed that as visitors to the area we might enjoy spending Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center, the region’s most popular attraction. Her assumption was correct, and we were stoked to learn that she had pre-arranged our tour through Visit Space Coast, the regional tourism board.
The Rocket Garden
It took us about an hour to drive from the resort to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. If we had read our confirmation email better where it stated that we should “arrive as close to 9 AM as possible,” we would have made a point to leave earlier that morning. Although the park was not overcrowded, time did not allow us to see all the attractions. Alas, even rule-following abstract-sequential personalities like me suffer the occasional oversight.
As a native Floridian, I remember visiting Kennedy Space Center the first time with my church youth group in the late 1960s. My mother packed my lunch and we traveled to the Cape by chartered bus. My memories are vague, but I remember a cool oven we used in the dining area to heat our sandwiches. I’ve always wondered if it was an early microwave. I also remember a monument to the Apollo 1 astronauts, Grissom, Chaffee, and White, who perished in a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal.
Jerry and I grabbed a quick lunch at the G-Force Grill and got in queue for an up-close bus tour of the space center. This narrated tour carries visitors to various launch pads, past the Vehicle Assembly Building, and to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. English was a second language for our Greek bus driver. He was a nice guy, but we really didn’t get much from the guided tour.
The Vehicle Assembly Building.
During the bus tour on my childhood visit to KSC, we disembarked at the Vehicle Assembly Building, because I remember feeling like I was about to fall over when I looked up to the top of the structure. No question that security was looser in those days.
An original mission control center.
Without a doubt the best part of the bus tour was the Apollo/Saturn V Center. We were blown away by the historical technology and authentic elements from our nation’s exploration of space.
A 363-foot moon rocket runs the length of the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Inside the vintage astronaut van.
A lunar module.
A command module.
The Italians were excited about the Apollo moon landing.
Visitors are free to tour the Apollo/Saturn V Center at their leisure and then catch one of the tour buses that run continuously every 15 minutes back to the Visitor Complex. When we arrived back at the complex, we headed to the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
I won’t spoil your visit with any details, but lets just say the reveal of the Space Shuttle Atlantis is a moving up-close-and-personal experience.
Astronaut van from the space shuttle era.
I did encounter one scary alien in the gift shop.
Time allowed us to take in the Shuttle Launch Experience, as well as the Exploration Space, Nature and Technology, and Early Space Exploration exhibits. Unfortunately, due to our late start, we did not get to see either of the IMAX 3D feature films narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise. We also did not get to visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, located six miles west of the visitor complex and included with admission. Lesson learned!
Final Words
I know most of our readers do not live as close to the Florida Space Coast as we do, but it is definitely a region of Florida not to be overlooked. When you plan your visit to the area, be sure to consider a stay at Tuckaway Shores Resort, a visit to Kennedy Space Center, and TWO nights dining at Shells of Melbourne. And when considering accommodations anywhere in the state, be sure to check out the 170 member properties of Superior Small Lodging for an authentic Florida experience!
As always, Jerry and I love hearing from our readers. We invite you to leave your comments and questions below, and we always respond!
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If you are still in the area be sure to check out Playalinda brewery and Playalinda Beach in Titusville.
We are not still in the area, but our readers will appreciate the heads-up. Thanks!
Glad I found this post, I am planning a trip due to the fact I am moving to Palm Bay I am being relocated for my job and need to come ahead and check out a home I found by D.R. Horton, however I decided to bring along a few friends and check out the space coast, your post is just what I wanted. Thanks so much
Hi Whitney! Glad you found some useful suggestions in our Florida Space Coast post. Best wishes on your trip to the area and your move to Palm Bay!
We were very pleased with the Tuckaway Shores Resort. The room with a balcony overlooking the ocean was just what we were looking for. The beach was terrific and the water was great. It was wavy, but my wife and I both prefer that. The accommodations were clean and the area was very nice…mostly private homes or small motels/condos.
Yeah, Tuckaway was a great place to stay with a view of the Atlantic that can’t be beat.
Great post!
Ah man, you guys had me at Florida but then wrapped me around your finger with the Kennedy Space Center. I’m a big space nerd so reading to the end really made my day. The Air and Space Museum in DC is always the first that I mention to people, so this place is right up my alley. I’ll have to drag my wife here whenever we return to the U.S.
On a side note, I dragged her to Korea’s only space launch pad in Goheung and though it was a bit disappointing and mostly geared towards younger kids, I was happy to arrive donning my NASA shirt and geek out for a few hours. Thanks for reminding me of that day and for this possible future destination! Take Care Howard.
Glad you enjoyed the article, Carl! We had an amazing time at Kennedy Space Center, and although we get to DC every year or so, it has been a while since we have visited the Air and Space Museum. Need to do that again! Cheers!
Hello, I just came across your website by chance whilst starting to plan our Florida trip next year. My husband and I have travelled extensively in the U.S. And in fact drove Route 66 from start to finish last year! But we have never been to Florida……we have just booked flights to Tampa from the UK for next May for 3 weeks and are looking at a road tour of the entire state followed by a few days at the end to recover and take in some R and R. Wow, I am going to look at the Superior Small Lodging you mention to help us get off the beaten track and explore the real Florida. We have no intention of doing the Orlando experience and are looking at a route down the west coast, across the Everglades to Key Largo only, up to Miami, then Canavaral, up to Jacksonville and across the Panhandle to Tallahassee before continuing south back to Tampa. We tried very hard to stay in designated Route 66 hotels last year and had the most wonderful experience. Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer, Julie Kaine, Lichfield, UK
Hi, Julie! I believe we must be kindred spirits. We envy your Route 66 road trip, and we are well aware of the UK’s fascination with America’s iconic highways. So awesome that you will be roadtripping our amazing state while avoiding the Mouse! You will get to see the real Florida instead of the commercialized mirage most tourists see. I believe you will enjoy SSL lodging. Both of the properties we visited offered lovely beachfront accommodations. I hope you will visit St. Augustine, especially since it is located on your northbound route toward Jacksonville. We have yet to stay there, but we are hoping to visit St. Augustine and lodge at the St. Francis Inn (1791) in the fall. Be sure to take the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades rather than Interstate 75. It will take you past Big Cypress National Preserve, the World’s Smallest Post Office in Ochopee, and Everglades National Park. We did a loop road trip through the Florida Panhandle for spring break 2014. Be sure to visit Florida Caverns and Falling Waters State Parks. Our post on 5 Offbeat Florida Destinations might give you some fun ideas, and be sure to download the Florida Heritage Trail Guidebooks to help plan your itinerary. Hope this helps, and please do not hesitate to let us know if we can be of further assistance. Cheers!
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. St Augustine is now on the itinerary! Yes I have found several Scenic highways in Florida and we plan to take them all in particularly A1A on the east coast and Tamiami as you suggest.
We are looking at Indian Rocks area for our RnR before our flight home.
I have sent you a link to the Travel Blog I kept whilst doing Route 66 last year, it was one of the most memorable experiences we have ever had and a fascinating journey.
Thank you again, your website is now firmly amongst my favourites!
Wow, thanks, Julie! We look forward to checking out your Route 66 blog, especially for when we get around to doing it ourselves.
On behalf of all of our staff, we enjoyed hosting you guys and we’re very happy that you truly enjoyed your stay with us and our local beach and attractions. We hope to have the pleasure of a future visit. You did a fantastic blog and we enjoyed your review. We’ll post on our social media and hope some of our followers become yours as well.
Jacqui, thank you for your kind words, but the pleasure of our stay at Tuckaway Shores was all ours! You are definitely the “hostess with the mostest!”