visitor to the central part of Florida are typically there for one of two reasons : Theme parks or theKennedy Space Center . But if all you see during your time there is NASA and animated cartoon fictitious character , you ’ll escape much of what makes this part of the state so special . Add a couple of years on to your holiday , rive a car , and take a route slip through Florida ’s Space Coast , where alligators , sea turtle , surf lessons , and fantastic solid food all expect along A1A.
Day 1: Orlando to Melbourne
Whether you ’re leaving from the radical parks , downtown Orlando , or MCO airport , your first stay when leaving the metropolis should be theWave Hotelin Lake Nona . The high - tech hotel is worth a look even for non - guests as it has one of the best collections of forward-looking prowess have at any hotel in the US . A couch put on its side welcome guests into the lobby , which is illuminated by vibrate pendant . The back terrace doubles as a chrome sculpture garden which , among other works , has a companion cop to the one on Wall Street , and a provocative limning of “ Leda and the Swan . ”
you’re able to prefer to check out the bustling suburb of Lake Nona , or head out on US-192 to Melbourne . The parkway is n’t particularly scenic , but as you roll through the Central Florida swamp , you may find yourself wondering if any alligator are lurking by the side of the road . And just as you ’re go up Melbourne , you find a shoes where your questions are answer : Camp Holly Airboat Ridesoffers a really Floridian experience , where piquant pilot light take you into the fenland and , yes , the thick of alligator country . It ’s one of the few airboat tours you ’ll receive northward of theEverglades .
After delving into the swamp , you ’ll likely be hungry . Skip the collation stand at Holly and save yourself for theIntracoastal Brewing Companyin the heart of Melbourne’sEau Gallie Arts District . While the beers are wonderful , the food for thought is even better . Enjoy the breezy , dog - favorable terrace and enjoy wimp bacon ranch tacos and teriyaki steak morsel among the brewery ’s colourful mural .
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After you eat , get a little exercise wandering the coloured streets and dress shop of the Eau Gallie Arts District . Melbourne offer anofficial mural trail , but you ’ll be as amused cheat on in and out of the independent artisan shop class . Each bid clothes , crafts , and other unique point that make for heavy conversation pieces once you get home .
As even rolls in , check in at theHotel Melby , a voguish , artistry - adorned boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Melbourne . It ’s the only hotel of its kind along the Space Coast , and the rooftop offers a striking place to watch the sundown . After the sun goes down , take the air a pulley-block or so for dinner party atCrush XI , where imaginative stuff like sriracha - marinade flatiron steak and smoked duck’s egg fettuccini are on the menu . Or prefer for sweet , smoky barbecue atCyderman ’s .
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Day 2: Melbourne to Cocoa Beach
In the morning , lumber some beach time at theArchie Carr National Wildlife Refugeabout a 25 - minute drive to the Dixieland . It ’s a completely undeveloped stretch of sand whose surroundinghammocks(coastal home ground ) have been bushel to what they looked like before rampant maturation . In addition to being a corking shoes to delight the coastline without crowds , the recourse is the public ’s largest nesting beach for green turtles . you could arrest into the welcome nitty-gritty after your beach Clarence Day to acquire all about the refuge ’s conservation efforts .
From there , head northward on A1A , and watch the Atlantic peek out from behind beachside homes and condo buildings as you guess towards Cocoa Beach . The time of day - ish drive takes you through Patrick Space Force Base , and justly into the centre of America ’s space country .
The chief attraction here is obviously the Kennedy Space Center , home groundwork of America ’s infinite program . The term of enlistment offers an breeding in the past , present , and future of NASA , and features artifacts from the Apollo missionary work as well as several others . The Kennedy Space Center also just debutedAll Systems Are Go , a 20 - moment music and light show that learn visitant about the place programme .
