I love the story of Paul Kroegel who was what we would call a conservationist or eco-warrior today…read more The Kroegel family name is well known in this area. German immigrant Paul Kroegel arrived in Sebastian in 1881 and homesteaded across from what is now Pelican Island. He fell in love with the birds on the island and became increasingly distressed by the plume hunters arriving daily to kill pelicans, egrets, herons and spoonbills for their feathers during a period of Florida history known as the Feather Wars. In response he started protecting the birds with his shotgun. He partnered with the Audubon Society to get federal protection for the birds. Frank Chapman an ornithologist and curator of the American Museum of Natural History brought Kroegel's story back to Washington, D.C., where it eventually gained the ear of President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt made Pelican Island the first National Wildlife Refuge on March 14, 1903 and Paul Kroegel was hired as the refuge manager, a position he held until 1926. It was a dangerous job and one of Paul's fellow wardens, Guy Bradley, was killed in the Everglades. In honor of his contributions to conservation and the centennial of Pelican Island, there is this statue of Paul Kroegel with his pelicans in Riverview Park in downtown Sebastian. It was created in 2003 by local resident Rosalee Hume who actual knew Paul Kroegel when she was a child. He was known as a gentle man and a renowned boat builder. The statue was placed facing Pelican Island so Paul could keep watch over his beloved birds forever. The inscription on the stature reads "One person can make a difference." and he surely did.

On Pelican Island in Florida in the late 1800s, plume hunters were hunting the birds to sell their…read morevaluable feathers to the fashion industry. Paul Kroegel was a local resident who took it upon himself to protect the island's bird inhabitants. Pelican Island was established as the first National Wildlife Refuge in the country and Kroegel was appointed as its first manager thanks to his efforts. In his honor, this statue stands on the mainland. His eyeline over the Indian River focuses on the Pelican Island refuge. The statue was unveiled in 2003 and depicts Kroegel smoking his pipe with a few pelicans standing safely at his feet. There is a caption that reads, "One person can make a difference. Paul Kroegel, 1864-1948. Audubon Warden, 1901. First Refuge Warden 1902-1926. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Established March 14, 1903." The statue is next to Sebastian's Riverview Park where you'll find parking. [Review 19299 overall - 1647 in Florida - 269 of 2023.]

This resort is the same quality as other DVC resorts I've stayed at in the past. The Beach is great…read moreand so is the pool.... very relaxing vibe vs the hustle of the resorts near the theme park. Unfortunately, my daughter and I were bitten by "no see ums" so much we checked out early.... the staff was so kind and understanding, gave us supplies to Try to calm the bug bites... YES we used the provided bug lotions.. still got bit. My son on the other hand, not one bite and he never put the bug lotion on... I guess she and I had bad luck with bugs... no bug bites I'd rate this place a 4 or 5

We just came back from our trip here and it was AMAZING! This was our first time staying here and…read moreit was so so great!! The resort itself is extremely family friendly, which we loved having our daughter with us. Everyone we interacted with was so helpful and happy! So many cast members were excited to play with our daughter which we loved! When checking in we received the schedule of events, maps and rental guides as well! The room and amenities were clean and well taken care of. Parking was available but not always close to your room, but also the walks weren't bad as everywhere on property was so pretty! All of the rooms had either a balcony or patio space as well. You have private beach access, the ability to rent a variety of beach items, pool, splash pad, mini golf and more! They had a schedule of activities (similar to what you would get on a cruise ship!) and so much to do to stay busy. Overall the resort was beautiful and we can't wait to come visit again!

Magnificent stay! A shot of my old South Florida home-state nostalgia of the 50s and 60s with some…read moremodern updates, comforts and conveniences. This exquisitely refurbished property, along with its manicured landscape, draped in Palm Trees and local well maintained natural flora, and its tranquility well keeps the aura, prestige and Art Deco-ish persona and spirit of the era and the location. The cottage was fabulous. The accommodations are superbly comfortable (the bed was super comfortable) and pleasant with full kitchen - and tools of a full kitchen trade (i.e., coffee maker, silverware, plates - and they offer creamer, coffee, sweetener, and then some... who does that?), a full bath (albeit small by today's standards - not a complaint mind you - leaving more room for comfort and convenience), clean, colorful and beautifully appointed throughout, nice and quiet, and the living area with plenty of room to lounge out and relax after a long day of leisure! The folks here have done a brilliant and thoughtful job of renovation and accommodation! You get your own little patio table and chairs, a small cascading water feature... and a Grill if wish the hassle - not me! Also the property offers its own sandy beach rendezvous area, a nice long dock to stroll, fish in and/or for docking your boat, the place also offers grills, and canoes and kayaks too. They state in their intro "enjoy the old Florida lifestyle" and they're absolutely right and on target. This fabulous hideaway on the Indian River (the intracoastal to the Atlantic) is a marvelous retreat locale for anyone, especially if you're a beach bum or lounger. Peaceful, tranquil and relaxing. Luckily, my daughter lives nearby, so from now on when we visit the family, we have a new place to stay. We fully recommend anyone to stay at the relaxing, leisurely and fabulous Island View Cottages in the exquisitely beautiful Florida Town of Sebastian! It's superb!

