travel and day trip ideas

 We took a spontaneous trip down to the Vero Beach Museum of Art and recommend you go see the current exhibit:

‘James Prosek: At Work’.  It's on view July 11–October 25, 2026
(make sure you see the shark!)  
It's only about an hour drive South from central Brevard.
There's free admission every 2nd Saturrday + some special events.  Regular adult admission is $12 and kids 17 and under are free plus they offer free admission for Veterans and active miliatry.

The museum is nice and cool and has 2 other exhibits with one being the plan for the new museum building, opening in 2028.

After you've strolled through the galleries we suggest you head out toward Ocean drive and grab a bite to eat or some ice cream.  There's parking right along the water if you head North a little bit and a super cute playround right on the beach across from the Kilwin's if you head South.

Here's a fun idea for the family-

Take a little drive down US1 to Mel Fisher's Treasures in Sebastian.

Giant emeralds, gold and silver bars and more await!

We visited during June and it was worth the trip! There's a movie about the expedition then you can tour the treasures, learn some history and even hold a 5 pound gold bar!  It's only $8 for adults, $6 for Seniors, $4 for kids 5-12 and 4 and under are FREE!  Add in lunch at one of the local spots or a picnic at Riverview park and you've got a great little, budget-friendly outing.

Summer adventure idea from Brevard Buzz:

Scallop season starts in mid June and runs through late September in Florida (depending on the County)!

If you're a family of water lovers, it's worth a trip to the Crystal River area.  It's only about a 3 hour drive from Brevard depending on time of day, so you could do a weekend trip easily.

We checked (June 2026)and there's still dates available at hotels for about $200-$400/night and Airbnb's for about $200-$700/night depending on property size.  And more importantly there are boat rentals available.  Try checking Twin Rivers Marina for boat rentals or Pete's Pier Marina for scallop trips/tours.

*There are some specific rules and regulations surrounding scalloping so make sure you check myfwc.com for details.

While you're there be sure and visit Three Sisters Springs.  It's only accessible by water craft and it's beautiful!

Make sure you pack lots of sunscreen, snorkel gear and pool noodles are great to float on while you're snorkeling or visiting the spring.

There are grocery stores and some quaint old Florida style restaurants in the area.

Get some friends or the family together and hit the road to see some of Florida's best holiday lights!

Just a short 2-3 hours away from our county, 

St. Augustine Nights of Lights features over 3 million lights in the picturesque historic district.

Our recommendation is to book a carriage ride.  You wind through some of the prettiest streets and will learn a bit about the history of the city.

Once you're done you can stroll to a restaurant (we like Casa Reina), listen to live music and do some Christmas shopping.

This is a free event, but be prepared to pay for parking or an uber if you are staying at a hotel that isn't within walking distance.

There are lots of hotels in the area.  If you don't mind a little drive over the bridge of Lions,  St. Augustine Beach has some too.  And there are lots of AirBNB's too.  

Pro-tips:  Book early and go during the week. Or on an off weekend.  If you go on a holiday weekend (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve) Be prepared to rub elbows with some strangers as the sidewalks and roads can get very crowded.

And it can be much chillier there than down here in Brevard so be sure and check the forecast before you go!