Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

Charles and Lillie Woodrows

Charles and Lillie Woodrow of Hopkins, South Carolina, have been members of Vacation Inspiration for two years but didn’t decide to take their first trip to Europe until last year.

“We had a good experience, so we booked another vacation this year through Cruises, Travel and Attractions and headed to Hawaii,” said Charles Woodrow. “While we won’t travel as far from home next time, we will definitely utilize our membership with Cruises, Travel and Attractions again.”

A 15-day vacation to Hawaii is a dream vacation and one the Woodrows won’t soon forget – but for another reason.

“We were on a cruise visiting some of the Hawaiian Islands when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan,” Charles explained. “It was incredible, but we were kept informed of what was happening the entire time. The cruise line took us out to sea for about 25 miles to avoid getting hit ourselves. It was definitely a new and once-in-alifetime experience for all of us.”…

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Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

Maggie, Jennifer, Allie, Connie, Gareth and Danette earned a plaque from Royal Carribbean, which cruises to more than 280 destinations in 81 countries worldwide. Acknowledgement from a major cruise line is a nice accomplishment for the CTA team, but what they really enjoy is the recognition they receive from happy members.

The travel agents are knowledgeable about all the major lines and each of their ships, embarkation ports, itineraries, ports-of-call and excursions. Of course, Royal Caribbean is just one of many cruise lines that Cruise, Travel and Attractions offers. They can book members on the huge variety of cruises offered by any cruise company, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Seabourn.

We love cruises because it is such an easy way to see a lot of places,” Chapin said. The Chapins have been members of Cruise, Travel and Attractions for about two years and have taken full advantage of this fantastic travel resource. And CTA makes it easy with cruises on big-name cruise lines.

“We went on an Eastern Mediterranean cruiseand we loved it.” he said, “In fact, we’re going on another cruise this month.” This next cruise will take them to the Eastern Mediterranean for 12 relaxing and fun-filled days. “This cruise will be even better,” Chapin said. “It goes to Istanbul and the Greek Isles but includes some unusual stops such as Alexandria and Cairo.

The Chapins have already used CTA to add two additional cruises to their agenda. In January, they are looking forward to 14 days of sun and fun in the Southern Caribbean. And next June, they’ll board a ship in London for a tour of Northern Europe that will last 12 days and take them as far north as Russia.”

During the last 30 or 35 years, the Chapins have vacationed in South Carolina. They enjoy the lifestyle and beautiful surroundings. On one fateful trip, they paused in Charleston for a little sightseeing. While walking through the Market area, they were given a voucher for a free lunch at Hyman’s Restaurant – a placed they already liked to eat – and decided to listen to the proposal offered by Cruise, Travel and Attractions.

“To begin with, we had doubts because we were not familiar with the company,” Chapin confided, adding, “but it turned out quite well for us. We’ve gotten our initiation fee back already. In fact, we’re a little ahead. We take at least two trips a year, so it works for us.”

There aren’t any doubts. Excellent customer service has convinced the Chapins that Cruise, Travel and Attractions is the only way to book their cruises. Chapin says, “I would recommend Cruise, Travel and Attractions to people who travel regularly. They’ve lived up to my expectations.”

We went with a very open mind to hear what the program was about,” said Lynn.

Bill jumped in saying, “It turned out very interesting.” He continued by explaining that the Cruise, Travel and Attractions folks actively work to find out where you would like to visit – then they come up with suggestions.

“It’s kind of a neat idea,” Bill said.

The Meyers have been members since the summer of 2009, and they were anxious to try a variety of plans offered by Cruise, Travel and Attractions. For example, they wanted to visit Florida’s panhandle, so the staff at Cruise, Travel and Attractions presented several options from which to choose.

“We went for a week at a condo at Emerald Beach, and we were extremely pleased,” Lynn said. “It was just as they said it would be.”

“You could go online and look at the options, so you knew what you were getting,” Bill chimed in.

Another wonderful vacation was a cruise, a first for the Meyers.

“We went out of Mobile,” Lynn explained. “All our questions were answered ahead of time. We were a little apprehensive because it was our first cruise, but everything fell into place.”

“We had a great time,” Bill added. With such great experiences during their first years of membership, the Meyers look forward to much more travel during their retirement years. And there is no doubt they will continue to save money during those vacations.

“They not only give you the best price available, you get a rebate on top of that,” Bill said.

The savings are impressive. Bill estimates they saved between $1,500 and $1,800 in just their first year. “I was impressed when I added up the
numbers,” he said.

