Melbourne Beach is not for people who like the crowds and noise of Florida's better known beaches. Although it has beautiful, clean sand it is rustic, has no stip malls, no super busy highways and is

never crowded. Because it is the nesting place for thousands of sea turtles, the beach and its development is very tightly controlled. The surf is often rough which makes for excellent sea shell collecting, surfing and boogie boarding and the beach is alive with wildlife.

From May thru Sept. sea turtles come ashore along our particular stretch of Melbourne Beach to lay their eggs. Tours can be joined through the local Sea Turtle Museum only a mile away. During the day the turtles can be spotted mating in the surf. You will also see dolphins swimming by and can try your hand at surf fishing.

Our stretch of beach is also very popular for artifact hunting as 7 Spanish galleons floundered off our shore many years ago. People still find gold and silver coins and valuable relics from those wrecks. At Sebastian Inlet (5 minutes to the South) there is a museum devoted to these wrecks which has an excellent program with videos explaining when and where the wrecks happened and how and where to look for valuable wreckage.

On the opposite side of our resort from the ocean, lies the Indian River. You can walk to our boat launch, docks and board walk where you will often see manatees leisurely swimming right next to the dock. This is beautiful kayaking territory and small boat fishing. Boat rentals are available nearby.

Inside the resort there is an active tennis community with first rate courts and instruction available. Also, at the tennis club, there is a community center with a well equipped fitness center and its own Personal Trainer.

The executive Par 62 golf course is right out the back door. It is challenging, scenic and can be easily played in just a couple of hours. The club house has an excellent grill. Within 30 minutes there are numerous other courses, most being Par 72.

The Sebastian Bar and Grill has excellent food. It is located right on the beach, has a big open patio and in the evenings provides live entertainment. Just a couple of miles to the South there is a couple of fresh sea food stores where you can also buy those typical household items you often run out of.

The nearest large grocery store - Publix - is 8 minutes North in the town of Melbourne Beach. There are also numerous small restaurants and beach front grills in town but if you want serious shopping you will have to go across the causeway into the town of Melbourne. Just 30 minutes away it has numerous quality restaurants, tons of shops and all the big retailers like Best Buy, Target, Home Depot, etc., etc.. To the South and 30 minutes away is the town of Vero Beach. It is tangibly more upscale than Melbourne and has a lot of expensive galleries and upscale restaurants as well as great shopping for special occasions.