Kennedy Space Center Is a Top Reason to Visit the Space Coast
Spend a day or two at Kennedy Space Center to experience the new Gateway Deep Space Launch Complex.
Image: Courtesy Photo
This 72-mile span of Atlantic coastline sees visitors primarily because of Kennedy Space Center, which is the top reason to go. But there’s far more to see beyond that. The area includes burial grounds and shell middens of the Ais nation, an occasional rocket launch and a spectacular display of wildlife, fishing and natural beaches.
When to Go
The Space Coast is open year-round, but if you’re looking for an unforgettable visit, check out the rocket launch schedule before planning your stay. Launches often get delayed for various reasons, so keep an open mind and stay flexible.
Where to Stay
The hotels along the Space Coast are the “big box” kind, meant for families to crash in after a long day of exploring. To start the day in the sand and surf, Cocoa Beach has ocean-front options. For a more intimate stay there, try Beach Place Guesthouses. A bit further south on Melbourne Beach is the luxurious Port d’Hiver bed and breakfast. For home rentals, Boutique Homes has two great options just north in New Smyrna Beach, and Airbnb stays range from high-end home rentals to small boat sleeps.
Get up close and personal with rockets at Kennedy Space Center.
What to Do
Spend a day or two at Kennedy Space Center (above) to experience the new Gateway Deep Space Launch Complex. You can also get astronaut and microgravity training, chat with a real astronaut and more. Set your feet back to Earth at the nearby Merrit Island Wildlife Refuge, one of the most productive estuaries in the country. Here, you can kayak through Mosquito Lagoon, take to foot on hiking trails or drive along Black Point Wildlife Drive and encounter a number of endangered or threatened species in breathtaking scenery along the 7-mile one-way route. Then take in Atlantic views at Sebastian Inlet Park, which has some of the best surfing in Florida. Some additional great views can be found at Playalinda Beach—but if you find yourself at the last parking lot (No. 13) you might see more than you planned at this clothing-optional stretch of sand.
The Fat Snook serves seafood with a “Caribbean vibe.”
Image: Courtesy Photo
Where to Eat
If you’re inclined to plan your trip around food, head over to Q’s Crackin’ Crab & Seafood Kitchen in Cocoa Beach to experience a mouthwatering soul-food take on coastal delights. Also in Cocoa Beach is a casual upscale spot called The Fat Snook (above), serving seafood with a “Caribbean vibe.” If you want to feel like a local eccentric, try Melbourne’s Backwater,where an alligator skull chandelier hovers above you while you griddle your own pancakes.
The NASA-branded Fisher Eclipse Space Pen will write to infinity and beyond.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Get Ready for Liftoff
A Book to pack: Cosmos by Carl Sagan will guarantee inspiration not only for the awesomeness of space but also for the uniqueness of Earth’s place within it all.
A Record to Put On: David Bowie’s invention of the fictional character Ziggy Stardust is a great companion for a visit to the Space Coast: from Space Oddity to “Life on Mars” and on to the full glory of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
A Movie to Watch: Earthrise is an inspiring 30-minute documentary that features Apollo 8 astronauts reflecting on being the first to see Earth rising on the lunar horizon. If you’re looking for a Hollywood blockbuster, 1997’s Contact is based on a novel by Carl Sagan.
Must Have Souvenir: Fisher Eclipse Space Pen that will write to infinity and beyond!