The Meyers are looking forward to trying some of the “hot weeks” Cruise, Travel and Attractions offers, when prices are exceptionally reasonable. They have also shared their experiences with friends, many of whom “are in awe,” according to Lynn. “We’re glad we took a bit of a risk to join, because the results have been great,” Lynn added.

Bill agreed wholeheartedly. “It’s a good deal,” he said.

But there’s a better way that marries safety and savings of your time and money – one that fits your schedule, fulfills your dreams and falls within the guidelines of your own budget. Cruises, Travel and Attractions (CTA), as seen on The Travel Channel, is now open in Tampa, Florida and offering discounts and services to Florida residents. CTA bridges the gap between financial considerations and customer service by customizing any type of vacation, anywhere in the world at the lowest price possible-then sweetening the pot by rebating a portion of the cost of the vacation back to you.

CTA Makes Your Life Simple, Makes Vacation Relaxing

“We can design any type of vacation, and, regardless of how much time it takes, we’ll put together the vacation that’s right for you. We really like helping people get what they want,” said CTA Sales Manager Mark Young. “In addition to our high level of customer service, the low prices and rebate can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime.”

Cruises, Travel and Attractions does business with most of the world’s top cruise lines, offering vacation possibilities that will take you places spanning virtually the entire globe: Alaska, New England, Italy, Africa, India, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the North Sea, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, South America and even Antarctica, and every place in between.

“We can get you on any cruise line, in any type of cabin and in any price range,” Young said. “With most travel agents, you’ll have to pay for their markups and commissions. And if you try to do it yourself on the internet, you might be rerouted to India or someplace like that. We provide top-of-the-line customer service, and it doesn’t cost you a penny.”

CTA’s Discount Vacations and Buying Power

Young explains that Cruises, Travel and Attractions is able to offer deep discounts on quality vacations at locations throughout the world because the company uses the same concept utilized by wholesale clubs such as Sam’s and Costco. Since it provides services to thousands of members and many of them vacation often, Cruises, Travel and Attractions is able to purchase large blocks of space at most of the world’s top resort destinations. The company prides itself on its success in negotiating the best possible price for the clients.

Young points out that even when the national economy is sluggish, Caribbean cruises and vacations at beaches all along the East Coast remain popular among the company’s clients, due in no small part to CTA’s smart buying power. In other words, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will make it easy for you to plan memorable vacations and save money, as well.

“We have created our resort search system to allow you to choose the areas you would like to visit, as well as the number of bedrooms and the time of year, be it prime or low-demand season,” he said. “You simply submit this information on your vacation voucher, and we will find you the nearest match for your request from our inventory of top destinations.”

Vacations, Cruises and Tours, Oh My!

Vacation condos in most of the world’s top resort locations are also available to CTA members. Destinations range from Tampa and Savannah to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the mountains of the Western United States, Central America, Hawaii and Europe, and their average cost is only around $599 per week, according to Cruises, Travel and Attraction’s Mark Young.

Tours are also popular among CTA members. Possibilities include the Branson Music Holiday; Mackinac Island, featuring the Grand Hotel; Antarctica; Italian lakes and Greek Islands, featuring a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise; the Canadian Rockies by rail; the Wonders of Iceland; and Europe’s Christmas markets, featuring Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland.

‘Hot Weeks’ feature vacations at destinations throughout the United States and abroad. For those who love the beach, options include Brigantine, NJ; Kaunakakai, Molokai, Hawaii; Cancun, Mexico; Ventnor, NJ; Fort Walton Beach, FL; Hilton Head Island, SC; and Myrtle Beach, SC. The mountains are also popular, at Teton Creek Resort, Idaho; Heber City, Utah; and Granby, Colorado; while other ‘hot’ locations frequented by CTA members include Las Vegas, Stowe, VT; Reno, Nevada; and Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic.

GRANDPA HARDEE SAYS that when Cocoa was still a settlement called Indian River City, there was nowhere a man could get a drink to lift his spirits unless he went all the way to Titusville. The trip alone deserved a healthy drink, but then you had to come all the way back.

Rightly enough, some enterprising young man began to bring a supply of liquor back home with him and sell a drink or two in the store on Delannoy Avenue.

Now who it was that thought a place of this kind needed protection I don’t know. Or perhaps some wife was trying to discourage patrons from entering the building. In any case, somebody went out into the scrub and captured a wild cat and chained him in front of the door.

Wild cats as big as a German shepherd roamed the woods and could be heard screaming in the night. There were bears and deer out there, too, and birds you wouldn’t believe-canaries, mockingbirds and parakeets.

Anyway, Grandpa Hardee says this wild cat would snarl and lunge at anyone entering he saloon. Men would tease him, but they never got too close. Whether the business had a name before this or not, I guess is unimportant, because from then on it was the Wild Cat Saloon.

