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The Space Coast- The Attractions |
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The Space Coast is an attraction unto itself with its vivid hues of blues and greens
dancing about the open Ocean, soothing sound of crashing waves as they seemingly
reach for shore, and soft sparkling white sand beaches. There are however other
attractions and activities worth considering when visiting this spectacular side of
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Kennedy Space Center
Rating: Fantastic
Location: State Road 405, Merritt Island
Phone: 321-449-4444
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, closed on Christmas and select launch days
Web site: www.kennedyspacecenter.com
Admission:
Tickets (including The Kennedy Space Center tour, Imax presentations, entrance to the Astronaut
Hall of Fame, and space-flight simulations): Adult: $ 38; kids 3-11 $ 28.
Hall of Fame Only Tickets: Adult $17, kids 3-11 $13.
Parking: Free
Special Tours:
NASA Up Close: Adult $21, kids 3-11 $15
Cape Canaveral Then and Now: Adult $21, kids 3-11 $15
Lunch with an Astronaut: (includes lunch and a briefing by a real astronaut along with an autographed souvenir): Adult: $23.99, kids 3-11 $16.99
The Astronaut Training Experience- ATX(for kids 10 and older): $250
The Kennedy Space Center Tour, a 3 hour tour of the complex, is included with regular admission.
Guest Services
-Strollers and wheelchairs are available at no charge.
-Pet kennels are available at no charge.
-An ATM is located outside the front as well as at the Space Shop.
-A first-aid station is located off to the far right near the charter boarding area.
Where else in the world could you explore a life-sized space shuttle, tour the launch pads of a real space shuttle, train like the astronauts do, and actually meet a real astronaut face to face? The Kennedy Space Center is filled with interactive experiences, exhibits, and amazing tours that allow an up-close-and-personal look into the past, present, and future of space travel. The amount of time it takes to tour the facility largely depends upon the age of your children. The younger they are, the less time it will take. The older they are (7 or 8 and above), the longer it may take since many of the exhibits will be far more interesting to them.
Highlights
The Kennedy Space Center recently opened its exciting and all new Shuttle Launch Experience – a $60 million shuttle launch simulator that takes visitors on a thrilling and realistic journey into space. As you enter, you’ll walk along the gantry, and once inside the pre-launch briefing begins as Veteran Shuttle Commander Charlie Bolden takes you (the crew) step-by-step through the launch sequence – an extremely well done, immensely interesting, and wonderfully entertaining production I have to say. Soon the doors begin to open and you (the shuttle crew) are seated in the shuttle’s cargo bay…once aboard (and once you’re safely strapped in) the countdown begins.
5…4…3…2…1…blast off! Traveling at speeds of up to 17,500 mph – faster than the speed of sound, you’ll find yourself experiencing the sensations of space flight –including an absolutely spectacular view of the Earth below. And just when you think the experience is over – it’s not. As you make your way to the exit, you’ll walk down an open spiral ramp – be sure to look both above and below – the view is simply spectacular as stars twinkle high above your head (similar to what you what you would experience in a planetarium) while the earth can be seen far below (in the center of the spiraling ramp).
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Mad Mission to Mars 2025: 3-D animation transforms guests into astronaut trainees in this live-action stage show. You’ll be guided through a series of interactive activities where you’ll learn what it takes to be a real astronaut. The characters are comical, making for a rather amusing presentation.
Astronaut Encounter: A half-hour interactive Q&A with a real astronaut provides the opportunity to hear firsthand what it takes to be an astronaut. A short video is shown as well and a handful of artifacts are displayed.
Space launch: If you’re lucky, there may actually be a real space launch while you’re visiting. The schedules are posted on the Web site, so be sure to check before you go.
It’s simply breathtaking to watch and is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can also see the launch (provided the weather is cooperative) from along the shores of Cocoa Beach. It’s not nearly as up-close and personal, but you can still feel a bit of a rumble.