Eau Gallie Arts District|Domenic Agostini
Cocoa Beach is about more than just the space center , though , so after your requisite trip to NASA , take a stroll on the Cocoa Beach Pier . Walk to the ending and enjoy a meal over the water at theRikki Tiki Tavern — Cocoa ’s most scenic lunch daub — with everything from Korean bibimbap arena to gator melt sandwich play along a 360 - degree view of the ocean .
Cocoa Beach is also Florida ’s surfing capital , and no trip here is complete without a visit to the originalRon Jon Surf Shop . If the boards and surf wax get you itching to hang ten , take the air a duad of block to theSchool of Surf . Here , a family of lifelong Cocoa Beach surfboarder will take you out into the water and show you that even on the smaller waves in Florida , surfing can be a rush . After an active afternoon , check up on into theBeachside Hotel and Suites , Cocoa ’s only hotel with its own lazy river , where you could float and gaze up at the sun and relive the second Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of your road misstep .
Once you ’ve relax and showered , hit the town for dinner party . Tucked next to a downtown wind club isFlavour Kitchen , arguably the best eating house on the Space Coast , which could hold its own with anything in a big metropolis . The chef - driven spot boast unique beauty like fume salmon nachos with black caviar , fig jam flatbread with black pepper cattle ranch , and maple chili con carne glazed bacon , plus an telling wine list .
Eau Gallie Arts District|Domenic Agostini
If you ’d like some further unwinding after dinner , grab an sparkler ointment cone and play 18 cakehole atLighthouse Cove Adventure Golf . Or if it ’s still light out , book a sunset sheet withSail Cocoa Beach . You just might get hold yourself share the Intracoastal Waterway with a fuel pod of local dolphins .
Day 3: Cocoa Beach to Titusville
If you time your trip right , you’re able to also overtake a rocket launch while you ’re on the Space Coast . You ’ll likely have to wake up early , but if you ’re up for it , aim about 25 minutes north toKennedy Point Parkin Titusville . It offer an ideal vantage point to find out the rocket salad take off across the pee . If you ca n’t focalise without your morning coffee , block intoSunrise Bread Co. a few blocks away and seize some fresh made pastries to munch on while you expect for the launch .
Now that you ’re in the space spirit , delve even deeply into America ’s space history at theAmerican Space Museum . While not affiliated with NASA , the smaller museum ’s exhibits go into painstaking detail about specific delegacy throughout the American space program , and let you get airless to 1960s - era artifact than you may at Kennedy .
A forgetful walk through downtown Titusville brings you to the museum ’s Walk of Fame , set in Space View Park . You ’ll be capable to see how your hands heap up to the ones eternalized in concrete by far-famed Apollo - earned run average astronauts .
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Post up for luncheon atPlayalinda Brewingin downtown Titusville . It ’s located in a historical ironware store , and eating here feels a short like walking into a 1930s street - side eating house in small - town America . If the weather is pleasant , grab a table out of doors and people - watch out as you enjoy the murals along the city ’s main drag . The red pepper hummus is cool and refreshing on such an afternoon , though the commit pork nachos are a can’t - miss .
expend the relaxation of the afternoon explore theValiant Air Command Warbird Museum . Visitors can explore a monolithic accumulation of military carpenter’s plane , featuringBlue Angels , Russian Migs , and even a B52 cockpit that you could go up within . It ’s an Instagram ambition for planer buffs and a riveting look at America ’s airborne military history .
Cap off the eventide atThird Culture Kitchen , where cuisines from across Latin America and Asia unify in a delightfully varied menu . And while the mojo pork bao buns , phaenang curry , and brisket burritos are all owing , you could get a true discernment of Florida with the Public sub ( fry chicken , mayo , shredded lettuce , tomato ) .
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As the sunshine set , force back down towards Cocoa Beach , and enjoy one last Nox by the ocean . In the morning , it ’s a curt parkway down the Beachline Expressway through Central Florida to Orlando . From there , you’re able to uphold exploring the city or head home . Either manner , you ’ll have done the Space Coast like a truthful blank partisan , and hopefully learned a little about what make Florida so particular along the style .
Sunrise Bread Co.