Now, as I say, I swear I can remember seeing that cat chained there, barely restraining his wild animal instincts, but A.C. Fiske thinks otherwise. Not to embarrass me in front of my captivated audience when he once heard me tell this story, he waited until we were alone to set me straight. It seems Mr. Fiske bought the Wild Cat Saloon building in 1903, tore it down, and rebuilt it as it now stands, owned by Robert Gould. In 1903, I had not entered this world yet.

Appropriately enough, that building is now an antique store.

HISTORIC COCOA VILLAGE, within easy driving distance of Florida’s bustling theme parks in Orlando and virtually within hearing distance of the thunderous rockets that soar skyward from the Kennedy Space Center, provides a relaxing link to the past amid the cacophony of the present.

Bordered by the Indian River, State Road 520 and Brevard Avenue, Cocoa’s restored downtown offers a wide variety of businesses, an active calendar of events and a glimpse of what life was like in coastal Florida long before families flocked to Disney World and scientists turned the fantasy of space travel to reality.

Cocoa, a town of almost 17,000 people on Florida’s central coast, was founded by fishermen in 1860. The first commercial building was constructed in the early 1880s in what was then called Indian River City. Apparently, U.S. Postal authorities deemed the name too long for a postmark. Several different stories are still in circulation concerning how the name Cocoa was chosen. The city survived a disastrous downtown fire in 1890 and a brutal freeze in the winter of 1894-95 that destroyed the area’s citrus crop and crippled the industry that had given the Florida coast a taste of prosperity.

Many of the Village’s early 20th century buildings remain. The Porcher House, included on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1916 by Edward Postell Porcher, a pioneer in the citrus industry, and his wife, who was the first postmistress of nearby Merritt Island. Today, the house is open to the community for meetings, weddings, parties and luncheons.

The oldest commercial wooden structure in Historic Cocoa Village is the Sur Le Parc Building, which means “on the Park” in French. Built in the 1880s by dressmaker Julia Roberts, it reportedly was the only building on Delannoy Avenue to survive the fire. It was moved to Florida Avenue in 2006.

The Masonic Temple, also known as the Village Tower, is a three-story brick building dating back to 1919. Allegedly a favorite watering hole during Prohibition, it houses several Cocoa Village businesses today.

What is now known as the Cocoa Village Playhouse was built as the Aladdin Theater in 1924 for what then was an astronomical sum of $80,000. It served as a movie house in the 1940s and, according to local lore, is occasionally haunted by a ghost named Joe.

No organization has done more to honor Cocoa Village’s past than the Mosquito Beaters, formed in the 1980s by George L. “Speedy” Harrell to preserve the history of towns including Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. Originally designed to unite people who lived in the area before 1950, the organization is now open to all current and former residents of central Brevard County.

The following are excerpts from Central Brevard Mosquito Beaters “Memory Books” that have been published over the years.

NESTLED ALONG THE EAST COAST of Central Florida, 21 Riverside is a modern condominium that is surrounded by the echoes of the prosperous past. Located in the Historic Cocoa Village, the condominium offers a stunning river- front penthouse that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and provides 180-degree views of the Indian River, the Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Village and Merritt Island.

Imagine witnessing history-making launches from your 10th-floor wraparound balcony or daydreaming about the many carefree cruise ships entering and leaving Port Canaveral. It is not easy to find places that willingly embrace the past while observing the future, but 21 Riverside in Historic Cocoa Village pulls it off with élan.

This spacious penthouse with 10-foot ceilings offers a gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, cherry cabinetry, granite counter tops and a butler’s pantry that includes
additional appliances such as a wine cooler, extra refrigerator and dishwasher. The three bathrooms are luxurious, and hardwood, carpet and marble tile flooring is throughout the residence.

“There are only 15 units in this building which is unusual,” states Donna Sullivan, Realtor for Interactive Realty in Brevard County, Florida.

Two units occupy nine floors, while the penthouse claims the entire 10th-floor. The small building and private elevator provides the seclusion many owners seek. Located in the heart of a town that survived a disastrous fire in 1890 and a brutal freeze ia few years later, 21 Riverside is surrounded by historic homes to the west and south.The complex was built in 2004 on a former home site, while a nearby residence was moved by barge and will soon be made into a bed and breakfast, preserving monuments of the past.

The building is within walking distance of Historic Cocoa Village, which offers fine dining, shopping and other attractions that include a community theater and a beautiful city park. Listed at $2,350,000, the penthouse will surely bring its owner tremendous joy and a small piece of Cocoa’s vitality.

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