I wanted to start a new series of posts from other awesome Florida moms from around the state. They are the best ones to ask about their hometown…and find the kid and family friendly spots from the locals. I am already busy planning our family trips for the next year and have started messaging moms that I know… I figured I should post those tips and tricks with other parents too!
I have followed Megan on Instagram for a few years @lattesandplaydates, and even though we don’t live in the same town, I love seeing all of the different Florida spots in her stories.
Tell us about yourself and your family
My name is Megan, I’m a stay at home mom, and I’m married to a computer nerd (Okay, “sales engineer” for a software company) named Brandon who, surprisingly, doesn’t act very nerdy. 😉
I met my husband after I joined a sport bike group in 2008. I figured it would be a good way to save on gas money and meet a guy and lo and behold, I was right! We’ve been married 8 years and have a 6 year old daughter named Brynlee. She’s our only child because 1) we had to go through two rounds of IVF to have her and 2) I was NOT a fan of the newborn stage. We’re pretty happy being a family of three.
What part of Florida do you live in? How long have you lived there?
I live in Melbourne next to Cocoa Beach and have been basically been here all my life. I grew up in Rockledge, 20 minutes down the road, then went to Florida State University where I got a Bachelor’s in Finance before returning to Rockledge. After moving in with my husband, I’ve been in Melbourne ever since. We moved to a new house in 2014 and are a little closer to my mom who still lives in Rockledge.
If someone were to come to your town, where must they go?
The Brevard Zoo is a great spot for every age, especially during the summer when the splash pad is open. If you’re into space things, the Kennedy Space Center isn’t far.
Wickham Park has a great playground and there are lots of areas to walk, a dog park if you have a furry friend, some pavilions to have lunch, a campground, and a few other amenities. We have quite a few indoor trampoline places such as Sky Zone and Planet 3 but our favorite is Urban Air in the Avenues of Viera. Speaking of The Avenues, it’s a great place to go for everything from Urban Air to eating to shopping.
Of course, there are a few different beaches out along A1A in Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, and Indialantic, so if that’s your thing (I’m NOT a beach person.), you’ve got a lot to choose from. There are a couple small animal farms not far from here like the Obloy Family Ranch in Merritt Island and LaPorte Farms in Sebastian.
Describe how your part of Florida is for families looking to move to the area or go on vacation. Be our tour guide…
We live in a prime vacation spot because the cruise port, Port Canaveral, is just down the road. We have Ron Jons Surf Shop about 15 minutes away, and there are beaches galore.
As far as living here, this location is perfect because you’re in the middle: Orlando is an hour away and Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami are 2.5 to 3 hours away. It’s a family friendly town without being a large, busy city. We also have some great schools!
What is something you love about being a Florida Mom?
It’s nice to be able to do things outside 12 months out of the year. Granted, it can get pretty hot and humid but at least we have a breeze from the ocean and it’s always a good excuse to hop in the pool.
This Florida Mom 