The A Day Away Story

A Day Away was born in 1996 to Titusville native and Eco Tourism enthusiast Laurilee Thompson. At that time it was known as "Osprey Outfitters". Soon after its birth the business received a new name as it changed hands from LaurieLee to Mr. Rick Shaffer - A Day Away Kayak Tours - with its base of operation being the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Rick was training in the medical field and unable to focus his full attention on the struggling little business.

Now enter the current owners, Mike and Elisabeth Mahan. In late 2004 Mike came across Rick while looking for kayaks to use within an outdoor adventure ministry. After the purchase of some kayaks and a short conversation, Mike came home very surprised to be the new owner of A Day Away Kayak Tours. His initial plan was to involve some students and have some fun using the business as a tool for learning. In Early 2005 through a series of life changing events Mike began working the business himself with a small group of friends. And, by mid-2005, A Day Away Kayak Tours was again up and running full time offering tours on the Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge.

What an adventure Mike and Elisabeth have been on since those early days in 2005. Constant growth and evolution have been the norm...from running one very old van and trailer with 20 seats and 2 staff, to our current fleet of 4 vehicles; 4 trailers; 96 seats (replaced annually); a small motorized fleet and a 6 passenger pontoon boat. A Day Away has also grown to employ a seasonal staff of 20-24 guides, operations manager and office staff all of which are more like a family than a group of employees. In 2015 A Day Away was awarded the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor.

In our rushed electronic world which often leaves people nature deprived, Mike and Elisabeth have made the goal of A Day Away to offer quality tours with quality equipment led by people of excellence ensuring every participant a reconnect with nature that leaves them in awe of the amazing creation surrounding them.

History of the Playhouse

Established as the Aladdin Theater, the doors opened to the public on August 18th, 1924, showing silent movies. Later, Brevard's first "talkie" movie house became known as "the showplace of the Indian River Section". Several owners and several decades later, the building was purchased by the City of Cocoa and renamed The Cocoa Village Playhouse. In August of 1984, Brevard Community College District Board of Trustees acquired the building for $1 with the understanding that the college would take the responsibility of ownership and make the theatre operate in the best interest of the community. The Trustees immediately established a 501(c)(3) not for profit Direct Support Organization with its own Board of Directors who were given the responsibility of raising funds to make the Playhouse self-supporting. Through donations from individuals, organizations, corporations and grants from Foundations, as well as the State of Florida, the Playhouse was restored, made operational, and began producing community based musicals in 1989 featuring local volunteer performers.

Known to all as "Broadway on Brevard", this team of volunteers and staff are truly an example of one of the highest quality community theatres in our country.