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The Kennedy Space Launch Schedule
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| Endeavor |
December 6th, 2007 |
| Atlantis |
February 7th, 2008 |
| Discovery |
April 7th, 2008 |
| Endeavour |
June 19th, 2008 |
| Discovery |
August 21, 2008 |
| Atlantis |
October 30th, 2008 |
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Exploration in the New Millennium: Have you ever wanted to travel to Mars? Well, here’s your chance. By providing your signature, you’ll sign on to take the trip sometime in the not so far-off future. Your signature is actually stored and sent to NASA Washington D.C. Headquarters. You can even touch an actual Martian rock.
The Rocket Garden: A large outdoor area filled with replicas of some of NASA’s more historic rockets. This is a great place for kids to run around and explore, expending some of their own energy.
The Children’s Play Dome: Located right next to the Rocket Garden, the play dome is a toddler-friendly space-themed playground, another perfect place to let little ones run around.
The Kennedy Space Center Tour is a narrated bus tour that takes you around the complex, touring some of the restricted areas that others are not allowed to see. You will stop at the LC-39 Observation Gantry, where the view of the Space Center is amazing. You can see the shuttle launch pads as well as the rocket launch pads at Cape Canaveral. From there, it’s on to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where the space shuttle is stacked for a launch and where the Saturn and Apollo rockets were once assembled. The final stop is the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Inside you’ll find plenty of hands-on displays and exhibits in addition to the Firing Room Theater, where the launch of the Apollo 8 is shown. You can also catch a glimpse of the tremendous Saturn V rocket before you watch the video of the first landing on the moon.
As A Note:
I suggest taking the tour as soon as you arrive or not long after as it lasts approximately 3 hours, and can be tough to it in if left until the end of the day. This is one tour that shouldn't be skipped.
The Astronaut Hall of Fame: This attraction at the Space Center is actually located a few miles off from the main complex. It is filled with the world’s largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia as well as spacecrafts and simulators.
Spaceflight Simulator: The spaceflight simulator is an interactive exhibit in every sense of the word. Kids (and adults) can experience what it feels like to pull 4-Gs on the gforce simulator, walk on the moon, or ride in a rover along the surface of Mars. Older kids love this one.
(The Simulator is located at the Astronaut Hall of Fame)
The IMAX theaters: Shows are presented throughout the day in the world’s only twin IMAX theaters. If you have never experienced an IMAX presentation before, this is definitely the place to do it. The experience is amazing as the sights and sound simply surround you throughout the show. The presentations change from time to time, so for the most up-to-date information regarding exactly what presentations are showing please check the official Kennedy Space Center Web site.
(www.kennedyspacecenter.com)
 The shows can be far too intense for infants and very young children. Kids over 5 should be fine.
For additional information including detailed descriptions of the attractions, experiences-including the A.T.X. experience, and shows before to check the Space Center's official web site. (www.kennedyspacecenter.com)
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A Handful of Smaller Attractions along the Space Coast
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 Ron Jon Surf School
Rating: Fantastic
Location: Colombia Lane, Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-868-1980
Web site: www.ronjonsurfschool.com
The same surfing school that runs the surfing lessons over at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, the Ron Jon Surf School by Craig Carroll specializes in teaching beginners and offers the perfect way to introduce your kids to surfing at one of the premier surfing spots in the
country. The school offers private, semi-private, and group lessons of anywhere from 1 to 3 hours at a time. Ocean and water safety, marine life awareness, and basic beginner surfing techniques are all taught during the lesson, ensuring that the kids get an overall awareness of the sport, not just the how-to’s.
A summer camp program is offered as well – an ideal option if you plan on being in town for more than just a few days. The camp runs for a week (Monday through Friday from 9 am ‘till 3 pm, lunch is included for an small additional fee) and currently costs $325 per child. A deposit is required at the time you reserve space and you must call or e-mail to make the arrangements and to ensure space is available during the week(s) that interest you. Camps are offered  from May through August.
