Cocoa Beach Area

Cocoa Beach and environs have two well-publicized obsessions: space exploration and surfing. Lesser known assets round out the destination’s standing as a multi-dimensional and affordable place to visit.

In promotional parlance, it’s known as the Space Coast. The U.S. government staked claim to a huge parcel of land for NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center and a buffer to surround the zone. This creates on Merritt Island, a land of startling contrasts, where eagles soar within view of space ship launchings. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge protects not only bald eagles in its massive 140,000-acre embrace, but a host of endangered, threatened, and other local natives including the manatee, wood stork, and loggerhead turtle. It abuts Canaveral National Seashore, a lightly developed world of sand dunes far from civilization.

Around the NASA complex, a tourist attraction has grown and continues to regularly expand and upgrade its exciting offerings. Here is the seat of the Space Coast’s identity, an attraction that encompasses several campuses with launch site bus tours, IMAX theaters, a center devoted to moon exploration, an astronaut’s hall of fame, space exploration history exhibits, robotized presentations, opportunities to meet real live astronauts, and sensational space simulation rides.

In the town of Titusville, NASA’s impact becomes clear. Pieces of spacecraft decorate yards and the town and its chain hotels fill up for every shuttle launching. Otherwise, Titusville remains quiet. Its historic downtown holds a vintage theater, antiques shops, cozy restaurants, and a historical museum that displays, among other artifacts, astronaut memorabilia. The waterfront U.S. Space Walk of Fame further honors heroes of the final frontier. Inland, the town of Christmas, as cheerful as it sounds, offers historic and nature attractions.

What to Do:

Brevard Zoo
8225 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32940
Phone: 321-254-9453

Experience the Space Coast’s wildest neighborhood where over 480 animals reside in naturalistic settings. Explore Australia/Asia, Latin America, Native Florida, and Africa exhibits along elevated boardwalks through lush vegetation. Enjoy the zoo train, or kayak on-site through a 22-acre restored wetland or on the Nyami Nyami River in Expedition Africa. Don’t miss hand feeding birds in our free-flight aviary or feeding the giraffes. Go wild at the Brevard Zoo.

Crystal River Area

The so-called Nature Coast keeps its secret: the river-riddled, marsh-mellow coastline of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties is tailor-made for fishing, boating, and kayaking among manatees, otters, bald eagles, swallowtail kites, and more than 200 other species of birds that have been spotted there. Northernmost Citrus County alone holds four of Florida’s designated Outstanding Waters—Rivers Withlacoochee, Homosassa, Crystal, and Chassahowitzka. All empty into Gulf of Mexico bay waters mottled with verdant, gnarly mangrove islands. Each year, October through March, the warm waters of spring-fed Crystal and Homosassa rivers host the largest herd of manatees in the U.S.

The homey town of Crystal River has become synonymous with the gentle sea giants, in fact. Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was created specifically to protect the endangered species and can arrange boat and kayak tours designed for spotting them in their habitat. Those who want to get closer take to the waters with snorkels or scuba gear to swim among them, but no touching allowed!

From land, look for manatees at Crystal River State Archaeological Site, whose vantage atop a 28-foot native American mound overlooking the river is a worthy climb. More mounds and artifacts illuminate ancient Florida cultures dating back to 500 B.C. Modern history unfolds in downtown Crystal River at the Coastal Heritage Museum. Contemporary shops and cafés live in vintage buildings in the same neighborhood. Beach-buffs head to Fort Island Gulf Beach, the trailhead for hikers and bicyclists, too.

For a close-up and personal view of manatees without getting wet, you can climb down into the underwater floating observatory or catch an educational presentation at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. Neighborly, oak-canopied, small-town Homosassa concentrates on fishing with charters galore, fish camps and fresh seafood on every menu. Historic attractions such as a sugar mill ruins and an unusual printing museum explore the past.

What to Do:

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
6131 Commercial Way
Spring Hill, FL  34606
Phone: 352-596-2062

This 200-acre family entertainment park features live underwater performances by our world-famous Mermaids, and boasts Florida's only natural spring waterpark. Challenge the thrilling water slides, explore the unspoiled beauty on a wilderness river cruise, take in a game of volleyball, or simply relax on our fancy beaches. Picnic areas are available.

Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach Area

Think Daytona Beach and cars and beach come immediately to mind. Here the two meet to create a reputation for speed and good times. The reputation began more than a century ago when car manufacturers tested and raced their horseless carriages on the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach and neighboring Ormond Beach. In time, racing moved to Daytona International Speedway, home to the Daytona 500 each February.

The famous speedway also hosts other headline events such as the Pepsi 400 in July and the Rolex 24 in February. Even between races, fans can “feel the thunder” and excitement of racing on a tour of the track and by visiting DAYTONA USA. At this interactive attraction, surround-sound movies and other simulation lets visitors in on the racing sensation.

It seems no matter where you go in Daytona Beach, it’s about the speed. The town is filled with go-kart tracks, one with Nitro Alley, where you reach speeds of up to 75 mph. Downtown Daytona Beach, which is turning a historic area into a smart, attractive shopping and dining district, the Halifax Historical Museum traces the history of auto racing and Daytona. And although there’s no racing on the wide beach today, Daytona Beach is one of the few places left in Florida where you can still drive on the beach. The pace is quite a bit slower these days, and portions are designated pedestrian-only.

Upscale hotels are bringing Daytona Beach into the twenty-first century, but the scene is purely boardwalk-beach classic, with carnival rides around the Main Street Pier, watersports and golf cart rentals, and surfing waves that would make Gidget swoon.

What to Do:

West Volusia Historical Society
137 W. Michigan Ave.
DeLand,  FL 32720
Phone: 386-740-6813

DeLand House Museum, built in 1886, is a resorted home filled with period furnishings. The area's history is depicted in the extensive collection of period photographs. The Conrad Center houses a library, exhibits of historical interests, photographs, newspaper clippings dating back to 1877 and 85 oral history videos. A gazebo containing the bust of Lue Gim Gong, the Citrus Wizard, is on site. Lue Gim Gong was a pioneer in developing many varieties of grapefruit and oranges that won him many honors.

Museum of Arts and Sciences and Center for Florida History
352 S. Nova Road
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: 386-255-0285

Located in a beautiful 90-acre natural setting in Daytona Beach, the Museum of Arts and Sciences is the primary art, history and science museum of the Fun Coast. Visitors will see vast changing and permanent exhibitions which include Coca-Cola® memorabilia, railroad cars, teddy bears and race cars; fine examples of 18th, 19th and 20th century furniture, paintings, sculpture and decorative arts; the "best collection of Cuban art outside Havana"; a 13-foot-tall giant ground sloth skeleton and more.