On the Indian River Lagoon midway between Melbourne and Vero Beach, the Best Western Plus Sebastian Hotel and Suites makes a comfortable base in Sebastian, Florida, in an old fishing village. Just offshore, Pelican Island became the first national wildlife refuge in the country in 1903, cared for by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, its mangrove rookery alive with pelicans, herons and roseate spoonbills. The waves of Sebastian Inlet and the shipwreck museums of the treasure coast draw surfers and anglers nearby. A free breakfast and a pool round out the stay, with dining and the riverfront close by. The fishing village keeps a walkable riverfront of seafood shacks, marinas and a working waterfront, the waves and jetties of Sebastian Inlet draw surfers and anglers, and the museums of the treasure coast tell the story of a Spanish fleet wrecked offshore. Manatees and dolphins work the lagoon, and the warm river and the inlet fill the days. Vero's beaches and the citrus groves of the Indian River country spread along the coast.