What’s most impressive about the program – and the school in general (other than the instructor’s obvious enthusiasm for the sport of surfing) is the individual attention they are able to give to the kids – the ratio of campers to instructors is never greater than 4:1 (ensuring that there is not only an added degree of safety, but that the kids are given the attention needed to really learn how to surf). They even learn There’s even a surfing contest on the last day of camp – and even though the kids compete (they’re split into teams), everyone comes home with a certificate, a trophy, and a Ron Jon rash guard shirt.
 My three oldest boys (ages 14, 12, and 10) participated in the Ron Jon surf camp this past summer and they had an absolute blast. None of them had ever surfed before (surfing is not even an option where we live, though to be honest, all three snowboard and skateboard quite well) and before the week was over they were asking to come back again next summer – but this time for a few weeks, not just 1. They were absolutely thrilled with the entire experience – as was I.
Private lessons: 1 hour $60; 2 hours $90.00; 3 hours $130.00
Semi-Private (2 students with 1 instructor):1 hour $45; 2 hours $65 per person, 3 hours $80 per person
Group lessons last for 3 hours at $70 per person. The minimum of 3 students must be met.
Payment is by cash or travelers checks only; no credit cards are accepted.
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The Pier
Rating: Fair to Fun
Location: 401 Mead Ave, Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-783-7549
Website: www.cocoabeachpier.com
The pier is a popular spot to walk around and enjoy the spectacular view of the open ocean. It’s filled with casual eateries, an upscale restaurant, a handful of snack spots, and a few small shops. The Pier is also one of the more popular fishing spots in the area, you can fish right off the very end (for a small fee.)  With the kids along, I suggest coming during the day or at least in the early evening hours since later into the night it becomes a popular place to party. The views are spectacular--you can look out over the ocean for miles. To the left you can see the launch pads of the Kennedy Space Center as well as the grand ocean liners and cruise ships that call Port Canaveral home.
If you encounter a rainy afternoon or evening (and it’s likely you will), head to the theater over in the Merritt Square Mall, the AMC Merritt Square 6. You can call 321-452-6550 for the current movies and show times. The Satellite Beach Cinema is nearby as well, located in the Atlantic Plaza on Highway A1A . Call 321-777-3778 for movies and show times.
The Parks
While you'll find several parks along the coastline, 3 particularly nice ones are located right in the Cocoa Beach--Jetty Park, Lori Wilson Park, and Shepard Park. Each features white sandy beaches, pavilions, and picnic areas. Lori Wilson Park allows fishing, has seasonal lifeguards, and features a small playground and even showers. Jetty Park has fishing, lifeguards, a small playground, and concessions. Shepard Park allows fishing, has concessions and showers, and chair rentals are available.
Because much of the area is dedicated to the preservation of the local wildlife, you'll often catch a glimpse of some of the areas more interesting coastal creatures- my oldest was rather impressed with the golden orb spiders.
Lori Wilson Park: 1500 N Atlantic Ave.; 321-455-1380
Jetty Park: 400 Jetty Road; 321-783-7111
Shepard Park: S.R. 520; 321-868-3274
Just a bit further up the road is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge- a must see for visitors to the Space Coast (321-861-0667/ www.merritislandwildlife.org), where you can either drive through or walk through its many trails. The visitor center has a variety of displays that describe the wildlife and habitats that can be found throughout the refuge and can be very helpful to those who may not know just what to look for on their own. The wildlife drive takes you through 7 miles of marshes, both freshwater and saltwater, with several stops along the way where you can get out and take a look around- printed brouchures depicting the various wildlife found along the trail are available at several of the stops.
There are several foot trails to choose from, depending on just how far you feel like walking. The shortest is the 1/-mile boardwalk just behind the visitor center, while the longest is the 5-mile Cruickshank Trail. The refuge is home to, among other creatures, alligators, manatees, bobcats, armadillos, and birds galore. You’ll definitely want to bring along the camera when you come here.
