Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida, sits on the Atlantic Coast and was briefly referred to as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The area has been nicknamed the Area Coast as it’s the web site of the Cape Canaveral Area Power Station and has seen many area launches throughout its time. The world can also be the house of NASA, formally shaped in 1958.
The primary spacecraft to depart from Cape Canaveral was in 1961. Because of its connections to area flight, know-how and, in fact, the navy, Cape Canaveral has seen many particular tasks. Since 1950, Cape Canaveral has examined missiles, rockets and extra to push science and know-how ahead.
So, if you happen to’re a fan of something to do with area journey, that is the place to go to. However there’s extra to this Florida space than area journey, nonetheless. Cape Canaveral has many lovely seashores, wildlife preserves and water-based actions. Listed here are 20 issues to do in Cape Canaveral that will help you plan your journey there.
1- Marvel At Nature On A Cocoa Seaside Nighttime Bioluminescence Kayak Tour
Kayaking is a favorite pastime of Cape Canaveral’s residents, and lots of guests take advantage of this water sport whereas on trip right here.
For a extra memorable and really uncommon expertise, head out for a nighttime kayaking expertise.
Kayak down the Indian River Lagoon to find the pure phenomena of bioluminescence.
These tiny organisms emit gentle naturally, which causes the waters to glow, creating a very magical sight throughout the lagoon.
On a guided tour, you’ll discover the waters with a educated information who will enable you find out about bioluminescence.
You’ll be able to select a single-person kayak or two-person kayak when reserving, and one of the best kayaking excursions embrace a tour information and all kayaking tools.
Cocoa Seaside Nighttime Bioluminescence Kayak Tour is at Banana River Park. 901 Puerto Del Rio Drive, Cape Canaveral. Fin Expeditions is at 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Seaside.
2- Get An Adrenalin Rush On A Cocoa Seaside Aerial Journey
Courageous new heights with a Cocoa Seaside Aerial Journey move.
Cocoa Seaside Aerial Journey is an aerial journey park with a variety of obstacles and challenges, all excessive above the bottom.
The expertise features a security briefing on the bottom that will help you perceive correct kind and approach.
Following the briefing, you’ll head off to the ropes to climb rope ladders, courageous swaying suspension bridges, tunnels, balancing logs, zip strains, monkey bars and extra throughout your two or three-hour slot.
There are three ranges to the course, with every growing in problem.
Because the aerial journey is self-guided, you’ll be able to go at your personal tempo, so skip the road and e-book your tickets earlier than you journey right here.
Cocoa Seaside Aerial Journey is at 6419 North Atlantic Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
3- Go On A Guided Kayaking Backwater Manatee and Dolphin Tour
Cape Canaveral is well-known for its manatee inhabitants, that are massive aquatic mammals affectionately referred to as sea cows.
On a backwater manatee and dolphin tour, you’ll be able to anticipate to see these unimaginable creatures and otters and birds native to the realm.
Accompanied by knowledgeable information, teams kayak within the morning or afternoon by way of the mangrove forests and tidal flats.
The expertise is appropriate for knowledgeable kayakers and people new to the game.
The excursions take two hours and discover the calm waters of the Cocoa Seaside Thousand Islands Marine Sanctuary. Discover out extra right here.
The tour begins from A1A Seaside Leases and Outside Centre, 6811 North Atlantic Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
4- Ebook A Pavilion At Jetty Park
Jetty Park is a pristine, tropical and secluded paradise seaside and parkland cherished by locals and guests.
The park stretches throughout 30 acres (12 ha) and is ideal for a calming time out.
You’ll discover pretty spots to have a picnic, lengthy stretches of soppy white sands to discover and bookable pavilions to provide you a calming base for the day.
Enterprise out to sea on the Malcolm E. McLouth Fishing Pier that extends out into the ocean from the park.
The pier is 1200ft (365.76m) lengthy and is a perfect location for fishing.
There are common fish cleansing stations with operating water and loads of lights for night time fishing.
Jetty Park is at 9035 Campground Cir, Cape Canaveral, Fl 32920.
5- Watch A Rocket Launching From Exploration Tower
Exploration Tower is a surprising architectural landmark in Cape Canaveral and a must-visit location.
The tower has seven flooring filled with exhibitions and interactive play areas for kids.
There are indoor and outside viewing areas providing unimaginable views.
Exploration Tower has 5550ft (1691.64m) of exhibition area, a restaurant and a present store.
One of many distinctive experiences at Exploration Tower is to e-book onto the Seventh-floor outside remark deck throughout a rocket launch, the place you’ll have top-of-the-line seats in Florida to see this unimaginable sight.
Exploration Tower is at 670 Dave Nesbet Drive, Cape Canaveral, Fl 329020-4514.
