Bountiful Treasures on The Space Coast

Guests in need of some shopping therapy while on the Space Coast are in luck.  The options are out of this world. Whether you are looking for brand name fashions or one of a kind items to remember your visit by, the Space Coast has them all.  For traditional shopping mall connoisseurs, check out the Melbourne Square Mall off 192, the Merritt Square Mall on SR520 half way between Cocoa Village and Cocoa Beach, the Miracle City Mall in Titusville or The Avenue, a relatively new outdoor shopping mall not far from Space Coast Stadium in Viera.  Each of the major malls includes several big name department stores, restaurant and assorted specialty shops.  For those looking for historic downtown shopping districts, there are several to choose form as well.  Historic Downtown Titusville is a quaint, nostalgic area offering arts and crafts, flower and gift shops and, of course, clothing and consignment boutiques.  Near Riverside Park, the area boasts several popular restaurants.  Be sure to check for the monthly Art Walks and the bi-monthly TITUSNites Street Parties.  Shoppers can also include a walking tour of the shopping district's twenty-four buildings on South Washington Avenue and Main Street which are included in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Historic Cocoa village, located along SR520 near the bridge to Merritt Island, features a plethora of antiques and specialty shops in a charming shopping district bordered by a fantastic Riverside Park complete with amphitheater, water play and children's playground.  Walking tours and ghost tours are available.  highlights include the Almost Antiques Factory Street Market which boasts a huge collection of unique vintage items, Annie's toy chest which is the only other store besides the Kennedy space Center Visitor complex where you can purchase the special TiViTz math and strategy game, and Art Vue Gallerie which features one of the largest collections of local art for sale on the Space Coast. Dining options span the gamut from fine European fare to a prime steakhouse, a great Mexican restaurant, Amish Ice Cream and casual riverfront dining.  Looking for vegetarian fare? Check out the Gardener's Cottage Natural Kitchen and Healthy Mercantile. A Friday Fun Fest is held once a month and most weekends there is a craft fair or special event a t the Riverfront Park. 

The Eau Gallie shopping district in Melbourne is a hip, yet quaint historic area that offers a wide assortment of art galleries, bookstores, antique shops and restaurant alongside numerous unique specialty boutiques. It includes a premier art museum and the Eau Gallie Civic Center.  The Historic Downtown Melbourne area along New Haven and Strawbridge Avenues features very unique antiques and specialty shops selling everything from upscale children's furnishings to handmade candles, jewelry and one of a a kind clothing.  An assortment of restaurant, coffee shops, chocolate shops and even horse drawn carriage rides are also available. 

Be sure to check out Heel Thy Sole where you can shop for shoes and get a pedicure, all while checking out some great art.  The Gauzeway and The Albatross should make the "must see" vacation list for those in search of casual and unique attire for a Florida vacation.  for shoppers in need of some surf apparel to hit the beach in or just to take home for the kids, several top notch surf stores now span the length of A1A. The largest and best known stores are Ron Jon Surf Shop and the Cocoa Beach Surf Company, which side by side make for an afternoon's worth of browsing alone. Everything from surfboards to swimsuits and beach rentals can be found somewhere in these two complexes.  Be sure to check out the smaller surf shops too for some unique ideas and an good feel for the locals.  Surfer's Surf Shack caters to girls and at The Goods Surf and Skate Boutique, you just might run into one of professional surfing's Hobgood twins.  Of course, shopping can be found outside of the malls and historic city centers as well.  Along the length of US 1 you can find everything from fine furnishings in cocoa to original children's furniture in Rockledge to stained glass studios in Melbourne.  Just south of Port St. John, be sure to check out Frontenac Flea Market for hundreds of deals.  In the area around Melbourne Square Mall along SR192 is an enormous selection of big name stores and smaller specialty shops like Barnes and Noble, Pier One and Marshalls.

For those who prefer to stay close to the beach, a drive along A1A includes the major surf shop meccas., the specialty shops of cottage Row in Cocoa Beach and a host of big name and unique shopping in the beachside shopping plazas.  from I-95 guests can also access many great shopping areas from Titusville to Palm Bay, including the Super Flea & Farmers Market in Melbourne that includes more than 150,000 square feet and 400 retail and used-goods dealers.  Free entertainment and special events are included every weekend.