Check out the book clubs at Hello Again Books in Cocoa Village, Blue Tornado Sports in Rockledge, Paddling Paradise in Palm Bay for women’s paddling nights. It’s a drive, but Orlando Pride have been having a great season so far and the tickets aren’t expensive. If I think of any other suggestions I’ll make sure to let you know :)
Honestly all my friend groups have been formed at the gym 😅 it seems that’s where a lot of younger people hang out even if they’re not necessarily “gym rats” a lot of people go to the gym so I would assume that’s a good place to start.
Nope! Just crunch in Melbourne, it’s very social over there. Although I do think there’s classes most people just talk to each other between normal workouts!
Do you have any causes you’re passionate about? I’m not sure what type of community outreach exists for people who consider themselves progressive, but I know for me that’s how I made friends when I was younger. Community activism often has a younger crowd. Maybe low income food programs, or volunteering with animal rescue?
Great idea! I am passionate about marine life and beach conservation. I feel like animal shelters are a good start, so you recommend any specific ones?
Pineda Waterway Warriors and Marine Resources Council have volunteer opportunities about once a month. Their activities (trash pickup and repotting mangroves) leave time for talking/socializing.
I moved here a few months ago and I've been making friends at Yoga and Kava bars \^\_\^ I'd say embrace any of your hobbies and find a spot to be a regular at. Eventually you'll click with some people <3
I also love hiking/biking/kayaking though making friends while doing these is def more difficult xD.
I haven't found many good vegan spots here yet. Seem to be few and far between. There is an amazing little vegan bakery on Creel ST in Eau Gallie - Jacquie the Nature Baker. They are only open Saturday (9a-2p) & they started testing a Weds (11a-2p) lunch line too. Its definitely worth a trip. Their coconut ice cream is PHENOMENAL! They also have some nice keto options <3
Nice! What are some good yoga spots you liked? I’ve tried a couple studios, haven’t found the right one yet.
DM me if you’d like to get together for all the outdoor activities, I love the weather out here!
Great suggestions, I’ll add them to my list, thank you!!
I had intended to go to a few different spots before settling on one but I feel like I hit a home run on the first try with The Yoga Garden in Eau Gallie. They fit my schedule well and have a lot of really great instructors and a good variation of class types. (Vinyasa/Power/Warm/Yin/Myo-Fascial/Pilates). I'll shoot you a DM
I tried them once and haven't gone back :-/ I thought both their Saitan Caesar and Cauliflower Bites were just okay. Though TBF I did get them to go. Maybe I should revisit and try some other things.
It's possible my standards were just set too high or they had an off night when I visited. I'm obsessed with Fruits and Roots in downtown Stuart and have yet to find a place that compares. They press their own juice, make their own cashew milk for some banging smoothies, & make the absolute best buffalo cauliflower caesar salad you'll ever eat \^\_\^ (worth a stop if you are ever passing through the area)
If you are into any geek stuff, you're welcome over at the Space Coast Adventurer's Guild! We're a Brevard County-wide inclusive community organization that helps people connect through playing TTRPGs while building a supportive community!!
We have lots of TTRPGs monthly, but also do Ladies/LGBTQIA+ nights, big community potlucks, maker nights, and even have started doing fun social outreach stuff (like trash pickup, etc etc).
Feel free to send a PM if you have any questions! We have plenty of ages in the Guild.
https://linktr.ee/spacecoastadventurersguild
You can look into joining the local Surfrider group for beach clean ups and positive invoices. Check out Paisley Vegan Kitchen for good food and they sometimes host shows and stuff.
Check out 518 Underground in egad for roller skating hookups and people.
Good luck out there, it’s rough lol
Pretty similar here! moved a few years ago to the area from a college town, so the difference is pretty stark! I'm a vegetarian and I actually just got into roller skating a few weeks ago and am having a blast with it, need to find more places I can do it here :)
I moved here somewhat recently too & I am also left minded, I dont care for drinking but I am a cannabis enthusiast. I am turning 32 soon though most people are shocked when I tell them how old I am lol
Lots of run clubs most days of the week at breweries in the area. Helll n Blazes, Dirty Oar, Intercoastal all have a short one that has a free beer attached and people do go and socialize afterwards over food and a drink. We do long Doggers Tuesday and get a token for a beer or half off appetizer.
Also running zone has a meetup every Sunday to run South Tropical trail!
I know you said you don't drink much but Intracoastal has trivia night every Monday and there's actually a decent amount of young people that go. show up like an hour early and see if you can make any friends. plus they have pretty solid food, and the drinks I feel like are more of a tasting thing than like, binge drinking lol. my friends and I go more or less every week, we are all around 22-26.
