MELBOURNE, Fla. – WKMG is once again Hitting the Road, this time we are headed to Melbourne.
News 6 anchor and Insider Guide Crystal Moyer checked out some unique places in Melbourne and has your guide to the city.
Brevard Zoo - 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
If you want to take a ride on the wild side, you’ll want to visit the Brevard Zoo off Wickham Road. It’s home to more than 900 animals on 72 acres. You can get face-to-face and even feed the giraffes and learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts at the local and global levels.
Eau Gallie Arts District - Highland Avenue, Melbourne
Feeling artsy? A trip to the Eau Gallie Arts District, or EGAD, will bring out your creative side. Art studios and galleries line Highland Avenue.
“Eau Gallie and Melbourne started off as two different towns. They merged together in 1969 and I find it slightly funny that they ended up going with the ‘Melbourne’ name because one of the names floating at the time was ‘Melbo-Gallie.’ That would not have worked very well,” Rosetter House Museum Site Manager Angela McHugh said.
Rossetter House Museum - 1320 Highland Avenue, Melbourne
I ran into Angela McHugh who manages the Rossetter House Museum in the EGAD. It’s a historic home built in 1908 that was owned by James Wadsworth Rossetter, the leading merchant in the fishing industry at the time. Visitors can tour the property inside and out.
While the furniture is original to this home, what’s also unique about it are the wood paneling designs on the walls and ceiling.
You’ll also see some antique items like a doll from the early 1900s and unique windup birdcage.
Green Gables - 1501 South Harbor City Boulevard, Melbourne
News 6 Insider Sue Fallon recommends visiting historic Green Gables sharing:
“You really need to take time while you are in Brevard to visit the historic home in Melbourne by the name of Green Gables. This Queen Anne architecture was built by one of the early settlers in 1896.
William and Nora Wells left a legacy in the City. There is the donated Wells Park across from the Health First Holmes Regional Hospital. Green Gables is one of only about 3 Queen Anne home left in the Melbourne area. We, the volunteers of Green Gables, formed a nonprofit and were able to raise funds for a match to receive a State grant to purchase it last year. Now, under the guidelines of the Dept. of Interior, we will work to restore her to her original style and good condition. The setting of Green Gables offers visitors offers a relaxing atmosphere on greenspace fronting the Indian River Lagoon.
We offer teas to small groups and small functions out on the lawn. This Saturday is our 7th Annual Harvest Festival with over 50 vendors. In addition, we are prepping for our Halloween Haunted Trail “Foggy Bluff Five”. The story line will be based on celebrating a 5th birthday for a child on these haunted grounds.”
Burger Inn - 1819 North Harbor City Boulevard, Melbourne
News 6 Insider Kay recommends visiting Burger Inn for a bite to eat. She writes: “Please go to Burger Inn. It’s a 1950s type drive in with great burgers and fries. Iconic!”
Melbourne Beach... because, BEACH! Just head east over to A1A until you see the water.
Crane Creek Promenade - 990 E. Melbourne Avenue, Melbourne
Our next stop is the Crane Creek Promenade.
It’s a park and paved walkway along Melbourne Avenue overlooking the lagoon. If you hang out here long enough, you may spot some manatees.
King Center for the Performing Arts - 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne
For Broadway productions, concerts, comedy, you’ll want to visit the The King Center for the Performing Arts on Wickham Road. The venue also invites students from time to time to experience live performances.
Melbourne Civic Theater - 817 East Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne
Some of you also reached out encouraging visitors to support community theater at the Melbourne Civic Theater on Strawbridge Avenue.
Helen Seaman sent News 6 an email describing it as a “tiny, intimate theater... Offering a unique experience.”
Tiffany Fairbanks also sent News 6 an email describing the Melbourne Civic Theater as a “cool little gem in downtown.”
Downtown Melbourne - Strawbridge Avenue and New Haven Avenue, Melbourne
And downtown Melbourne has a unique mix of bars, boutiques and restaurants - perfect for nightlife along Strawbridge and New Haven avenues.
We want to know what some of your favorite spots in Melbourne are.
You can comment at the bottom of this article and tell us about your experiences in Melbourne. What are your favorite restaurants, hidden gems, nature trails and more?
Wickham Park - 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne
Another News 6 Insider suggested an outdoor must-see writing: “If you want to get outside, Wickham Park is a great spot. Paved areas for biking and walking, picnic areas, lakes for fishing and swimming, equestrian trails, disc golf course, part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, as well as a campground.”
Insider Victoria Roberts also recommends Wickham Park. “100% agree... We love it there.”
Instracoastal Brewing Company - 652 West Eau Galllie Boulevard, Melbourne
“When we visited family in the area they took us to Intracoastal Brewing and they were having an outside event kids and dogs were playing, they had food it was a lot of fun. They took us to a place called Coasters and also Meg O’Malleys. Lots of fond memories. It’s a nice area but growing fast. Enjoy,” Insider Victoria Roberts writes.
Woody’s Bar-B-Que - 2227 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne
Insider ‘Gma 408′ writes: “Drive a little south to 192 and JUST south of Hollywood road in the Publix shopping center on the left behind Popeyes on the corner is THE best Bar b que restaurant EVER - Woodys Bar B Que - AWESOME - their baby back ribs fall of the bone - their Brisket is incredible!”
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