Stretching over 70 miles along central Florida’s Atlantic shoreline, the Space Coast region encompasses thriving beach towns, the Kennedy Space Center, and the city of Melbourne. Home to NASA’s most active launch facilities, the area has embraced the space industry while also offering nature preserves, surfing beaches, and outdoor recreation. For visitors, there are many exciting things to experience on the Space Coast.
Kennedy Space Center
No trip to Florida’s Space Coast is complete without visiting Kennedy Space Center. This working spaceflight facility is where you can tour launch pads, meet astronauts, see rockets up-close and even view ongoing preparations for upcoming missions.
Start your day immersed in spaceflight history at the awe-inspiring Apollo/Saturn V Center. Stand beneath the massive Saturn V rocket and walk the firing room where Apollo missions lifted off for the moon. Nearby, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame commemorates the heroes who bravely journeyed into space.
Don’t miss Space Shuttle Atlantis, one of the retired winged spacecraft NASA flew for 30 years. Walk beneath the real Atlantis and even “fly” a realistic Space Shuttle simulator. Outside, see launch complexes 39A and 39B that sent the first humans to the moon and space shuttles into orbit.
Throughout the day, inspiring exhibits and shows give insight into past and future space exploration. With tickets purchased in advance, Kennedy Space Center offers an interactive, immersive experience like nowhere else on Earth.
Jetty Park Beach
Just south of Kennedy Space Center’s main campus, Jetty Park Beach provides a perfect spot for swimming, surfing, or simply relaxing along the shore after a day of discovery. The beach stretches over a mile between two rock groin jetties that create calmer waters.
Lifeguards patrol the swimming area while surfers populate the swells offshore. The southern surf break called The Nightmare is a popular longboarding wave. The northern jetty houses a fishing pier providing easy access for anglers.
Stay for the day or camp overnight at Jetty Park Campground with full hookup sites right on the beach. Gather at sunset on the A1A walkover to watch space rocket launches lighting up the horizon across the water.
Canaveral National Seashore
Just north of Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral National Seashore protects over 50 miles of undeveloped shoreline intersected by 25 miles of hiking and biking trails. Start at the Apollo Visitor Center to explore exhibits on the space program then hike out to uncrowded beaches framed by dunes and lagoons.
The accessible Eldora Statehouse is a prime spot to view sunrise and sunset. Follow a boardwalk loop around Mosquito Lagoon to look for dolphins, rays, and wading birds. Sign up for ranger-led sea turtle nesting walks in summer. Drive slow atop massive dunes on Playalinda Beach to visit historic shipwrecks. In winter, gray whales migrate close to shore at Canaveral National Seashore.
Brevard Zoo
For family-friendly fun, spend a day connecting with wildlife at the acclaimed Brevard Zoo located in Melbourne. This lively zoo houses over 900 animals representing 195 species from Australia, South America, Africa and Florida.
Don’t miss the Wild Florida boardwalk trail winding through wetlands inhabited by alligators, panthers, bald eagles and other local species. Take a kayak out on an expedition along an Amazon-themed waterway populated by giant river otters and monkeys. Zip line through the tree tops above grazing animals on a high ropes course adventure. Spot playful penguins during a behind-the-scenes tour.
Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival
Each January, the Space Coast hosts a massive Birding & Wildlife Festival attracting thousands for seminars, workshops and ecotours. Guided excursions venture out to the region’s rich array of habitats to see over 400 species.
Join tram rides through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to glimpse huge flocks of roseate spoonbills and wood storks. Embark on kayak trips to glimpse manatees and dolphins. Sign up for photography expeditions focused on capturing native wildlife in their natural environments across Brevard County. Nighttime owling walks reveal the avian world after dark.
Surfing Cocoa Beach
Surfing first took hold in Florida during the 1960s at Cocoa Beach, which quickly became the center of the state’s surf culture. Today, Cocoa Beach continues to attract wave riders from around the world seeking nice swells and a lively beach town atmosphere.
The consistent beach breaks work well for all levels of surfers. Gear, lessons, camps and contests are all readily available in the area. Check conditions at The Pier, where swells barrel into the pilings. 2nd Light is an ideal longboarding spot further south. Drive onto the sand at Lori Wilson Park or Alan Shepard Park to watch surfers challenge the waves.
Downtown Melbourne & Eau Gallie Arts District
Downtown Melbourne provides a pleasant base for Space Coast explorations. Stroll bricklined streets under a canopy of oak trees dotted with sculptures and murals. Pop into boutiques, antiques shops and cafes housed in restored buildings.
The Eau Gallie Arts District across the river hosts regular art walks and special events. Browse the studios and galleries while enjoying live music, food trucks and craft vendors. Watch artists at work in their creative spaces open to the public. Don’t miss the acclaimed Foosaner Art Museum located nearby on Florida Tech’s campus.
Manatee Viewing at Manatee Point
In winter months, head to Manatee Point on the northern edge of Brevard to spot gentle manatees gathered near the plant’s warm water discharge. An accessible boardwalk guides visitors out to the prime manatee observation area. Signage and spotting scopes help identify the West Indian Manatees as they surface for air between snacking on sea grasses. Patient watchers may be rewarded with close-up views.
The free boardwalk and viewing area are open daily November 15 to March 31 when manatees congregate near the outflow. Arrive an hour before or after high tide for best luck catching the sea cows during their winter migrations. Remember not to disturb them!
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Situated just over the Brevard line in Sebastian, this state park centers around a pristine mile-long beach beside a boat-accessible inlet. Anglers flock to the north and south jetties jutting out into the ocean to cast lines for snook, redfish and bluefish. Hit the waves to try surfing or boogie boarding around the inlet’s shifting sandbars.
Walk from the beach along a tidal lagoon out to a 19th century wooden tram bridge once used for transporting cargo across the inlet. Nature trails meander through oak hammock and mangrove habitats perfect for viewing seabirds and marine life. The calm inlet provides excellent opportunities for kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.
From thrilling rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center to surfing swells along the Atlantic shore, Florida’s Space Coast combines high-tech adventures with outdoor tropical fun. Nature abounds along the beaches, bays and lagoons framed by the expanding space industry that first put this stretch of Florida on the map. For unique activities, wildlife encounters and sumptuous seafood, make time to discover the many stellar experiences waiting across the Space Coast.
