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Cape Canaveral has long been associated with space travel in the United States and holidays to the area just aren't complete without a visit to the world-famous Kennedy Space Center. Just east of many popular Orlando attractions and theme parks, NASA's launch headquarters is one of the few places in the world where you can tour launch areas, meet a real astronaut, see massive rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch if the timing is right. A visit here is both educational and fun (really!)
Of course, there are other things to do in Cape Canaveral besides visit Kennedy. Merritt Island is a National Wildlife Refuge that is full of beautiful and lush landscapes and foliage along with abundant wildlife. There are also plenty of sports and leisure activities, as well as gorgeous beaches that practically beg visitors to sit down and take a load off. And while Cape Canaveral isn't exactly known for nightlife or shopping, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants and enough shopping plazas to keep all members of the family happy.
Spectacular shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral
If you're heading to Cape Canaveral, visiting the Kennedy Space Center is a must. This destination is on the top of everyone's list and here you can introduce your budding astronauts to a variety of interesting places and things to see. A visit to Kennedy is the ultimate experience in space related adventures, and it definitely warrants a whole day's visit.
Visitors begin the journey from the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. This privately operated complex is much like an amusement park. Climb aboard a full sized space shuttle replica, view original moon rock samples and get hands on experience in the latest space science developments. Guided tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the working space flight facilities.
Your admission to the Space Center gets you a variety of tours, but most locals say visiting the launch pad observatory tower is a must. From here you get a panoramic view of the launch pad.
You can also visit the Rocket Garden, which has on display eight real massive rockets of the past era that never made it into space. Afterwards, make sure to check out a movie at the IMAX Theatre that shows movies on a five-story-high screen.
Remember when visiting the Kennedy Space Center that it is a working space facility and therefore occasionally timings can change without notice.
Just a short drive from the space center is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Here you can observe wildlife, go for intense hikes and leisurely walks, and soak up the beautiful Florida sunshine amidst the wonders of nature.
The refuge consists of 140,000 acres and showcases a wide variety of habitats: coastal dunes, saltwater inlets and marshes, freshwater areas, pine forests, and hardwood hammocks provide homes for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals.
Many recreational opportunities are offered at the Refuge. Bird and wildlife observation, a wildlife drive for those who don't want to walk, manatee observation deck, fishing and hunting opportunities, and boating and paddling are just a few of the available activities.
Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Some of the world's most popular cruise lines dock here regularly and it also has a high volume of cargo traffic. Watching cruise ships dock and/or head out to sea can be quite a spectacle, so once the kids have had their fill of the space program, head to the port of Canaveral.
For those looking for a little more entertainment, there are day and nighttime casino cruises that leave from Port Canaveral. For a change of pace, head out on to one of these cruises and spend some time relaxing out on the water.
Not only has the distinctive black and white historical landmark witnessed the launch of countless rockets, it has at times been mistaken for one. From the distance it looks remarkably similar to the neighboring rockets.
The Cape Canaveral lighthouse has been guiding ships from long before rockets started to depart the earth. The construction work was finished in 1868 and it stands almost 140 feet above sea level. The lighthouse has since been restored and two modern 1000-watt searchlights have replaced the original Fresnel lens.
The best way to see the lighthouse is to take a bus tour around the Kennedy Space Center. Buses do not stop at the lighthouse, as it is not allowed, however the bus drives past it and visitors can have a look and take pictures.
Like most areas on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Cape Canaveral has beautiful beaches and all of the great things that come with them. There is excellent fishing in the area, particularly of the deep-sea variety.
Fishermen can take an all-inclusive deep-sea fishing excursion on the Miss Canaveral, Florida's largest deep-sea fishing boat. All you have to do is get on the boat and let the crew handle everything else, even the fishing license. You can take a day trip, an all-night trip, or even a shark fishing trip.
If hiking is more your speed consider the many trails around Cape Canaveral. Aside from the Merritt Island refuge, there's the Canaveral National Seashore that is situated on a barrier along the coast. A great place for hiking or walking, the area is considered to contain some of the most beautiful Seashore in the country, and it stretches for hundreds of miles. There you can enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, surfing, camping, and more in the areas of undeveloped beach, dunes, swampland, and lagoons.
Finally, don't forget to enjoy the beaches. There are miles of sandy beaches to choose from in Cape Canaveral, and sitting on one with a good book and a cocktail might just be the perfect accompaniment to an otherwise busy vacation.
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