WHERE IS FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST?

Centered along Florida's Atlantic coast, the Space Coast is 35 miles east of Orlando. Area cities include Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I GET THERE?

Complete with modern day space excursions and 72 miles of sandy beaches, Florida's Space Coast offers an array of excursions for every escape artist. More than 250 square miles of protected wildlife refuges wrapped by freshwater impounds, vast saltwater estuaries and brackish marshes provide gentle nesting areas for a myriad of endangered species from the Southern bald eagle to the West Indian manatee.

WHAT MAKES FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST UNIQUE FROM OTHER FLORIDA DESTINATIONS?

• Three of "Florida's Top Ten Beaches," Southern Living
• Featured among Money magazine's "Best Places to Vacation"
• Home of the first-ever custom area code, 3-2-1
• Only place in the Western Hemisphere to blast man into outer space
• Largest sea turtle nesting area in the U.S. and the second largest in the world
• More endangered species than any other American refuge
• Second busiest cruise passenger port in the world.

WHY ARE YOU ALL CALLED THE SPACE COAST?  

We're one of the pioneers of America's space race and we're still the only place in the western hemisphere where you can actually witness a manned space launch.  Get a glimpse of why we're called the Space Coast by visiting one or all of the following attractions:

• Air Force Space and Missile Museum
• Angry Birds Space Encounter
• Astronaut Training Experience
• Apollo/Saturn V Center
• B.C.C. Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory
• Camp Kennedy Space Center
• I-MAX Theater
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• Space Shuttle Atlantis (coming June 2013) 
• U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
• U.S. Space Walk of Fame
• Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum

HOW FAR BACK CAN YOU TRACE THE AREA'S HISTORY?

Juan Ponce de Leon lands off the coast of Melbourne Beach Cape Canaveral in 1513

Ais Indian village on what is now The Ulamay Wildlife Sanctuary in Merritt Island was mapped in 1605 by Lt. Alvaro Mexia. 

The last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought off the shores of Cape Canaveral in 1783, between the Uss Alliance and the HMS Sybill.

Founded by fisherman, the first families arrived in Cocoa in 1860.  Once known as "Indian River City", Cocoa's first families arrived in 1860.  The town's official name was adopted in 1884 after one of its citizens received inspiration from a box of Baker's Cocoa. 

Colonel Henry Titus arrives in 1867 with intentions to build a town on land owned by his wife. The community was named Titusville in 1873.  

Melbourne was founded in the late 1860s by former slaves and named in honor of its first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector, an Englishman who had spent much of his life in Melbourne, Australia.

WHAT CAN A NATURE LOVER DO?

There's plenty of things for nature lover to do with over a hundred public parks, 250 square miles of protected sanctuaries, and 72  miles of Atlantic coastline and fresh water tributaries.   

• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Canaveral National Seashore
• Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area
• Brevard County Parks and Recreation
• Brevard Zoo
• Indian River Lagoon
• Banana River
• Turkey Creek Sanctuary
• The Enchanted Forest
• Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
• Crane Creek
• Surrounding Florida wetlands

ARE THERE ANY FESTIVALS OR SPECIAL EVENTS I CAN PLAN MY VACATION AROUND?

Depending on the time of the year, you can catch beads tossed from a carnival float during Cocoa's Annual Mardi Gras parade, photograp rare bird species in the Nikon Birding & Wildlife festival or witness a world champion surfer in one of a half dozen AST sponsored surfing competitions. 

I THOUGHT I HAD TO GO TO MIAMI OR TAMPA TO TAKE A CRUISE?

The second busiest passenger cruise port in the world hosts six vessels that offer 1- to -7 day excusions aboard Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, and Disney Cruise Lines, which depart to exotic destinations, while Sun Cruz Casino offers twice a day partial excursions. Also, a fleet of more than 30 charter boats lure fishermen to the catch-of-the day.

WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATIONS CAN I EXPECT?

Florida Space Coast boasts more than 27,000 guest rooms and that's not counting our campgrounds.  Whether you're looking for a seaside hotel, or a boutique hotel with just the right kind of ambiance.  A beachfront condominium with more space to stretch out or a bed and breakfast with one-of-a-kind service, we have what you're looking for regardless of your budget.

Here for business?  Our hotels offer more than 300,000 Square ft. of combined meeting space.   But don't expect the ordinary! Of course you can host your meeting in a traditional conference room, but why not try one on the beach, in the middle of a rocket garden, or at the zoo? Whatever you choose, groups are always guaranteed a unique venue on Florida's Space Coast.

Looking for something a little rustic?  Florida's Space Coast has more than 2, 800 campgrounds and RV sites. 

WHAT IF I'M REALLY INTO TASTING THE LOCAL FLAVOR?

No problem.  More than 1, 400 restaurants dot Florida's Space Coast , from fresh from the sea raw bars, sizzling Asian hibachis, to eclectic gourmet bistros and Cuban sandwhich shops featuring local flavors that will whet any appetite.

WHAT KIND OF WEATHER CAN I EXPECT?

Due to our location, you can expect pleasant weather generally all year round.

ARE THERE ANY DESTINATIONS CLOSE BY WE CAN VISIT ON A QUICK DAY TRIP?

Since we're only 35 miles east of Orlando, guests can take a day trip to experience all Orlando has to offer and be back in time to watch the sunset while making sandcastles on the beach.

Walt Disney World

Sea World

Epcot

Downtown Orlando 

Thirty-five minutes west of Orlando, two hours south of Jacksonville and three hours north of Miami, Florida's Space Coast is conveniently located off of three major highways:  Interstate 95, the Beachline Expressway (528) and Highway US 1.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I PLAN TO FLY?

Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)
Serviced by Baer Airlines, Delta Airlines and JetAmerica.  Starting in early 2010, US Airways will open up another 550 destinations with daily service to its Charlotte hub, and Direct Air will start service to Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Punta Gorda, FL.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Serviced by Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air Comet, Air Jamaica, Air Transat, Air Tran, American, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Bahamas, Air, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Continental Connection, Copa Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Lufthansa, Martinair, Mexicana, MiamiAir, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest, United, US Airways, Virgin Airlines and many more.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
Serviced by Allegiant Air, Direct Air, Flyglobespan, Icelandair, Monarch, Thomas Cook Airlines and Thomson Airways 

HOW CAN I RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST?

To order a vacation guide
To speak with someone regarding the area, please call 1-877-57-BEACH