You’re on a surfboard in the Atlantic and aren’t sure if you should look for bottlenose dolphins cresting the ocean or the space shuttle’s explosive glow in the sky. Such are the dilemmas of visiting Florida and looking for things to do on the Space Coast. Whether you arrive on a cruise ship at Port Canaveral or drive in from Orlando, you have plenty of experiences to add to a Space Coast itinerary, including visiting the Kennedy Space Center, strolling Cocoa Beach Pier, or feeding giraffes at Brevard Zoo.
The best time to visit the Space Coast is for a scheduled shuttle launch, which can happen year-round. The only downside is that shuttle launches are sometimes postponed at the last minute. Spring break and summertime draw larger crowds for peak sunshine. Between March and May is a perfect time to visit: temperatures just start touching 90℉ (32℃), and the Space Coast holds annual spring events like Thunder on Cocoa Beach boat grand prix, Space Coast Symphony, and Viera Country Fest.
Getting around the Space Coast typically requires a vehicle. The Space Coast does have public bus and trolley transportation but no metro. Taxis and rideshares are convenient for cruise passengers but can add up quickly if you want to do a lot of traveling. If you’re sticking to one area, like the heart of Cocoa Beach, a few rideshares won’t dent your budget, but rent a car if you want to take longer trips.
The Kennedy Space Center is the most well-known attraction on the Space Coast, with Cocoa Beach right behind. There are seven communities within the Space Coast, and each has a reason to visit. For instance, Viera features the Brevard Zoo, which includes a kangaroo habitat you can walk through, as well as the USSSA Space Coast Complex, which hosts minor-league baseball games.
