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Comprised primarily of Titusville, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, and Melbourne Beach, the Space Coast has the closest beaches to Orlando, 35 miles away. Port Canaveral, north of Cocoa Beach and southeast of Titusville, is almost its own town. With several cruises departing to the Caribbean and other locales, "Florida's Fun Port" has three scenic parks, three full-service marinas, and 10 restaurants. Titusville, dubbed Space City, is the world's only space shuttle launch site. The Kennedy Space Center, surrounded by the secluded Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, is a must-see tour destination. Many exhibits, including an outdoor rocket garden at the visitors complex, are free. Bus tours bring visitors to the working areas of the Space Center and Cape Canaveral, including the launch pads of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. While in the area, space aficionados can also check out the Astronaut Hall of Fame, U.S. Space Camp Florida (geared to kids in grades 4-7), and U.S. Space Walk of Fame. Mother Nature also plays an important role on the Space Coast. Alongside the 6.2 million pound space shuttles are miles of beaches, seabird sanctuaries, endangered species, marshes, sea oats, and America's most diverse estuary. Originally set aside as a buffer zone for NASA, the 220-square-mile Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for more federally endangered species than any refuge in the U.S. Home to bald eagles, wood storks, manatees, and sea turtles this free sanctuary has hiking trails and a manatee observation deck. South of Titusville are Cocoa and Cocoa Beach, separated by Merritt Island. Cocoa, on the mainland, is home to many NASA employees. For visitors, some fun places to check out are the charming shops, galleries and cafes of Cocoa Village. Most vacationers spend their time in Cocoa Beach in the heart of the Space Coast. This family-friendly town is known for its surfing and affordability. A major tourist destination is Ron Jon Surf Shop, open 24 hours a day every day of the year. The two-acre surfing mecca is chock-full of gear for surfing, water skiing, body boarding, scuba diving, bathing suits, and anything else related to the sun and the sea. Another landmark is Cocoa Beach Pier, extending 840 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. Besides fishing, pier-goers can enjoy fresh seafood at the waterfront eateries, find treasures in the shops, and listen to live music. A few miles down the narrow strip of Atlantic shore is Melbourne Beach, a mostly residential community. Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, is a three-mile strip of sandy beaches, mangroves, dunes, and maritime forests where visitors can fish, clam, swim, snorke, or surf 24 hours a day. Getting to this galaxy of natural wonders and high-tech attractions is a breeze. If you're flying in you have your choice of coming into Melbourne International Airport or Orlando International Airport. Melbourne International is five miles from the beach and uncongested, while Orlando International has more flights and is approximately 45 minutes away. Florida's Space Coast is directly off Interstate 95. From Orlando, take exits 81 through 70. Travel east on the Bee Line Expressway (528) to Highway A1A. With more than 8,600 guestrooms, lodging is in great supply and is quite affordable. From seaside hotels to beachfront condos and popular chains, you're sure to find a comfortable place to rest up after blasting off. Boasting 160,000 square feet of meeting space, the Space Coast is a favored location for business travelers. Whether you come to watch a space launch, walk the nature trails, relax on the beach, or conduct business, the Space Coast has all you need and more.
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For an out-of-this-world experience, explore Florida's Space Coast. Stretching 72 miles on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, this region is the center of the nation's space operations set surprisingly in the midst of protected wildlife refuges.