Top Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
One of the most uniquely special places in America is Florida’s Space Coast. It is here, from this unique geographic location, that history has been made time and time again.
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”
Every NASA spaceflight with a crew beginning with Project Mercury in the early 1960s to the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 have departed from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral. Scores of unmanned military and civilian rockets have lifted off from the Air Force Station. And with commercial space flights and space tourism not only the future, but the here and now, the Space Coast has been thrust back into the international spotlight.
Located a short drive east of Orlando, Florida’s Space Coast is home to Cocoa Beach, the closest beach to Walt Disney World. You’ll find the nation’s East Coast surfing capital along with one of the busiest cruise ports.
But the Space Coast isn’t just about rockets and the salt life.
You’ll find relaxing historic villages here where you can shop, dine and get in touch with the local arts scene. Quiet can be found on the grounds of a monastery that features the three largest granite statues of the Buddha in the state of Florida. And, a state of the art observation tower allows visitors to take in a bird’s-eye view of the coastal area just south of where the rocket engines ignite.
Below is our complete guide on the Top Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953
Fuel your quest for inspiration at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
From its humble beginnings inside a simple trailer at the dawn of space exploration, today’s sprawling complex covers over 40 acres and welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors every year.
As the top space attraction in the U.S., this is the place where the past, present and future of space travel come alive.
Take a stroll through the famous Rocket Garden, board a bus for a trip to the Saturn V building, learn about the early pioneers of the space program at Heroes and Legends and stand side-by-side with Space Shuttle Atlantis, one of the most awe-inspiring exhibits on property.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a full-day experience worthy of some planning in advance.
I’ve created a comprehensive guide on what you should know before visiting the KSC Visitor Complex.
Sands Space History Center
100 Spaceport Way, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Just outside the south gate of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is a small museum worth a short visit.
At Sands Space History Center you’ll find displays for each launch complex on-site at the Air Force Staton.
The displays have tons of historic facts, photographs and artifacts that help explain the significance of what happened at each pad.
The displays have tons of historic facts, photographs and artifacts that help explain the significance of what happened at each pad.
Staff and volunteers at the museum are a wealth of knowledge who are eager to share their experiences seeing launches up-close.
When you go, look for the Space X Launch and Landing Control Center in front of the building containing the museum.
There’s a shady picnic area between the two buildings.
Sand Space History Museum is free, but donations are always appreciated.
American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame
308 Pine Street, Titusville, FL 32796
Exhibits inside the American Space Museum include astronaut suits and working launch consoles to a large model of the Space Shuttle on the pad and countless artifacts from the earliest days of the space program.
A stop at this museum is highly recommended, especially if you don’t have the time to devote to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
SELF Guided Tour – NO Reservation Needed
Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
$10 for Adults
$8 for Seniors (65+) and Military (with ID)
$5 for Children ages 13-18
FREE for Children 12 and under
Group Rates Available
An extension of the museum, Space View Park provides an anchor point for the U.S. Space Walk of Fame.
It honors those who have made the space program possible over the decades with monuments, mission plaques and bronze handprints of six of the original seven astronauts.
In addition to taking a stroll among the many monuments, the riverside park has a boardwalk, a sheltered pier and is an excellent location to view launches.
White Sands Buddhist Center
4640 Knost Drive, Mims, FL 32754
Tucked away in a secluded area of the Mims community is one of the greatest hidden gems on the Space Coast.
The White Sands Buddhist Center is open daily, dawn til dusk, with meditation services held every Sunday morning.
Visitors come from all over to see three of the largest granite statues of the Buddha in Florida.
Tours are available by making arrangements prior to arrival. Donations are welcome.
401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Monday - Thursday: 11AM-9PM
Friday: 11AM-10PM
Saturday: 8:30AM-10PM
Sunday: 8:30AM-9PM
Kelly Slater Statue
505 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
A few blocks from the ocean in a median as you enter downtown Cocoa Beach on A1A is a tribute to the city’s most famous native son.
Kelly Slater learned how to surf in the waves off nearby Fourth Street North and went on to become the most successful professional surfer in history, winning an unprecedented 11 world championships.
The 9 1/2 foot high bronze statue was built to withstand 140 mile per hour winds.
Locals often decorate the statue for the season, so it’s always a pretty rad photo op. Just be careful crossing the road.
4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Some say you haven’t truly been to Cocoa Beach until you experience Ron Jon’s Surf Shop. This internationally-known brand might have been founded in New Jersey, but this store on A1A in Cocoa Beach is the flagship.
Inside, it has over 52-thousand square feet of retail space. Just about every big name brand in the surf business can be found here, along with smaller ones too.
This location operates 365 days a year and is open 24 hours a day
4275 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Across the street you’ll find the Florida Surf Museum that operates through generous donations.
On display is an impressive surf board collection as well as artifacts that help preserve the unique history and culture of East Coast surfing.
Cocoa Beach is one of the premier surf towns in the world and this museum does a good job of telling that story through rotating exhibits.
Shopping Districts
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962 when NASA acquired 140-thousand acres of land, water and marshes around Cape Canaveral.
Today visitors can catch a glimpse of gators, shorebirds and other animals on the seven-mile, one-way Black Point Wildlife Drive.
Early morning and late afternoon are prime viewing opportunities.
Canaveral National Seashore
Canaveral National Seashore is a pristine barrier island of undeveloped shoreline featuring Native American shell mounds and thousands of species of plants and animals.
Operated by the National Park Service, visitors can explore the Eldora House museum, one of the last surviving structures of a community that existed here in the late 1800s.
Playalinda Beach on the park’s southernmost end is a popular location for viewing launches at Kennedy Space Center and the Cape.
Exploration Tower
670 Dave Nisbet Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
When rocket launches happen, the best seat in the house can be wherever you are on the Space Coast at the time.
There are a number of parks like Space View Park in Titusville and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral that are popular spots to view launches. But if you want to take your launch viewing experience to a new level, ride the elevator to the top of Exploration Tower overlooking the Port.
While it’s a great place to watch a rocket lift off, the building is sometimes closed for certain launches.
In the distance, you can spot NASA’s giant Vehicle Assembly Building and the large cruise ships in port.
On the backside of the Observation Deck is a map where you can read more about area attractions.