The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset ( the visitors center however is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat-Sun.)
Admission  is free.
The Canaveral National Seashore is just a few miles off from the visitor center and features an undeveloped beach where you can enjoy fishing, surfing and sunbathing, in far more natural surroundings than those in front of your hotel. There is an entry fee of $5 per vehicle.
Both the M.I.N.W.R. and the Canaveral National Seashore are closed to the public 72 hours prior to the announced date of Space Shuttle launches and reopen the day after a successful launch.
The Brevard Zoo
Rating: Fun
Location: 8225 Wickham Road, Melbourne
Phone: 321-254-WILD (321-254- 9453)
Web site: www.brevardzoo.org
Admissions: Adult $10.50 kids 2-12 $7.50
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Stroller rentals: $5.00-single, $7.00-double
While the Brevard Zoo is somewhat smaller than other zoos, it’s definitely more unique than most you’ve encountered. Boardwalks wind through the park, providing a more natural landscape and taking you past the over 550 animal inhabitants from alligators to anteaters, kangaroos, exotic birds, and plenty more. Smaller kids will enjoy the petting zoo, feeding the giraffes, the train ride, and the interactive playground, while older kids will appreciate the opportunity to kayak in the nearby lagoon.
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Golf Anyone?
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Along the Space Coast you’ll find golf courses galore. For the latest lowdown on the best courses to play, green fees, tee times, and more head to www.spacecoastgolf.com or call 877-944-6531.
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The Cocoa Beach Surf Company - Surf School
Rating: Fun to Fabulous
Cocoa Beach Surf Company
Rating: Fun to Fabulous
Location:4001 N. Atlantic Avenue,Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-799-9930
Website: http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/www.cocoabeachsurf.com
Cocoa Beach Parasail
Rating: Fun – for kids and adults up to the experience
Location: Pick Up From Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Port Canaveral
Phone: 321-212-8277
Website: www.cocoabeachparasail.com
COMING SOON!
Adventure Kayak of Cocoa Beach, Inc.
Rating: A Fun Way to Explore the Space Coast Waterways
Location: Ramp Road Park, Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-480-8632 / 321-453-6952
Website: www.kayacocoabeach.com
COMING SOON!
Indian River Cruises
Rating: A Fun Way to Explore the Space Coast Waterways
Location: Cocoa Village Marina, Cocoa Village
Phone: 321-223-6825
Website: www.indianrivercruises.com
COMING SOON!
Indian River Queen (and the Island Boat Lines)
Rating: A Fun Way to Explore the Space Coast Waterways
Location: Boarding for the Indian River Queen is in Cocoa Village
Boarding for the 1000 Islands In Search of Wildlife Cruise is at the South Banana River Marina on Merritt Island
Boarding for the Port Canaveral Cruise is at 800 Scallop Drive, Port Canaveral.
Phone: 321-454-7414 or 321-302-0544
Website: www.islandboarlines.com
COMING SOON!
Miss Cape Canaveral – Deep Sea Fishing
Rating: A Fun Way to Explore the Space Coast Waters
Location: 670 Glen Creek Drive, Port Canaveral
Phone: 321-783-5274
Website: www.misscape.com
COMING SOON!
The Xtreme Fun at Jungle Village (formerly known as the Traxx Family Fun Center at Jungle Village)
Location: 8801 Astronaut Boulevard (A1A), Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-783-0595
Admission: Prices vary depending on the activity. Go-carts, laser tag, and mini-golf run around $5 to $7 each, with arcade games costing a quarter or two a game.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to midnight
Kids will have a blast running around riding the go-carts, testing their skills at the arcade, putting their way through the miniature golf course, swinging at baseballs in the batting cages, and tagging their opponents in a game of laser tag. Given that much of the Space Coast is dedicated to Florida’s more natural side, lined with beautiful of beaches, wildlife refuges, and parks, it does make a good diversion for kids who need a bit of action added in for good measure.
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