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  < The Space Coast

  The Space Coast

  Colorful surfboards displayed at the Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach

  With swamps, flatlands, and beaches, and a temperate to subtropical climate, the Space Coast has more native wildlife than practically anywhere in the US. Due to the high influx of tourists, the major roadways are well kept; however, its location surrounding the Kennedy Space Center and preserves means development is limited. While there is a fairly usable public transportation system, especially along the trolley routes around Cocoa Beach, a car is mandatory for any excursions farther afield, and to get here from Orlando. Interstate 95 is the main highway for north–south travel, with US Route 1 the principal road through coastal tourist areas.

  1. Kennedy Space Center

  2. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

  3. Cocoa Beach and Pier

  4. Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach

  5. Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science

  6. Brevard Zoo

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  < The Space Coast

  1. Kennedy Space Center

  3-2-1 Blast off!

  A command module on display in the Visitor Complex

  Every young space cadet dreams of being an astronaut, and this is the place where the dream comes true. Since its opening in 1963, the home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched 135 shuttle missions, 26 manned space flights, and countless rockets from the Cape Canaveral base. The highlight of the Visitor Complex is the permanent display of Atlantis, which ended the shuttle orbiter program in 2011.

  Key Features

  1. Heroes and Legends America’s space pioneers are honored at this exhibit, where superb interactive technology re-creates the dangers of early missions. The US Astronaut Hall of Fame® is housed here as well.

  2. Rocket Garden Eight vintage rockets from every stage of the US Space Program reach for the stars in this display area, beautifully lit at night. Walk among the real rockets and replicas of space capsules illustrating the Center’s history of flight.

  3. Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted This 10,000-sq ft- (3,048-sq m-) exhibit features a live theater, interactive experiences, and large-scale multimedia presentations to help kids and adults learn about the future of space exploration. The model of Orion, NASA’s next-generation spacecraft, takes visitors through the technology that helps astronauts explore deep space. The Explorers Wanted show runs live, twice an hour.

  4. IMAX® Theater Two massive 50-ft (15-m) movie screens show films featuring footage shot by astronauts during actual missions in space, with sound and 3-D effects so realistic that viewers feel they are in space themselves. Films include Hubble 3D, where viewers can “float” alongside astronauts as they build the Hubble Space Telescope, and Journey to Space, narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart, where viewers can learn about NASA’s plans for deep space exploration.

  5. Astronaut Memorial This granite memorial, which stands outside the Atlantis exhibit, is inscribed with the names of those who have died in various space programs. Nearly 2,000 sq ft (186 sq m) of the Atlantis exhibit is dedicated to Forever Remembered, which contains a display of items that belonged to the crew of two shuttles – Challenger and Columbia.

  6. Space Shuttle Atlantis℠ This $100-million exhibit features the space shuttle Atlantis – an Earth orbiter that went into space more than 30 times between 1985 and 2011. This exhibit is one of only three shuttles on display in the world. Its cargo bay door is open and its robotic arm extended.

  7. Shuttle Launch Experience® Ride a thrilling space flight simulator to sample G-forces and zero gravity. After a pre-launch briefing in a replica launch gantry, strap on as the countdown begins, and the sounds, lights, and sensation of being launched into space propel the imagination into orbit.

  8. Astronaut Encounter In this 30-minute show, visitors meet the members of NASA’s astronaut teams, who tell stories of their experiences and answer questions. The 3-D film Eyes on the Universe: NASA’s Space Telescopes employs footage from the Hubble Telescope, allowing visitors to view the farthest reaches of the universe.

  9. Apollo/Saturn V Center Explore a reproduction of the Apollo mission control room, marvel at a 370-ft- (112-m-) tall Saturn V rocket, and see space suits that Apollo 14 astronauts wore in outer space in this tribute to the Apollo Space Program.

  Left Shuttle Launch Experience Middle Rocket Garden Right Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted

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  Kids’ Corner

  Spacecraft have names too!

  Walk around the Apollo/Saturn V Center and find the numbers on these Apollo capsules with sometimes funny names: Gumdrop

  Charlie Brown

  Columbia

  Kitty Hawk

  Casper

  >> Answers

  Left behind

  The US Space Program has left six landing modules, three lunar rovers, six flags, two pairs of boots, a hammer, and three golf balls on the Moon.

