Maybe The Best Marina Ever

Well, we finally peeled ourselves away from Vero Beach.  The forecast for Easter Sunday was for sunny skies and lighter breezes and so, with much excitement, we cast off our mooring line and set our sights on Cocoa Village.  Yes, you remembered correctly, we don't like to travel on the weekends because we have to share the water with too many rude boaters.  However because it was Easter we thought they might have family obligations and so we ventured out and it was fine.

As is often the case with the weather, it wasn't exactly as forecast.  In fact Mother Sun never showed herself and the winds were strong from the North - which is to say they were right on our nose as we motored north.  Actually the winds built as the day wore on and we were covered in salt spray by the time we got to Cocoa (not Larry & I, just the boat).  No big waves, just about a foot or a little more and breaking.  The wind on the nose slowed our speed as well.  All in all not a pick boating day, but hey, it didn't rain!

Our luck changed when we pulled into Cocoa Village Marina.  This was a completely new (to us) stop and oh my goodness we were impressed before we were even docked.  One of my pet peeves is calling a marina on the VHF radio and not having them respond; the second component of this gripe is them having no idea what slip we are to be assigned and asking us to hold on while they figure it out, or giving poor or difficult to understand directions on how to get to the proper slip within the complex (marinas can be like a maze).  Not only did Cocoa Village respond quickly but they gave good and easy to understand instructions; I liked this place already!  After they literally talked us in they had not one, but three staff members on the dock to help take our lines and get us tied - unbelievably wonderful.*  Yes, it was windy, but not dangerously so, we just got the impression this is how they do things there.  Did I mention they were smiling and joking with us.  Oh, and it didn't hurt that they complimented the deck help - umm, that would be yours truly.

Then we went into the office to sign in and, well, I'll let you judge for yourself.



There were game tables & a computer center complete with laser printer



A large conversation/TV area

With a big screen TV and a selection of DVD's

More conversation seating with no TV



A separate room for quiet activities and a game area.

I think I forgot to take a photo of the kitchen area and serving bar for potlucks and parties.  The bathrooms were just as amazing - I didn't take pictures there either.  And the laundry area, well after the last time I mentioned laundry I just want to say that this one was boater heaven.  Four shiny clean washers and the same number of dryers, all in good working order that dried in one cycle, folding table, a cart to move the load from washer to dryer without dropping things on the spotless floor.  I can honestly say that in the past 8 years we have not found a nicer boater's lounge anyplace. 

 

 The little village of Cocoa is charming.  The downtown is just a block from the marina.  There are numerous boutiques, gift shops, galleries, and restaurants.  The historical museum was closed on the day we were there but we'll check it out  on our next visit.  The most special store downtown was Travis Hardware, established in 1885.  This three-story hardware store covered about half of a square block and they had everything from cookware and kitchen items to gasoline powered brush cutters, to boat supplies.  Of course we left a little cash there; we also had a good conversation with the clerk who's son is starting basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, in Missouri next month.

 

 

 

We enjoyed a terrific  lunch at  Ryan's Irish Pub where a generous slice of pizza was only $4.00.  Despite the name, and the Irish décor,  pizza seemed to be their house special and what most folks were eating! 

All in all the entire experience just felt nice, we will be back to Cocoa Village,

 

*almost as good as Columbus Marina T. Caldwell!