Well, cabin fever has set in and my wife and I needed to GET OUT!!! Only problem, was this whole…read moreCOVID 19 thing. So what to do? Last May, there was an article in the Herald talking about IVC in Sebastian FL, right on the Indian River. It sounded too good to be true and when I looked closer online, there were nothing but 5 star reviews! This immediately set off alarms like buying on Amazon and you look at the reviews, all 5 stars, yet all on the same date and within the same hour! Hmmm, but when checking out IVC, these appeared legit! So I got on the phone and spoke with Beth. She was very cordial and explained how careful they all were and each Cottage (while sharing neighboring walls), had their own A/C unit and separate entrance. There were sanitized with Ozone/UV light and sealed with no entry for days before your arrival. Each cottage is different (there are 12), but for us the 7 units that are pet friendly was one of best conveniences. As a dog owner, one knows that a pet can and will have an odor (no matter how hard one tries). But with the Ozone/UV cleaning, the smells are eliminated as well as COVID free, talk about win-win! The cottages vary from single rooms with kitchenette, to multi-rooms with sun porches. They all have either a full or mini fridge and microwave. Best part, you can park right outside your unit and unload, no steps or elevators to deal with! We made reservations and prayed that no Tropical Storm would ruin our Labor Day Weekend at IVC. I can't describe them all, but do check out their website, it is a perfect overview. They are small rustic cottages so keep that in mind. Upon arrival we were met by Tim and Beth, our hosts (from PA), why do I say that? Well there is just something about folks from PA, they just good people (of course I'm one too, so maybe I just recognized a good background when I see it). Tim and Beth both remained at a respectable 10 feet away (yes, it was hard not to shake hands, but sadly our new normal). They gave us the "lay of the land" and informed us that the cancelled July 4th Fireworks were rescheduled to this evening and we had prime seating on the dock! NICE! Our unit (4), was at the end, which normally I would be concern due to road noise (found out later that there were railroad tracks further west, but hardly heard the train at all), the A/C unit which needs to run constantly to keep it cool in the 90+ temps outside, masks any road and train noise. We had a dog bed and doggie towels, along with two small bowls, awaiting for our pup and best of all no old pet smells!!! Even our dog couldn't smell another dog! We unloaded the car (we always bring too much), which required leaving the door open for a long period. This left the unit warm and we were concerned that the small A/C wouldn't cool it off, but a few hours later it was good. We ordered dinner (was hoping for delivery, but the locals don't have that perfected yet, so we did pickup). Food can be a challenge during the age of COVID, but Sebastion has (as of this writing) less than 300 cases, so they don't worry too much about all that. The restaurants, while practicing safety with masks and distancing, don't do much in takeout and delivery. But the food was good and the staff was so nice and friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back and enjoy eating in just for the atmosphere. After diner it was Fireworks time and the show didn't disappoint! Tim and Beth were there too and offered a free beverage to enjoy the show. It did rain at the end, but it was a quick retreat back to our cottage. Next day I got up early, they had local ground coffee in our unit and a pot was brewed. Time for a walk to the dock with coffee and the pup. Ended up sitting there for two hours, just enjoying the river and birds. Dolphins even came by to say hello. A trip to the nearby Inlet (which also had limited entrance due to COVID) was a great way to spend the day. Could have also stayed and borrow a canoe or kayak and paddle out to the barrier island (no charge), but maybe next time. Next day was a nice walk to the local Riverview Park (just up the road). Folks were friendly and respectful of distance. What a wonderful walk with the dog and such a beautiful setting. We had to leave the next day, but not before thanking our hosts Tim and Beth. They were so warm and friendly, it made the trip feel more like visiting family, thanks so much. WE SHALL RETURN!!!

Amazing place with an owner who really takes the time to get to know you and recommend the right…read morepen for you. I have know Joe awhile now and he really cares about each and every customer who walks through his door. He has a great selection of items from major brands and he provides excellent value in every transaction.