  First and last words

  Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon, on July 21, 1969. He famously uttered the first words on the Moon, too: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Do you know what the last words on the Moon were? Eugene Cernan, the last man on the Moon aboard Apollo 17 in December 1971, said: “We leave now as we once came, with peace and with hope for all mankind.”

  Patch it together

  Look at the mission patches on display in the Space Shop and see if you can find: A covered wagon

  The Statue of Liberty

  Winged horses

  “Friendship 7”

  A wooden sailing ship

  >> Answers

  Mission moon rock

  The Moon rocks you see displayed in the Apollo/Saturn V Center were brought back by astronauts on the Apollo missions – though that wasn’t the only reason they went to the Moon – and were collected using the same tools used on Earth, such as hammers, rakes, scoops, and tongs.

  Space by numbers

  If you weigh 100 lb (45.4 kg) on Earth, you’d weigh 17 lb (7.7 kg) on the Moon, and 236 lb (107 kg) on Jupiter.

  A rocket at take-off travels at 17,500 miles per hour (28,164 km/hr).

  It takes 45 minutes to open the doors on the 525-ft- (160-m-) tall Vehicle Assembly Building.

  The sound created by a space shuttle launch is equal to 8 million stereos.

  If you could take a space shuttle from where you are in the Kennedy Space Center to Orlando, the journey would take only 9 seconds.

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  < The Space Coast

  2. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

  The wildest place in Florida

  Manatees in the Observation Area

  With its dry coastal dunes and boggy marshes, the Merritt Island area is like a theme park built by nature. Established in 1963, the refuge covers an area twice the size of Orlando. More than 1,500 species of plants, mammals, and reptiles are found here, including endangered animals that live nowhere else. Many migratory birds visit between October and April, and many large birds, such as egrets and pelicans, live here year-round.

  Key Sights

  1. Playalinda Beach This protected beach with pure, soft white sands and undisturbed vistas is one of the few beaches in Florida untouched by big hotels.

  2. Visitor Information Center Exhibits and hands-on presentations on the refuge’s wildlife are regularly shown here. Climb the observation tower for fine views.

  3. Oak Hammock and Palm Hammock Foot Trails The short Oak Hammock Trail is posted with educational signs explaining the area’s ecology. The Palm Hammock Trail is a 2-mile (4-km) loop through hardwood forest with areas perfect for spotting songbirds.

  4. Black Point Wildlife Drive Follow the 7-mile (4-km) trail by car or set
out on one of the hiking trails and look out for more than 50 species of birds. The connecting 5-mile (8-km) Cruickshank Trail loops through the marsh and back to the drive.

  5. Indian River Lagoon The banks of these waterways, home to Native American tribes for thousands of years, offer the best spots to watch for wintering manatees and bottlenose dolphins.

  6. Manatee Observation Area This deck on the northeast side of Haulover Canal offers close views of these endangered animals. In winter, when the sea temperature falls, several hundred can be seen.

  7. Canaveral National Seashore White-sand beaches, tropical forest, lagoons, and cypress hammock make up this unspoiled 24-mile (39-km) stretch of coastline.

  Left Playalinda beach Middle Oak Hammock and Palm Hammock Foot Trails Right Fishing on the Indian River Lagoon

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  >>Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  You’re watching them…

  It is easy to spot wild birds if you know what to look and listen for: Bright colors. The blue wings of a scrub jay in the green trees, and a bright pink spoonbill in the dark water.

  Songs. The high-pitched whistle of an osprey, or the “kuk-kuk-kuk” laugh of a pileated woodpecker.

  Shadows. Eagles and hawks are usually silent, but they are very large and cast big shadows on the ground.

  Movement. Wading birds like the gray Louisiana heron and the snow-white ibis stand still for a very long time to catch fish. See if you can spot them moving.

  Treasure Hunt

  Borrow a GeoHunt kit and GPS device from the Visitor Center, and begin the hunt by car and on foot for the treasures of Merritt Island. Along the way, you’ll be asked to find historical sites, spot birds of all kinds, and write down how long each trail is.