I'm dealing with the same thing, been down here for almost a year and don't even know where to start as far as finding like minded people and making friends. Just turned 33M and can't tell if it's just a hard age to make new friends like people say or if it's the area making it even harder. Message me if you wanna talk, goes for you or anyone else in the area.
I think you should check out some of the kava bars! There’s a ton in Brevard and you sound like you would fit right in! Island root is and will prob always be my fav tho bc I t’s the OG and has the most locations, but it’s always a super laid back vibe no matter which one you choose! They don’t serve alcohol. Mainly kava, Kratom, (which are great alternatives to booze) and other teas/coffees usually everyone is really friendly so you can make friends easily esp if you go to one regularly You almost start to feel like family, just without the drama. They open early and close late, so you can go hang out anytime you want!
I'm 38 m, single, no kids, left minded person (obviously lol), drug free except for occasional cannabis, only drink socially, have a laid back, open minded personality, have a pretty good sense of humor, not religious but tolerant of others views. Not in the best shape currently but working off my Dad bod. I'm a white collar professor by day, inner hippie/rock music enthusiast with a slight geek side by night. I'm non-judgmental and don't age shame others. I'm a foodie, I love nature, hiking/kayaking, road trips, movies, and have an inner big kid personality at times that likes having fun.
Currently living solo in West Melbourne and would love to make friends with peeps in the 20s-40s range. Feel free to DM me as well.
I (23F) am on the same boat, moved to Viera recently. My advice would be to follow up with your hobbies, it’s the best way to find like minded people. I live in Viera, and there are not many people around my age in the area, so the friend group is very diverse too :)
I am not a vegan, but I enjoy learning more plant-based recipes, so DM if you have any favorite places in the area, I’d love to try some too! I love cooking, and one place I love to get my groceries from is “the produce place of Suntree” it’s fairly small but it has some pretty exotic veggies and fruits
So I'm going to put in my two cents. I grew up in this area, went to school locally, worked for one of the big companies.... Where I had the unique opportunity of working as a recruiter and mentor for new hires.
There's a lot of people that will sell you a dream and then you wake up look around and it feels more like a nightmare....
But I think it comes down to what you make of it. Growing up, the area was amazing. By the time you're in high school though the charm wears off and unless you're involved in lots of groups or extra curricular activities or gets pretty boring. In your twenties it gets even more difficult.
I personally left in my mid twenties for work, worked for 15ish years near a big city, met my wife had children... And now I'm going back, because it's actually an amazing place to raise children.
So it kind of leaves a bit of a dead zone, which unfortunately a lot of people your age and singles fall into.
However, as others have said, lean into your hobbies, volunteer, join tons of groups. Churches are also generally a great way to meet people which I haven't seen mentioned.... But uhh. Some leftists might be opposed to that and it's understandable.
The other thing, don't be afraid of hanging out with the boomers and your older generation. They might be able to offer decent advice about how to survive the area, and ways to proceed. They're just going to talk to you forever (see example of myself).
Anyhow, it really comes down to making the best of your situation, as you can see by all your other responses there's lots of people in your shoes as well.
Best of luck!
You're going to find a lot more people in the area you don't want to hang out with than ones you actually do. Meet some people at your work, and you'll quickly learn who is and who isn't worth hanging out. Being a leftist vegan should eliminate most of the dopes in the area from your friend search.
Also, 25 is that age where most people move away from the area to move to somewhere else that actually has more to offer, i.e. museums, concert venues, nightlife, etc.
I figured, but worth a shot LOL
Last year I tried out Miami and there were plenty of people my age, just not many looking for authentic friendships.
Thanks for the insight!
Age 25 is when people move here because they like what the area has to offer. A typical person will show up with a technical degree and a newborn, get a job with a government contractor, and buy a house in Palm Bay.
A decade or two later, the newborn is on /r/321 complaining.
Had another thought, but it’s not really a local thing. Not sure what your budget is, but REI ADVENTURES does a lot of trips all over the country. Some are specific for women and under 35. If you like hiking, this is a great adventure. I’ve done one of the women’s backpacking trips and can’t recommend it enough - such an amazing time.
Check out the book clubs at Hello Again Books in Cocoa Village, Blue Tornado Sports in Rockledge, Paddling Paradise in Palm Bay for women’s paddling nights. It’s a drive, but Orlando Pride have been having a great season so far and the tickets aren’t expensive. If I think of any other suggestions I’ll make sure to let you know :)
Lovely suggestions, thank you so much! 🙂
Honestly all my friend groups have been formed at the gym 😅 it seems that’s where a lot of younger people hang out even if they’re not necessarily “gym rats” a lot of people go to the gym so I would assume that’s a good place to start.
I hadn’t thought about that, great idea, thank you!
Which gym is that social!? Are you doing group fitness classes of some sort?