Friendly, very helpful with fountain pen selection. One of the rooms for is setup for testing the…read morevarious sizes of nibs to help you decide what you are looking for

Stopped in after a long run and this place treated me way better than I deserved…read more I started with a Coastal Crush Blonde Ale, which is basically Florida in a glass. Light, smooth, a touch of pineapple, and dangerously easy to drink. After that I grabbed an Unruly Amber Ale. That one hit me with toasted malt, a little caramel, and enough bite to wake up my taste buds. Solid beer. No notes. For food I went with the Smokey Black Bean panini and wow it surprised me. Smokey, a little spicy, and packed with flavor. The chipotle ranch ties the whole thing together. Plus they give you hummus and chips on the side, so you feel like you're snacking and eating a whole meal at the same time. Win. The vibe here is great. Indoor seating, outdoor seating, people just chilling, dogs hanging out, locals talking like everyone knows everyone. Super easy to relax here. Overall, Pareidolia just gets it. Good beer, good food, friendly service, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer than you planned. Definitely coming back.

What a surprise this was! Our server Les was wonderful. The guys wanted beers but when I asked for…read morea shandy he asked what it was and then made it happen ( half beer/ half sprite). The food was delicious: Cuban sandwich, gyro, cheese steak , pretzel cheese dip & poutine! Fun pictures & lights all over. They also have outdoor seating & live music. Wonderful evening.

What a TREASURE to find this place! Haha…read more I wasn't expecting to find this site and my found it when looking for things to do in the area near Disney's Vero Beach Resort. We came due to a windy day that made it near impossible to go to the beach, or the pool - or for doing most outside activity with younger kids. So off we went to the museum. I had seen some documentary type films about Mel Fisher's work and heard about his background - but it was very impressive to watch the informative video of the man, his wife and family and the origins talks their treasure finding lives! The history was quite exciting and the museum has wonderful pieces that proved colorful details and fantastic artifacts, as well as excellent guides and exhibits to demonstrate the history and stories shared through the museums many artifacts and their display. Thanks for a job well done and for sharing the TREASURE we found while visiting the museum to learn more about the history of the finds and the family and others that made it all possible. We had a family of 4 - two adults and our 7&9 year old children. Everyone enjoyed it and they offered scavenger hunt type map with information and learning to be used through the visit with special surprises at the end after completing the museum!

It was cool seeing Spanish treasure and learning about the shipwrecks that Mel fisher found.read more

So today we had to go to the post office to re-ship a return shipment from Ireland. Today happens…read moreto be Saturday, as you can imagine it was a very very busy when we got there but we waited no more than 5 or 10 minutes and were helped by a very kind gentleman named David. He provided excellent customer service answered all of our questions and helped us out in every way he possibly could. The employees here create a great atmosphere that allows them to keep impatient people happy while going above and beyond to serve their customers. It's truly a pleasure to ship packages from this post office!

Rudest staff I have ever experienced. This is my first and last time I will ever come to this…read morelocation in Sebastian. One started yelling we close at 12, 6 minutes till and continued making comments on how 3 of us were in there. Card reader machines had issues reading, ended up needing assistance which had me there till 12:01. I felt awful, but this is a emergency overnight for someones mother. I sincerely thanked the 2 men, and women, the yelling worker for his help. His responded was I only want to go home. I told him I know, and apologized again. Thankful for the other post office in town, and its helpful, happy staff.

Amazing organization with professional staff and knowledgeable instructors. Courses were…read moreinformative and enjoyable. Staff assisted me thru the entire registration process. I highly recommend the Academy of Lymphatic Studies for all your educational and continuing credit requirements.

I wish I could give zero stars. I cannot emphasize enough: DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. They take…read morepayment, cancel classes, agree to issue refunds, but then don't. The staff is indifferent and dismissive. I have reported the company to NCBTMB and the BBB.

Gorgeous stunning tranquil full of life, yes please to at least stopping for a stroll…read more The time, energy and planning I can only assume went in to this place is staggering. Working here would seem more a labor of love, surrounded by constant flora and fauna. Turtles, ducks, dragonflies, spiders and lizards joined us in our experience. Bought a hand tool with lifetime warranty plus supported local business. :)) Pricing is fair for the niche market. Happiness! :D You can trust me, this is universal energy. ;D

True, the ground are nice but buying there is another story. Unlike big box stores and many local…read moreprivately owned nurseries, Rock City Gardens does NOT stand by its inventory under new owners (who purchased in 2022) -- yet they charge significantly more than their competitors. Within six weeks of purchasing a Meyer lemon tree, its leaves turned yellow and leaves dropped, despite getting adequate water and overall care. (We're experienced gardeners) Tried to get an exchange, credit or refund -- or even an explanation -- but after several days of unanswered phone and email msgs, we finally heard back from nursery manager Stephanie who blew off our concerns and refused any assistance, citing "it's not our concern once it leaves the property." Over the years, we were devoted customers but things have steadily gone downhill with the new owners and staff.