Page 64 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA

cultural pearl that supports the arts through
galleries, museums, local stores and antiques.
You will find a combination of poets, dancers,
potters and painters in this cute neighbor-
hood. Commonly referred to as EGAD, it is
home to Brevard County’s top fine art galleries
and the Foosaner Art Museum. First Friday
events take place in the Community Garden
next to the bandshell. Come for hands-on
artmaking, music and kids’ activities.
Visit Historic Cocoa Village and catch a
show at Cocoa Village Playhouse, part of the
community since 1924 and listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Situated between Cocoa Beach and
Orlando, the award-winning main-street
community of DeLand holds onto its past as
it moves into modern times. DeLand is a
thriving community full of pride and
passion that is apparent by its numerous art
DAYTONA 500 • DAYTONA BEACH AREA CVB
murals, friendly patrons, shops and
galleries. The Athens Theatre is a master-
ARTS AND CULTURE museum’s Florida-centered mission. The piece of Italian Renaissance architecture,
In historic Fort Pierce, the nearly 100-year- outdoor Mural Plaza opens onto a park that offering classic movies, independent films
old Sunrise Theatre, a beautiful performing borders the Indian River Lagoon and offers and live entertainment.
arts venue, hosts top-notch entertainers, a place for fresh air and artistic inspiration. The Hub on Canal, in New Smyrna Beach
comedy acts, musicians and performing Located in the middle of Central East (NSB), is unsurpassed for its individuality
artists. Also on the downtown waterfront of Florida, Vero Beach has two very special and original artworks. More than 50 artists
Fort Pierce, the A.E. Backus Museum & venues. The Riverside Theatre runs six off- convene in this contemporary exhibit hall,
Gallery houses the nation’s largest public Broadway performances per season and a which doubles as a workspace where
exhibition of artwork by Florida’s preemi- Comedy Club event on select weekends. visitors can observe artists at work and buy
nent painter, A.E. Backus, as well as the Second is the Vero Beach Museum of Art, directly from them. This is only one venue
state’s only permanent multimedia exhibi- which houses regional, state and national art within the town’s four-block radius that
tion on the Florida Highwaymen. Changing exhibits. Admission is free on the last makes up the Arts District filled with
exhibits from artists of national and Saturday of the month. boutiques, galleries and cafés. Be sure to
international acclaim round out the Melbourne’s Eau Gallie Arts District is a check out the Atlantic Center for the Arts,
which draws aspiring artists from across
5 MUST-SEE and painting, creating unique unified
the country to study dance, poetry, writing

ATTRACTIONS
experiences.
A newer artsy community is located in
the greater Daytona Beach area. A visit to the
1 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY: Museum of Arts & Sciences (affiliated with
daytonainternationalspeedway.com
the Smithsonian) gives you access to a train
2 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX, MERRITT ISLAND: and railroad station exhibit, the Root Family
kennedyspacecenter.com
collection of Coca Cola memorabilia,
3 MEL FISHER’S TREASURES, MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP, SEBASTIAN: priceless Cuban and Chinese art displays,
melfisher.com/Sebastian/Sebastian_Museum.asp
and the favorite giant ground sloth in the
4 NATIONAL NAVY UDT-SEAL MUSEUM, FORT PIERCE: Prehistory of Florida Gallery. Check out the
navysealmuseum.org
Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, home
5 STETSON MANSION, DELAND: to the largest private collection of Florida-
stetsonmansion.com themed oil and watercolor paintings in the
world, with many dating back to the 1800s.

62 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA