Visiting Florida’s Space Coast

When thinking of a place to go on vacation, Florida is typically one of the first places that pop into your mind. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, theme parks located in Central Florida are usually where most people end up. But with those theme parks comes headaches that most people don’t consider when scheduling their vacation around them – long lines, the heat and humidity, crowds, and of course, the enormous price tags.

What most people fail to realize is that Florida has so much more to offer besides amusement rides and cartoon characters. Less than an hour east of bustling Orlando lays Brevard County – Florida’s Space Coast. Aptly named for the home of Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County boasts 72 miles of beautiful, pristine coast, the closest beaches to Orlando, and some of the best surfing in the world. Not only are most attractions in the area fairly inexpensive or free, most activities can be done year-round as the weather is warm enough to spend most of your time outdoors and rainy weather is usually short-lived and predictable. Here are 5 top destinations on the Space Coast:

1. Kennedy Space Center is the only place in the world where you can view live launches, tour shuttle launch areas, meet veteran astronauts, experience spaceflight simulators, and see real rockets up close. It is one of the most heavily visited attractions on the Space Coast aside from the beaches. Located conveniently off the “Beach Line”, a major highway that takes you from the heart of Orlando right to the beaches in Brevard County, Kennedy Space Center is a must stop when visiting the Space Coast.
2. The Beaches on the Space Coast are undeniably some of the best beaches in the United States. Recently, Southern Living Magazine voted 3 of the Space Coast’s beaches as “Florida’s Top 10 Beaches”. Boasting the longest stretch of beach in the State as well as over 100 of the best surfing spots on the East Coast, it’s no wonder some of the biggest names in surfing call the Space Coast home, namely Kelly Slater. But besides surfing, there are a countless number of other past times to do at the beach such as wind surfing, boating, fishing, parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, tubing, or just soaking up some sun and enjoying the sound of the water against the sand. One of the best aspects of the Space Coast’s beaches is that you can often find stretches of beach where you are the only soul around for miles, but if you miss the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the beaches near the Cocoa Beach Pier and Sebastian Inlet are great spots to watch surfers, grab a bite to eat, and relax.
3. There are over 100 Public Parks in the Space Coast. Nature is not something that most associate with Florida and especially a specifically beach community, but Brevard County features more than 250 square miles of federally protected lands which contain hundreds of endangered and rare plants and animals. Bald eagles, river otters, bobcats, whitetail deer, raccoons, rabbits, manatees, dolphins, alligators, and sea turtles can be commonly seen in almost all areas of the Space Coast. Brevard County beaches are also home to one of the most populated sea turtle nesting areas in the world and they can be seen hatching and taking their journey to the sea from May 1^st – Oct 31^st.
4. Port Canaveral is the second busiest cruise port in the world, sending off over 4 million passengers each year. Home to Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Lines, and Carnival Cruise Lines, you can take 3-7 day trips to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Mexican Gulf, and many other resort destinations. But cruises aren’t all that the “Port” has to offer. Deep-sea fishing, charter boating, excellent dining, shopping, live entertainment, casino cruises, and local resorts such as Ron Jon’s Cape Caribe make Port Canaveral its own destination within the Space Coast.
5. Golfing at one of Brevard County’s more than 20 public and private golf courses is set apart from the rest as being some of the most affordable, challenging, and unique. Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lewis “Chip” Powell, and Joe Lee are just some of the names of the professionals who have helped design some of the courses on the Space Coast. With perfect, year-round weather, natural beauty, and the sheer number of courses within the county, the Space Coast is an ideal place to take your next golfing vacation!