Every year, thousands of people descend on Florida’s Space Coast with a variety of plans. And you know what they say about the best laid plans…..
Two wildly popular reasons to visit the Space Coast center around seeing a rocket launch and cruising. What most people don’t think about, is the fact both are susceptible to last minute rescheduling. Cruise line schedules can be disrupted by storms, even some thousands of miles away, as well as logistical problems. And space launches? Don’t even get me started on the vague and mysterious ways of NASA, and the myriad of reasons launches can be scrubbed. (Way more often than you would think.)
Awww Man! What Do I Do Now?
So what do you do when your carefully planned trip to the region is interrupted by a last minute change? For those traveling to the Space Coast, it is imperative to have backup plans for when things don’t go your way. Before we get into that, let me emphasize how important it is to build your vacation into a window rather than specific dates. In short, add a couple of days to your plans on either side of the scheduled event date,
Being a huge spaceflight junkie, I have flown to Florida dozens and dozens of times only to experience a launch delay. So hey world, I’m here…but what am I going to do now? This list (which is by no means comprehensive) has some area attractions to consider if your plans are delayed.
Remember to do your own research before visiting, as these are only brief descriptions. This list focuses on being relatively close to the Kennedy Space Center and Port Canaveral, since many delays may only be 24 hours.
Brevard County
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex- Official visitor center for Kennedy Space Center and NASA. Tours are offered daily and the VC is home to both the same shuttle Atlantis and the Apollo 14 command module. Bus tours, when available, will take visitors up close to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and NASA’s launch pads. Also offers daily astronaut encounters. https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
American Space Museum- Space museum in downtown Titusville. Space View Park is nearby, and has statues and markers dedicated to those who made the space program possible. https://spacewalkoffame.org/
Victory Casino Cruises- Half-day casino cruises that depart Port Canaveral daily except Monday. Check website for schedule. https://victorycasinocruises.com/
Playalinda Beach/Cape Canaveral National Seashore-Beach that is part of Cape Canaveral National Seashore. Beach offers close view of different launch pads at KSC and CCSFS. Requires either admission or National Park pass. In the winter months, manatees like to reside in the Hauler Canal area. https://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm
Brevard County Zoo- Zoo in Melbourne. Over 800 animals call the zoo home. Unique kayak tours available. https://brevardzoo.org/
Cocoa Beach- Surfing town south of Cape Canaveral. Has an extensive pier and many tourist attractions.
Canaveral Tours- Tour organization that focuses on early spaceflight from Florida. Tours are available of the early launch pads on the Space Force Station. Background checks are required to gain access to the Space Force Station and these tours are typically very limited and require a few days to approve. https://canaveral.tours/
Jetty Park- Beach and Pier near the cruise terminals of Port Canaveral. Daily passes are required and available on their website. A unique launch viewpoint as well. Fishing can be done of the pier without a Florida fishing license. Camping is also available with reservations. https://www.portcanaveral.com/Recreation/Jetty-Park-Beach-Pier
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge- Wildlife refuge that encases much of and the areas north of KSC. Offers wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, and ranger talks are all available. Offers some of the best wildlife photography opportunities in the area! https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum- Aeronautical museum located at the Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville. Has an extensive collection of aircraft from the early days of flight to the present. https://www.valiantaircommand.com/
Sands Space History Center- Museum run by the Space Force that explains the history of each launch complex at KSC and CCSFS. Museum is free and located by the entrance to CCSFS. You do not need a base pass to visit. https://ccspacemuseum.org/
Orlando Area (Roughly and Hour Drive from the Space Coast)
Universal Studios Florida-Theme park near Orlando. Contains three theme parks with popular Universal Studios movies. Also home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us
Disney Theme Parks- Disney has six different theme parks in the Orlando area. Disney Springs, which is Disney’s outdoor shopping complex, is free to park and visit. https://www.disneysprings.com/ https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
SeaWorld- Theme park in Orlando that focuses on marine life. SeaWorld offers roller coasters, other thrill rides, and animal exhibits. https://seaworld.com/orlando/
Orlando Wetlands- Protected park east of Orlando that is home to many species of animals, including hundreds of alligators. Great opportunities to hike and see wildlife up close! https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Public-Works/Water-Reclamation-Division/Orlando-Wetlands
Daytona Beach Area (Roughly an Hour Drive from the Space Coast)
Daytona International Speedway- NASCAR racetrack that is home to the Daytona 500. Track tours are offered daily when big races aren’t running. Different racing events are held often, so check the track’s schedule. https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/
Daytona Beach- Popular beach north of Brevard County. You can purchase a pass to drive your car in selected areas on the beach (don’t get stuck!) and visit the boardwalk. A small carnival and arcade is also on the beach.
Further Destinations
Have a few days to play with? Here are a few further suggestions-
Florida Everglades- Massive swampland in southern Florida. Home to many unique species of animals, including the invasive Burmese Python. The National Park requires an entrance fee. Many private fan boat tour companies offer water tours of the Everglades. Approximately 3 hours from the Cape on I-95.
St. Augustine- One of the oldest cities in both Florida and the Untied States. Lots of historical architecture and living history encampments. Castillo de San Marcos, a fort that has changed hands several times throughout its over 300 year lifespan, is run by the National Park Service with tours available (for a fee). Pirates used St. Augustine for smuggling and hiding from authorities. Approximately 2 hours north of the Cape on I-95
Sports Fan?
Many teams call Florida home, and a scrub can be a perfect opportunity to catch a game, even if you aren’t a fan of that specific team.
If you’re lucky to be in Florida February and March, you have the chance to catch baseball teams in their spring trainings. Spring training offers the chance to see teams without the usually expensive price tag. Teams workout starting in mid-February and games begin at the end of the month, ending in late March. 15 teams currently call Florida their “spring” home with ballparks throughout the state. Check Major League Baseball’s website for specific teams and stadium/practice facility locations. https://www.mlb.com/
Soccer Fan? Check out the Orlando Pride or the Tampa Bay Sun!
Slightly further from the Cape, both the Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa) and Florida Panthers (Miami area) represent the National Hockey league. Check https://www.nhl.com/ for game information and schedules.
The National Basketball Association has both the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat representing Florida. Visit https://www.nba.com/ to see schedules.
If you’re a football fan, Florida has you covered with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. See http://nfl.com/ for games. Florida also has many college football teams, including the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, and Florida Gators. Check the NCAA website for game information. https://www.ncaa.com/sports/football/fbs
Orlando also has a soccer club, the Orlando City SC! https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ will list games.
Everyone hates changes, but they don’t have to put a damper on your trip. Remember, schedules are always changing, so be mindful when making plans to travel far from the Space Coast. Enjoy your launch, your cruise, or just “your vacation” and your time in Florida!