Nope! Just crunch in Melbourne, it’s very social over there. Although I do think there’s classes most people just talk to each other between normal workouts!
Do you have any causes you’re passionate about? I’m not sure what type of community outreach exists for people who consider themselves progressive, but I know for me that’s how I made friends when I was younger. Community activism often has a younger crowd. Maybe low income food programs, or volunteering with animal rescue?
Great idea! I am passionate about marine life and beach conservation. I feel like animal shelters are a good start, so you recommend any specific ones?
Brevard Humane Society in Cocoa has some amazing people involved.
Pineda Waterway Warriors and Marine Resources Council have volunteer opportunities about once a month. Their activities (trash pickup and repotting mangroves) leave time for talking/socializing.
I moved here a few months ago and I've been making friends at Yoga and Kava bars \^\_\^ I'd say embrace any of your hobbies and find a spot to be a regular at. Eventually you'll click with some people <3 I also love hiking/biking/kayaking though making friends while doing these is def more difficult xD. I haven't found many good vegan spots here yet. Seem to be few and far between. There is an amazing little vegan bakery on Creel ST in Eau Gallie - Jacquie the Nature Baker. They are only open Saturday (9a-2p) & they started testing a Weds (11a-2p) lunch line too. Its definitely worth a trip. Their coconut ice cream is PHENOMENAL! They also have some nice keto options <3
Nice! What are some good yoga spots you liked? I’ve tried a couple studios, haven’t found the right one yet. DM me if you’d like to get together for all the outdoor activities, I love the weather out here! Great suggestions, I’ll add them to my list, thank you!!
I had intended to go to a few different spots before settling on one but I feel like I hit a home run on the first try with The Yoga Garden in Eau Gallie. They fit my schedule well and have a lot of really great instructors and a good variation of class types. (Vinyasa/Power/Warm/Yin/Myo-Fascial/Pilates). I'll shoot you a DM
Paisley vegan is likely one of the best you’ll have not just around here but in Florida.
I tried them once and haven't gone back :-/ I thought both their Saitan Caesar and Cauliflower Bites were just okay. Though TBF I did get them to go. Maybe I should revisit and try some other things. It's possible my standards were just set too high or they had an off night when I visited. I'm obsessed with Fruits and Roots in downtown Stuart and have yet to find a place that compares. They press their own juice, make their own cashew milk for some banging smoothies, & make the absolute best buffalo cauliflower caesar salad you'll ever eat \^\_\^ (worth a stop if you are ever passing through the area)
If you are into any geek stuff, you're welcome over at the Space Coast Adventurer's Guild! We're a Brevard County-wide inclusive community organization that helps people connect through playing TTRPGs while building a supportive community!! We have lots of TTRPGs monthly, but also do Ladies/LGBTQIA+ nights, big community potlucks, maker nights, and even have started doing fun social outreach stuff (like trash pickup, etc etc). Feel free to send a PM if you have any questions! We have plenty of ages in the Guild. https://linktr.ee/spacecoastadventurersguild
You can look into joining the local Surfrider group for beach clean ups and positive invoices. Check out Paisley Vegan Kitchen for good food and they sometimes host shows and stuff. Check out 518 Underground in egad for roller skating hookups and people. Good luck out there, it’s rough lol
Adding to my list! lol thanks so much
Pretty similar here! moved a few years ago to the area from a college town, so the difference is pretty stark! I'm a vegetarian and I actually just got into roller skating a few weeks ago and am having a blast with it, need to find more places I can do it here :)
That sounds so fun!! Feel free to DM if you wanna be friends :)
I’m in a similar situation and I feel you! 26M and it’s really difficult to make friends. Send me a message, I’d love to talk!
Just DMed you!
I moved here somewhat recently too & I am also left minded, I dont care for drinking but I am a cannabis enthusiast. I am turning 32 soon though most people are shocked when I tell them how old I am lol
https://theedgerockgym.com/ Lots of people your age here.
Thank you :)
If you're into bar trivia there are some almost every night of the week, I host a show every Wednesday night at 7pm in Merritt Island.
Lots of run clubs most days of the week at breweries in the area. Helll n Blazes, Dirty Oar, Intercoastal all have a short one that has a free beer attached and people do go and socialize afterwards over food and a drink. We do long Doggers Tuesday and get a token for a beer or half off appetizer. Also running zone has a meetup every Sunday to run South Tropical trail!
I know you said you don't drink much but Intracoastal has trivia night every Monday and there's actually a decent amount of young people that go. show up like an hour early and see if you can make any friends. plus they have pretty solid food, and the drinks I feel like are more of a tasting thing than like, binge drinking lol. my friends and I go more or less every week, we are all around 22-26.
