Space Coast

Experiences are vast on the Space Coast. One moment you could be watching a rocket launch, and half an hour later a manatee munching on tender grasses. Or enjoying a Calypso band underneath a pier before eating fresh fish. Yes, the Space Coast is a grand merge of the natural and modern worlds. And did we mention there are 72 miles of pristine Atlantic-facing beaches, plus 20,000 acres of freshwater rivers to explore?

Enjoying quiet time with Kennedy Space Center’s Rocket Garden in the background ©Visit Florida

Orlando magazine’s dedicated editorial team is taking the guesswork out of your next coastal trip! Check out these important facts:

☀ BOUNDED BY: Southern Volusia County through the Sebastian Inlet State Park north of the city of Sebastian. 

⚑ COUNTIES: Brevard.

⚐ MAJOR CITIES/AREAS: Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Viera.

♜ HIGHLIGHTS: Home to America’s space program, wildlife areas and Port Canaveral, the world’s busiest cruise port measured in multi-day embarkations.

☸ HIDDEN GEMS: Helen & Allen Cruickshank Sanctuary (endangered Florida Scrub-Jays in their natural habitat), White Sands Buddhist Center (has three of the largest granite statues of the Buddha in Florida), Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park & Museum (tribute to Civil Rights leaders).

☺ OVERALL VIBE: Modern yet natural and easy breezy.

The Canaveral National Seashore. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez

Canaveral  National Seashore

An ecologically diverse expanse, Canaveral National Seashore boasts nearly 58,000 acres. This national park, a beautiful blend of barrier island, open lagoon, coastal hammock, pine flatwoods and offshore waters, is renowned for its environmental importance. Its 24 miles of pristine beach provides a critical habitat for several endangered species, including the marine turtles that lay thousands of protected eggs here annually.

Baby turtles in the Canaveral National Seashore ©Visit Florida.

Spanning two-thirds of the park, Mosquito Lagoon has been declared both an estuary of national significance and an Outstanding Florida Water. This body of water is part of the 156-mile Indian River Lagoon (IRL), which is touted as one of North America’s most biodiverse and productive estuaries. It plays a key role in bolstering commercial and recreational fisheries, supplying finfish, clams, oysters, blue crabs and shrimp.

The park serves as an essential refuge for 15 federally listed threatened and endangered animal species, making it the second-ranking location within the National Park Service in terms of wildlife protection. Each year, about 4,000 to 7,000 nests are made by three species of sea turtles on its beaches. A plethora of waterfowl and wading birds use the seashore as a wintering ground.

Historical treasures also abound in the Canaveral National Seashore. Cultural artifacts reflecting human presence on the Florida peninsula from 2000 B.C. up to early 20th-century Florida settlements have been discovered within its boundaries. Its 24-mile stretch of undeveloped beach is the longest on Florida’s east coast.

A distinct blend of subtropical and temperate plant species inhabits the park, thanks to its location along the “frost line.” These plant species contribute to the biodiversity unique to central Florida.

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