6- Go to The U.S. Airforce Area and Missile Museum
The U.S. Airforce Area and Missile Museum has been educating guests on rocketry and area flight historical past since 1966.
The museum collects, restores and shows numerous gadgets linked to the USA’s area flight historical past.
Reveals displayed on the museum embrace Navaho Plane, Thor Missile, V2 Rocket Engine, Gemini Capsule, and extra.
Visits to the museum are all the time through a guided tour, and guests usually are not permitted to discover the museum themselves.
U.S. Airforce Area and Missile Museum is at 191 Museum Cir Launch Complicated 26, Cape Canaveral, 32925-2535.
7- Calm down At Cherie Down Park
Discover the attractive sand dunes and spectacular ocean views at Cherie Down Park.
The park covers 6.99 acres of seaside, dunes and seagrasses, all of that are preserved.
It’s the best place to spend the day because it has restrooms, consuming water, bathe services, picnic shelters and grill areas.
Cherie Down is a well-liked spot for these eager to boogie board or surf. The seaside is accessible from 7 am until 7 pm each day.
Cherie Down Park is at 8330 Ridgewood Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920-2122.
8- See Area Shuttle Shows At Kennedy Area Middle
The Kennedy Area Middle is a must-visit attraction in Cape Canaveral and is ideal for households, {couples} and solo travellers.
The area centre shows the Area Shuttle Atlantis, Saturn V rocket, and loads of area and astronaut memorabilia.
Make sure you discover the U.S. Astronaut Corridor of Fame, offered by Boeing, to find extra concerning the well-known astronauts who ventured past Earth within the title of science.
There are many actions for kids to get entangled with, together with a chat with an astronaut, interactive shows and 3D area movies.
The centre is extraordinarily common, so get a skip-the-line move right here to take advantage of your time.
Kennedy Area Middle is at Area Commerce Manner, Merritt Island, FL 32953.
9- Take pleasure in The Wizard of Oz Immersive Expertise
Certainly one of Cape Canaveral’s latest points of interest is the Wizard of Oz Museum.
Fred Belief, a Wizard of Oz collector and scholar, opened the museum in early 2022.
The museum focuses on the Oz sequence by L. Frank Braum, together with writings from different Oz authors and loads of popular culture.
For individuals who love the books and, in fact, the portrayal of the central character Dorothy by Judy Garland, an immersive expertise is accessible on the museum.
3D laser projections from the movie and artistic endeavors are projected onto the museum’s flooring, partitions and ceilings.
There are greater than 2000 artefacts referring to the Wizard of Oz, together with some film memorabilia.
Your ticket means that you can discover the Fantastic World of Oz, in addition to the works of Van Gogh, by way of an equally immersive expertise.
Wizard of Oz Immersive Expertise is at 7191 North Atlantic Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
10- Ebook An Astronaut Coaching Expertise
For a very distinctive and memorable expertise and time out, e-book an Astronaut Coaching Expertise on the Kennedy Area Centre.
Throughout your coaching day, skilled crew members will practice you for a mission to Mars utilizing genuine coaching strategies.
Missions are simulated to incorporate launching, touchdown and exploring Mars.
Utilizing microgravity know-how, you’ll be able to even carry out a spacewalk on the floor of the pink planet.
All through your complete coaching expertise, movies are taken to provide you a novel memento of your day.
Tickets should be booked upfront individually out of your entry ticket and tour of the Kennedy Area Middle.
Astronaut Coaching Expertise is at Kennedy Area Middle Customer Complicated, Area Commerce Manner, Merritt Island, FL 32953.
11- Drink A Southern-style Beer At Florida Beer Firm
The Florida Beer Firm can’t be missed when visiting Cape Canaveral if you happen to get pleasure from a chilly beer.
The brewery brews Southern-style beers in small batches making a refreshing vary of craft beers in 28 totally different types, many with a Florida contact of citrus.
Florida Beer Firm permits the general public to see components of the brewing course of from its customer centre.
The customer centre has a 100ft (30.48m) lengthy glass window for guests to see a variety of phases within the brewing course of.
Ebook a guided tour on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for a better take a look at the method. Your $10 ticket additionally contains 4 tastings.
Florida Beer Firm is at 200 Imperial Blvd, Cape Canaveral, FL.
12- Go to Manatee Sanctuary Park
Manatee Sanctuary Park is a must-visit for animal lovers.
Whereas manatee sightings can’t be assured, there’s a good likelihood to identify these unimaginable creatures from the boardwalk as Manatees prefer to eat sea grass which grows freely alongside the boardwalk.
The park was named Manatee Sanctuary as a result of it’s positioned subsequent to a bit of the Banana River, a protected habitat for manatees.
Manatee Sanctuary Park is a superb place to chill out away from town.
There’s a coated riverside boardwalk, loads of picnic and BBQ spots, and a coated pavilion with a serving kitchen.