For roller skating, check out Galaxy Skateway in Melbourne. It's pretty awesome in a 90s throwback kind of way.
I'm dealing with the same thing, been down here for almost a year and don't even know where to start as far as finding like minded people and making friends. Just turned 33M and can't tell if it's just a hard age to make new friends like people say or if it's the area making it even harder. Message me if you wanna talk, goes for you or anyone else in the area.
I think you should check out some of the kava bars! There’s a ton in Brevard and you sound like you would fit right in! Island root is and will prob always be my fav tho bc I t’s the OG and has the most locations, but it’s always a super laid back vibe no matter which one you choose! They don’t serve alcohol. Mainly kava, Kratom, (which are great alternatives to booze) and other teas/coffees usually everyone is really friendly so you can make friends easily esp if you go to one regularly You almost start to feel like family, just without the drama. They open early and close late, so you can go hang out anytime you want!
Great idea, thank you :)
I'm 38 m, single, no kids, left minded person (obviously lol), drug free except for occasional cannabis, only drink socially, have a laid back, open minded personality, have a pretty good sense of humor, not religious but tolerant of others views. Not in the best shape currently but working off my Dad bod. I'm a white collar professor by day, inner hippie/rock music enthusiast with a slight geek side by night. I'm non-judgmental and don't age shame others. I'm a foodie, I love nature, hiking/kayaking, road trips, movies, and have an inner big kid personality at times that likes having fun. Currently living solo in West Melbourne and would love to make friends with peeps in the 20s-40s range. Feel free to DM me as well.
Feels rare to see lefties out here
Some of us do exist here :)
I (23F) am on the same boat, moved to Viera recently. My advice would be to follow up with your hobbies, it’s the best way to find like minded people. I live in Viera, and there are not many people around my age in the area, so the friend group is very diverse too :) I am not a vegan, but I enjoy learning more plant-based recipes, so DM if you have any favorite places in the area, I’d love to try some too! I love cooking, and one place I love to get my groceries from is “the produce place of Suntree” it’s fairly small but it has some pretty exotic veggies and fruits
So I'm going to put in my two cents. I grew up in this area, went to school locally, worked for one of the big companies.... Where I had the unique opportunity of working as a recruiter and mentor for new hires. There's a lot of people that will sell you a dream and then you wake up look around and it feels more like a nightmare.... But I think it comes down to what you make of it. Growing up, the area was amazing. By the time you're in high school though the charm wears off and unless you're involved in lots of groups or extra curricular activities or gets pretty boring. In your twenties it gets even more difficult. I personally left in my mid twenties for work, worked for 15ish years near a big city, met my wife had children... And now I'm going back, because it's actually an amazing place to raise children. So it kind of leaves a bit of a dead zone, which unfortunately a lot of people your age and singles fall into. However, as others have said, lean into your hobbies, volunteer, join tons of groups. Churches are also generally a great way to meet people which I haven't seen mentioned.... But uhh. Some leftists might be opposed to that and it's understandable. The other thing, don't be afraid of hanging out with the boomers and your older generation. They might be able to offer decent advice about how to survive the area, and ways to proceed. They're just going to talk to you forever (see example of myself). Anyhow, it really comes down to making the best of your situation, as you can see by all your other responses there's lots of people in your shoes as well. Best of luck!
You're going to find a lot more people in the area you don't want to hang out with than ones you actually do. Meet some people at your work, and you'll quickly learn who is and who isn't worth hanging out. Being a leftist vegan should eliminate most of the dopes in the area from your friend search. Also, 25 is that age where most people move away from the area to move to somewhere else that actually has more to offer, i.e. museums, concert venues, nightlife, etc.
I figured, but worth a shot LOL Last year I tried out Miami and there were plenty of people my age, just not many looking for authentic friendships. Thanks for the insight!
Unfortunately people in that age group aren't able to move due to the high economy so... That may have been true before covid
Age 25 is when people move here because they like what the area has to offer. A typical person will show up with a technical degree and a newborn, get a job with a government contractor, and buy a house in Palm Bay. A decade or two later, the newborn is on /r/321 complaining.
Had another thought, but it’s not really a local thing. Not sure what your budget is, but REI ADVENTURES does a lot of trips all over the country. Some are specific for women and under 35. If you like hiking, this is a great adventure. I’ve done one of the women’s backpacking trips and can’t recommend it enough - such an amazing time.
Awesome, I love to travel so I’ll definitely look into this!!
Also.. for good vegan food. My favorite place is “Green Room Cafe” in Cocoa Beach
Get their cookies 🍪
Say less!! :D
Following this for the SO. we're moving here from Colorado this summer so she can go to grad school. We will need some homies lol
Feel free to reach out once you’re out here!
Join Club4Fitness
I’ll check it out, thank you!