In Titusville, north of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa, visitors are not only close to space at the nearby Kennedy Space Center but close to earth too with nature cruises to spot dolphins and manatees, kayaking, and horseback riding on the beach.
At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors can sense galactic adventures at this 140,000-acre megaplex including a replica of a space shuttle, two extraordinary IMAX movies that launch viewers into space, a Rocket Garden riddled with Mercury and Gemini era rockets and bus tours viewing breathtaking launch pads along pristine shores.
The Apollo/Saturn V Center celebrates one of humankind’s greatest achievements with an authentic Saturn V rocket – the most powerful ever built – created to transport man to the moon.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
In sweeping contrast and absolutely free, surrounding the Kennedy Space Center, is the 220-square-mile Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which is home to more federally endangered species than any refuge in the United States. A six-mile driving tour with shaded boardwalks weave through lush pine and oak hammocks of the second-largest sanctuary in Florida.
Enchanted Forest
The Enchanted Forest is a mysterious four hundred-acre hardwood hammock lovingly of cabbage palms, saw palmettos, moss-hung oaks and grape vines. And also for eco-tourists, three daily eco-tours on the “Miss Florida” and “Sunshine” pontoon boats depart from various locations throughout the Space Coast immersing visitors into the nature of the area while they glide alongside dolphin fins and manatee “footprints.”
And still on the water a variety of kayaking trips is available for amateur and experienced paddlers.
Other attractions include the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum with more than 35 vintage war planes, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the US Space Walk of Fame.
Surprisingly, Space Coast accommodations provide priceless beach vacations with great family value. Whether posh or practical, more than 9,500 East Coast rooms are dotted throughout the area from popular hotels and spacious condominiums to beachside cottages and five-bedroom bungalows.