Manatee Sanctuary Park is at 701 Thurm Blvd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
For greater than 150 years, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse has stood proud on the coast, defending ships coming into the port space.
Right now the lighthouse is owned by the USA Area Power and is totally working.
The lighthouse is an energetic navigational support to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Because the lighthouse is owned and operated by the navy and is on navy land, the one option to expertise this unimaginable feat of engineering is on a pre-booked tour.
Ebook a guided tour of the lighthouse, its museum and its present store.
Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is at 670 Dave Nesbet Drive, Cape Canaveral, Fl 32920-4514.
US Military Corps of Engineers constructed Canaveral Lock in 1965 to permit the protected passage of vessels travelling from Banana River and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
The lock is the biggest navigation lock in Florida.
The scale of the lock was elevated from its unique plans to permit the passage of the Saturn rocket’s first stage.
The Saturn rocket was used to place the Apollo rockets into area throughout the area race of the Nineteen Sixties.
Head to the lock to identify a few of Florida’s native marine life and benefit from the views out throughout the ocean.
Top-of-the-line instances is sundown for essentially the most spectacular views.
Canaveral Lock is at 998 Mullet Street, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920-4505.
15- Have A Scrumptious Meal At Cafe Monte Carlo
Cafe Monte Carlo is a Cape Canaveral establishment, a restaurant in a small plaza, and regardless of its low-key vibes, it’s extremely common and a foodie’s paradise.
The meals are scrumptious and served with excessive service requirements in homely environment.
There are outside seats out there for hotter days too.
A favorite dish on the menu is the Cafe Monte Carlo croissant breakfast sandwich and their conventional apple pie.
Cafe Monte Carlo is at 7090 North Atlantic Avenue, Suite 2, Cape Canaveral, FL32920-3714.
16- Eat Ice Cream At Tropic Ice Cream
Tropic Ice Cream is a must-visit candy spot in Cape Canaveral, with a variety of flavours.
They even cater to allergy symptoms and dietary necessities which means there’s something for everybody.
The ice cream is available in a variety of types in addition to flavours, together with mushy serve and Italian ice.
Tropic Ice Cream specialises in arduous high ice cream, a mushy serve dipped in a coating that can set arduous on contact with the coldness of the ice cream.
Certainly one of their greatest sellers is Hershey’s ice cream, they usually even have chocolate malts, shakes and banana fosters.
Tropic Ice Cream is at 6200 North Atlantic Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
17- Look For Wildlife At Banana River Aquatic Protect
Take to the water and uncover underwater worlds at Banana River Aquatic Protect.
The protect is the best location to kayak whereas in search of wildlife and is accessible by way of a number of boat ramps that present direct entry to the water and is surrounded by parkland.
Banana River Aquatic Protect is a crucial habitat throughout spring for the east coast inhabitants of manatees, with as many as 500 manatees a day utilizing the river.
Look out for alligators and diamondback terrapin turtles throughout your go to.
Banana River Aquatic Protect is at 401 Ramp Street, Cocoa Seaside, FL 32931.
18- Go Deep Sea Fishing
Cape Canaveral lies on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, making it the best spot for deep-sea fishing.
On a deep sea fishing tour, anticipate a variety of fish out there to catch, reminiscent of sailfish, dolphins, kingfish and tuna.
Backside fishing is accessible to catch grouper, snapper or amberjack and inshore fishing within the backwaters for mangrove snapper, pink drum and noticed sea trout.
Native specialists will enable you navigate to one of the best spot to search out your catch.
Deep sea fishing adventures are good for the entire household. Vessels embrace fishing and security tools and Florida fishing licences.
19- Go On A Sundown Cruise
Head out on a cruise for sightings of Florida’s native wildlife, led by educated and skilled guides keen that will help you be taught extra concerning the ecological historical past of Cape Canaveral’s waters and its residents.
Anticipate to see turtles and stingrays, in addition to dolphins and whales.
Excursions run all through the day with specialised sundown cruises within the night, opening up a brand new world of marine life.
Boats have a personalized aquarium on board on your tour information to put small fish and crabs inside as you sail alongside.
Time and Tide Tour is at 505 Glen Cheek Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
20- Be taught to Surf
Cape Canaveral’s waterside location means water sports activities are extremely common, and also you don’t must be an knowledgeable to courageous the waves.
A non-public browsing lesson with skilled instructors will get you in your ft.
A few of the greatest browsing instructors in Florida will information you thru browsing fundamentals earlier than serving to you into the water.
The workforce of instructors are so positive that you’ll depart loving browsing, they even provide a money-back assure if you happen to didn’t have a improbable time.
Your teacher supplies all the pieces to arrange you for the waves, together with wetsuits, boards and even video tools for a novel memento. Test it out right here.
Be taught to Surf is at Buchanan Avenue, Cape Canaveral. FL 32920.
