The Melbourne Beach Park

Love the beach here, but I love beaches everywhere lol. The sand here seems to be browned and not as set in as other beaches. That may make it a little bit harder to walk.
Lucky for us we went later in the day. We went around 7 pm on an august day. It was still day light but it would get dark soon. The bottom of the beach in the water was nice and flat. Clean, no rocks or obstructions.
Waves were nice, not too rough where it would abruptly push you out of the water.
There are more waves than the gulf side of Florida like by clearwater so it’s nice yet scary to me at the same time. I didn’t want to go very far away from shore.
The water was oh so refreshing definitely not like water in the Gulf on a summer day.
I dipped in the water than brought my beach chairs by the coast. Laid there, closed my eyes, & listened to the sound of the now more powerful waves. So relaxing and I wish I could just stay right there.
Once you start leaving, and get closer to the parking lot where parking is free, you see picnic tables and bathrooms as well as a shower. Since it was later, the garbage cans are filled to the rim, but least you know people do dispose of their garbage instead of leaving it on the beach.
On the other side of the beach is a restaurant and bar called sand on the bar. Have a meal and a drink. At night you can’t see the beach, but you can surely hear it.

3 stars, because you cannot bring pets here, even leashed. The boardwalk is nice though, and goes out a little ways into the Indian River. There is also a board with some historical information about Melbourne Beach, and a replica stretch of railroad track from a railroad that reached the ocean across the river at one point.

Lovely little park w/​sun shaded picnic tables on the dunes right next to one of the nicest beaches in the area.
A supermarket is right next door for the convenience of putting together a lunch. Take away food is available from 3 or 4 close by eateries.
Caution: No beer allowed and there seems to always be cops driving through the car park.