Archive for the ‘Heritage’ Category
Casa Coquina Rocks for Space Coast Romance
One of the bedrooms at Casa Coquina
It’s a world onto its own, just a couple of blocks from the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, an enormous 1927 coquina rock mansion painted with murals and standing three stories tall. Casa Coquina is at once a quirky museum and a relaxing retreat, a place inviting you to have some fun, where a knight in shining armor sits atop a horse in the main hall, a British pub and wedding chapel compete for atmosphere, and every surface in the common rooms are crowded with antiques, all available for purchase. The guest rooms along the eastern side of the building, like the Diamond Suite with its hardwood floors, fireplace and whirlpool, and massage chair, also have sundecks overlooking the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA. If you want to party during a Space Shuttle launch, they’ve got you covered!
There are eight suites in all, many of them with a separate bed, perfect for traveling with girlfriends, siblings, or parents. Each has its own distinct character, and none so rich as the Black Pearl, the penthouse on the third floor, where the Oriental trappings include a 17th century Ming Dynasty marriage bed (for show—your bed is much grander). Outdoors, the mansion is flanked by niche gardens with koi ponds, and of course there’s a hot tub. Why pay motel rates when suites here start at $79 weekdays, $109 weekends—and you have the run of the manor? Your stay includes a full breakfast, complimentary beer and wine in the evenings, wireless Internet, and your own big suite with private bath.
Visit an ancient village: The Green Mound
Explore the remains of an ancient civilization near Daytona Beach
Admission: Free
The Green Mound is one of the largest pre-Columbian middens in Florida, and can be explored on the trail system through Ponce Preserve. The mound is thought to have been built by late St. Johns period cultures, after AD 800, and was greatly disturbed prior to the 1940s—as many middens were—by removal of materials for roadfill. Excavations in the midden have uncovered evidence of a village, including postholes marking the corners of raised houses.
The Green Mound is protected by Ponce Preserve, along Peninsula Drive between Wilbur-by-the-Sea and Ponce Inlet. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Removal of artifacts (including oyster shells) prohibited.
Historic Manatee Village
Step into pioneer life by exploring the buildings of Bradenton’s earliest settlers
Admission: Free
At Manatee Village Historical Park, explore historic landmarks brought here for preservation, such as the Bat Fogarty Boat Works, the Stephens’ House, and the Wiggins Store. Behind the park (on an adjacent tract outside the fence) is the city’s oldest cemetery, the 1815 Manatee Burying Ground, where most of the county’s earliest settlers are buried. The nearby business district at 9th St E and FL 64 is the heart of Old Manatee, the first settlement in the county. Josiah Gates claimed his homestead here along the river in 1841.
Manatee Village Historical Park
604 15th St E
Bradenton, FL
941-749-7165
Open from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday and on Sundays from 1:30-4:30 P.M. Closed Saturdays. Closed Sundays in July and August.