  Not made of turtles

  Turtle Mound, on Canaveral National Seashore, is called a midden – a big hill made from the shells of oysters eaten by early Native American settlers. It is more than 50 ft (15 m) high and can be seen 7 miles (11 km) out at sea.

  …they’re watching you

  The freshwater ponds behind the Visitor Center have not-so-secret guests: live alligators who rest on the muddy banks and warm themselves in the sun. Look for the light reflected in their eyes, and if you’re lucky, you’ll hear the low, booming cough of a gator call.

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  < The Space Coast

  3. Cocoa Beach and Pier

  Eating, shopping, and fishing above; sunbathing below

  Vacationers at the famous white-sand Cocoa Beach

  The city of Cocoa Beach became famous because of its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, but it was popular long before rockets were launched from here. It nestles on a small barrier island bordered by a fertile lagoon and the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Remains of ancient Native American villages prove that Cocoa was home to native Floridians for thousands of years, and shops, restaurants, and museums keep it lively today. The beach, with its soft white sand, stretches into relatively calm waters and has long been a major draw for visitors. There is always plenty of activity, from families building sand castles to surfers, and treasure-hunters with metal detectors. A landmark since 1962, the wooden Pier has bars, restaurants, and stores selling handcrafted gifts. Live concerts and festivals are also held right on the beach.

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  < The Space Coast

  4. Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach

  Always open, always fun

  Wide variety of fascinating merchandise in the Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach

  Opened in 1964, this iconic shop has been here so long it has become a tourist destination in its own right. It has loads lined up for families: shop for swimsuits, board shorts, towels, or flip flops in the fun-looking two-story building fronted by Hawaiian statues. The shop also has a huge selection of kitsch souvenirs, including Ron Jon stickers, tiki statues, keychains and basically everything imaginable with the word “Florida” written on it. Serious surfers, too, shop here, and the assortment of boards and supplies is first-rate. Look out for discount coupons in hotel lobbies before visiting.

  Visit the Florida Surf Museum (www.floridasurfmuseum.org), situated just north of the main store building. It screens movies and features exhibits on the history and heroes of surfing.

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  >>Letting Off Steam

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  >>Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  Listen up, dude!

  The sport of surfing has its own language, a mix of words from lots of places including Hawaii and California. See if you overhear any of these words: Aloha: hello, goodbye, and what’s up, dude?

  Bammerwee: not really good or bad, just okay

  Da kine: Hawaiian for absolutely the best kind of wave

  Eat foam: fall off a surfboard

  Gnarly: an awesome, spectacular thing; the only thing better is gnar-max

  Jivel: everything is going very wrong and not a bit gnarly

  Tubular: very cool

  Mahalo: Hawaiian for thank you

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  < The Space Coast

  5. Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science

  From mastodons to missiles

  Braving it on a zip line in Brevard Zoo, Melbourne

  This charming museum offers a glimpse into the distant past and the technological present of central Florida – from prehistoric fossils to rocket ships. See re-creations of the archaeological dig of the area’s oldest site and of ancient Native American villages to get an insight into Cocoa’s origins. There are also exhibits on the space program and Brevard County’s still-vibrant cattle-ranching. Items from the museum’s own holdings about life in Florida are displayed alongside traveling collections.

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  >>Letting Off Steam

  >>Eat and Drink

  >>Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  The Bog People

  Find out about the ancient Bog People at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. Living in the swamps near Cape Canaveral more than 8,000 years ago, they had tools, clothing, and houses 3,500 years before there were pyramids in Egypt! More than 160 mummified skeletons have been discovered in the peat bogs around Titusville, and that is why they are called Bog People.

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  < The Space Coast

  6. Brevard Zoo

  Get up close to bobcats, whistling ducks, and giraffes

  As if Florida were not wild enough, this modern, spacious zoo presents even more wild animals and habitats. In the Wild Florida area, see animals native to Florida such as alligators, bobcats, foxes, whistling ducks, and hawks. The also zoo has re-created African, Australian, and South American jungle habitats populated by exotic wildlife. Climb the 16-ft- (5-m-) high platform in the Expedition Africa zone to look into a giraffe’s eye.

  >>Practical Information

  >>Letting Off Steam

  >>Eat and Drink

  >>Kids' Corner