A Quiet Retreat on Florida's Space Coast: Tuckaway Shores Resort
I love driving down Florida's A1A highway: the ocean is right there, and if you're not in a tropical state of mind before you get on the road, you will be within in the first quarter mile.
When my daughter and I head down to the Space Coast, we didn't arrive until after dark, but I could still feel those island vibes and hear the roar of the Atlantic as we hopped on AIA and headed towards our hotel: Tuckaway Shores in Indiatlantic, Florida.
After staying at Tuckaway Shores for three nights, I'm happy to say that it's a fantastic place to base your Space Coast explorations.
History
Back in 1979, the Tuckaway Shores Resort first opened its doors to the growing number of vacationers visiting the Space Coast. The resort rapidly grew, and, in 1989, the third floor was added to the original structure to accommodate the number of guests. In 2005, the current owners purchased the hotel. Jacqui McPhillips, one of the current owners, wanted to convert one of the units into a vacation home for herself; that decision led her and her partner to turn all of the units into independently owned ones. Today, the units are all managed to the same standards through the efforts of Ms. McPhillips and her staff.Ms. McPhillips, who also serves as the resort's general manager, has a passion for independent lodging, and her enthusiasm for Tuckaway Shores and the Melbourne area is apparent. She told me that she wants her guests to feel like family when they visit, and I think that she and her staff succeed marvelously.
Location
During our time on the Space Coast, my daughter and I were all over the place: the Kennedy Space Center, the Brevard Zoo, the Eau Gallie Arts District, and several places in between. I was really pleased at how close Tuckaway Shores was to all of the major attractions in the area while still being right on the beach.Tuckaway Shores is located in quaint Indiatlantic, which is just a few minutes from historic downtown Melbourne and the hustle and bustle of Indian Harbour Beach. Unlike the other communities along AIA, Indiatlantic has height restrictions on their buildings, so the moment that you cross over 192 towards Tuckaway Shores, you feel like you're in a neighborhood instead of on a neon-lit strip. Everything in Indiatlantic is more laid back, more peaceful, and more homelike than in the surrounding areas, which is the perfect atmosphere for a family beach vacation.
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| When your mom is a travel blogger, you learn that you've got to take lots pictures. And in matching outfits, naturally. |
Just a mile south of Tuckaway Shores is Brevard County's last remaining independently owned grocery store: Melbourne Beach Market. You can pop down to the market for freshly made pasta salads, an adult beverage from their extensive wine and beer selection, a gigantic slice of pizza (my daughter and I split a piece, and we had to put it across two paper plates!), or fresh seafood. In the same shopping center are an ice cream shop and a few Italian places.
Room
I stayed in room 208, which is a corner room on the second floor. All of the rooms at Tuckaway Shores aren't really rooms--they're tiny apartments!
All of the units come with a bedroom area, a bathroom, a kitchenette (including a stove, microwave, and refrigerator), and a living area (with a pullout couch for when families are traveling together).
I liked that the kitchenettes come fully equipped with silverware, plates, cups, paper towels, dish soap, and even salt and pepper shakers. Basically, guests just have to show up with their favorite foods, and then clean up when they leave: everything else is provided.
Since we were on the go so much during our trip to the Space Coast, it was really nice to know that I could bring my daughter back to the room, cook a quick dinner, and just relax on our balcony as the sun went down. When it got dark, we would snuggle on the couch and watch a movie, or we'd prop ourselves up in the bed to watch a television show on the flat screen in there.
The unit was plenty large enough for the two of us, and I could see a family of four spending plenty of time in the room without feeling cramped.
When you're planning your stay at Tuckaway Shores, I'd highly recommend getting one of the ocean front rooms since you'll get a completely unobstructed view of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean which is right there. The ocean side rooms provide a partial view. In my humble opinion, if you've gotten this close to the water, you might as well go big or go home, and spring for the room right on the beach!
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| The view from our balcony--it might have been foggy, but I'll take that view any day of the week! |
Service
After a long drive from South Carolina, I was so happy to walk into the Tuckaway Shores office and see some smiling faces. Owner and general manager Jacqui McPhillips welcomed my daughter and I into the resort and was quick to offer help in getting to my room. Every one of the staff who I met while visiting (from the cleaning staff to the front desk staff) was polite and friendly and seemed happy to work there. They were never to busy to stop and wave to my daughter either![Update 2017: Jacqui McPhillips has recently retired and has been replaced by an equally capable husband and wife team!]
Also, Tuckaway Shores is a member of the Florida Superior Small Lodging Association, a group that holds its independent hotels to a high standard; when you see a FSSLA sign outside of an independently owned hotel, you'll be able to book a room with confidence in the quality of service, cleanliness, and amenities. I love supporting independent accommodations whenever possible on my travels, and I've have had some wonderful experiences with other FSSLA hotels, too (read about those here)!
Amenities
Even though I was there for three nights, I still didn't come close to scratching the surface of everything that comes included with a stay at Tuckaway Shores.Each morning, the staff puts out coffee in the main office for guests who need a java jolt (there's also a coffee maker in each room).
The pool is heated, and my daughter was all too happy to play in it while we there there. Seriously, 80 degree weather in January will never, ever get old. The pool has both a shallow end for the beginning swimmers and a deep end--up to 6 feet--for those looking to try out their favorite stroke. Pool toys are kept in a bin next to the fence, so you don't have to worry about packing your own.
If you're there for the beach (and, let's face it, who isn't!?), you'll be able to use the resort's boogie board, noodles, and other beach toys that are located near the outdoor showers.
There's an onsite grill for guests to use, but it's not your standard tiny grill. Tuckaway Shores has one of those awesome Big Green Egg cookers--and they'll even give you the wood chips and utensils and show you how to use it.
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My wonderful experiences with the Florida Superior Small Lodging Association continue with Tuckaway Shores, and I'm happy to recommend this cute, quaint, Old-Florida style resort to anyone visiting the Space Coast. If you're planning a visit, know that February, March, June, and July are the busiest months for the resort. If you can hold off your travels until the fall, you'll have your pick of the rooms and a nearly deserted beach with all of the wonderful temperatures that Florida offers year round.
I know that I'll be heading back here again in the future, hopefully, with my husband in tow so he can experience this slice of Florida sunshine with us.
I was provided with a comped two night stay and purchased a third night at a media rate in exchange for a review. As always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you choose to book through one of the links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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