Space Coast
Florida's Space Coast- review
Reasons to Visit:
- miles of beaches
- nature outings: mangroves, manatees
- affordable prices
- Kennedy Space Center
- quaint towns
Florida's Space Coast
The Bottom Line: drive 45 minutes west from Orlando, and take a vacation away from your vacation.
Space Coast - fast facts
- The Space Coast is 35 miles from Walt Disney World
- 72 miles of shore include saltwater estuaries and top-rated beaches
- the area has 250 sq. miles of wildlife refuges
- hotels are very affordable
- most people visit as an add-on from Orlando or a cruise
- Port Canaveral is the busiest cruise passenger port in America
Space Coast:
Natural Blast
Nature plus space-age attractions: that's the message for this stretch of Florida that includes Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Cape Canaveral, and other communities.
When I visited with two teens, we expected to visit the Kennedy Space Center and learn about space launches; we also expected miles of beaches.
What we didn't expect was a nature boat tour, where we glided past mangroves and spotted the "footprint" of a manatee. In fact, the entire 700,000 acre Kennedy Space Center is in the midst of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Allow a full day to visit: the 2-1/2 hour bus Tour of Restricted Areas --that takes you past giant launch pads and the "spacecrawler" -- is just the start.
You'll also want time for the exhibits, I-Max and film experiences, and simulator training rides found at the Visitor Complex, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and Astonaut Hall of Fame. Read about visiting the KSC Visitor Complex.
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Nature Outings
A comfortable way to see the Space Coast's estuaries is by a guided boat tour.
Island Boat Lines offers eco-tours with four departures points. Kayaking is another way to explore the coastal waters.
Nature-lovers can also enjoy Sea Turtle Sighting. More than 6,000 loggerheads turtles, green seas and leatherbacks lay eggs in the sand on the Space Coast. From late May to early August, guided tours take small groups to the beach after sunset.
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Airboat Rides
A quintessential Florida experience, airboat rides get you out into quiet wetlands-- with a lot of noise.
Our tour started from a funky restaurant called The Lone Cabbage. We saw a few 'gators, but were equally intrigued by cows grazing in water that was shoulder-high. Click left for a pic.
The Towns of Cocoa & Melbourne
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The Space Coast also has some quaint town centers. Cocoa Village is highly photogenic, with murals, brightly painted shops, street art, toy shop.
The town of Melbourne is restoring
its main street, too. If you visit Melbourne, try the creative
menu at Island Pasta Co.
| Ron Jon's & More | |||
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• A local legendary store of vast proportions, and open 24 hours, is Ron
Jon's Surf Shop. • walk out on the Cocoa Beach Pier and watch the surfers; have a meal inside; then a double-scoop at Ricky's Ice Cream Parlor and Arcade. • coming soon from Island Boat Lines: an old-fashioned paddleboat ride.
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Hotels and Restaurants
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The Space Coast gives good value for your money: at time of writing, average room price is $69/ night.
Family-friendly properties include:
• the oceanfront Doubletree
Cocoa Beach (pool pictured left)
• the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
Seafood is a special treat in this area, though meat is always on the menu too.
Continue to Space Coast photos & tips:
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex |nature tours | airboat outing | town of Cocoa | Ron Jon's & more | hotels and restaurants
*images (c) by Teresa Plowright.
