Space Coast Destination Guide

History

Space Coast is the nickname attributed to Brevard County, which is located in East Central Florida. It is named as such because the John F. Kennedy Space Center is located here.

It was said that, in 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon landed on the shores of the present day Brevard County. Mosquito County came to existence while the state was had yet been a territory. On other maps, it has been integrated in the unoffical โ€œLeigh Readโ€ county around 1839 to 1845. In 1844, the Saint Lucia county was established, and the name was changed to Brevard County in 1855 in tribute to George Washington Brevard, Florida State Controller from 1854 to 1860.

Getting There

Tourists on plane usually get in Space Coast via Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, or in Orlando International Airport in Orlando.

Tourists by car have alternative routes to reach Space Coast. The county is actually not wide, covering 70 miles from north to south. On the west side is the St. Johns river, swamplands, and some ranches. Orlando lies on the other side of the county.

In the north-south route, one can take these routes
*I-95 โ€“ located west to most of the commercial areas, but relatively easy to travel in the county
*U.S 1 โ€“ usually a busy road filled with traffic and stoplights
*A.1.A โ€“ this is the alternate to U.S. 1

In the east-west route, take this routes
*Highway 50 โ€“ a bridge between Titusville and Orlando. It also has traffic.
*Highway 528 โ€“ a fast route made primarily to reach the Space Center. One can easily exit to Orlando Internation Airport. Tourists are advised to make sure their car has more than enough gas and is in working condition as there are no nearby stations.
*State Road 520
*Highway 192 โ€“ usually having traffics and stoplights.

Weather

Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning happen in summertime. When such things happen, take refuge in your car or indoors. Hurricanes are not a common problem, as they change directions with no landfall. However, evacuation is necessary if in case such hurricanes occur. The county has a six-month hurrican season (June 1 to November 30).

Average low temperature in Space Coast is 50ยฐF, usually in January, and with an average high temperature of 90ยฐF, usually on July. Recorded low precipitation is 1.6 inches on April, and high precipitation of 6.6 inches on a September.

What to Wear

During summer months, it is advisable to wear light-colored and cool clothing, especially those made from cotton. Women can wear skirts and cool sundresses. Flip flops are definitely something to bring. If you plan to stay outdoors for longer hours, bring along a hat, a pair of shades for eye protection, and apply a generous amount of sunblock with a high SPF, applying every 2 to 3 hours. Sunburn can happen even on cloudy days, so sublock is still necessary.

When on business meetings, wear appropriate clothing made of light-colored and cool materials. For night outs, it is advisable to wear appropriate outfits.

During the rainy seasons, be sure to have a jacket or sweatshirt. Same goes for non-rainy days but with cooler nights.

Fishing

Space Coast is a great spot for fishing with more than 500 fish species, usually game fish. Here are some of the fishes anglers may want to harvest during their stay in the county.

amberjack
barracuda
bonito
cobia
dolphin
grouper
mackerel
marlin
shark
snapper
wahoo
yellowfin tuna

BEST MONTHS TO FISH

amberjack โ€“ February to April, November to December
barracuda โ€“ whole year round
bonito โ€“ January to March, September to December
cobia โ€“ January to April, November to December
dolphin โ€“ January to April, June to July, December
grouper โ€“ January to March, November to December
mackerel โ€“ April to May, October to December
marlin โ€“ April to August
shark โ€“ July to September
snapper โ€“ January to April, November to December
wahoo โ€“ January, May to June, November to December
yellowfin tuna โ€“ April to August

WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR WHEN FISHING
The following are the most appropriate outfit when going for a fish:

โ€ข hat
โ€ข sunglasses
โ€ข light long sleeves, cool light-colored cotton outfits
โ€ข jacket or other rain gear
โ€ข boat shoes
โ€ข sun screen with high SPF

The following should also be in your A-list:

โ€ข camera
โ€ข cooler
โ€ข water or your preferred beverages
โ€ข food
โ€ข medicine kit

Attractions and Activities

Educational centers, shopping districts, zoos, movie theaters โ€“ all of these are available in Space Coast. Listed are some of these attractions that will make your vacation fun and exciting.

*Kennedy Space Center
SR 405, Kennedy Space Center, FL, 32899
(866) 737-5235
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

*Brevard Zoo
8225 North Wickhan Road
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 254-9453

1 Homepage

*Ron Jon Surf Shop
4151 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 799-8888
http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/

*Cocoa Beach Pier
401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 868-2990
http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/

*Valiant Air Command & Vintage Warbird Museum
6600 Tico Road, Titusville, FL 32780
(321) 268-1941
vacwarbirds@bellsouth.net
http://www.vacwarbirds.org/

*Andretti Thrill Park
3960 S. Babcock St., Melbourne, FL 32901
(321) 956-6706
http://www.andrettithrillpark.com/attractions.html

*Ace of Hearts Ranch
7400 Bridal Path Lane Cocoa, FL 32927
Phone: (321) 638-0104
http://www.aceofheartsranch.com/

*Cobb Merritt Square 16
Merritt Square Mall 777 E. Merritt Island Cswy.,
Merritt Island, FL 32952
(321) 459-23737
www.cobbtheatres.com

*Premiere Oaks 10
1800 W. Hibiscus Blvd.,
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321) 676-0880
www.oaks10.com

Where to Stay

Whether you choose to relax in an oceanfront inn or in a ritzy hotel, Space Coast has a lot of that. Check out some these accomodations that will make your stay comfortable.

*Best Western Inn Cocoa
4225 West King Street
Cocoa, FL 32926
Telephone: (321) 632-1065
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
Fax: (321) 631-3302
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/FL/Cocoa-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-Cocoa-Inn/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=10150&cm_mmc=GooglePlaces-_-BW-_-FL-_-10150

*Canaveral Towers Condominiums
7520 Ridgewood Avenue
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Telephone: (321) 784-1130

*Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Kennedy Space Center
3455 Cheney Highway
Titusville, FL 32780
Telephone: (321) 269-9100
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
Fax: (321) 383-4674
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/FL/Titusville-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-Space-Shuttle-Inn/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=10168&cm_mmc=GooglePlaces-_-BW-_-FL-_-10168

*Comfort Inn & Suite Resort
3901 North Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 783-2221
Reservations: (800) 695-8284(hotels.com)

*Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach
3425 North Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 799-4099
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
Fax: (321) 799-4991
www.hamptoninn1.hilton.com/

*Ocean Suite Hotel
5500 Ocean Beach Boulevard
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 784-4343
Fax: (321) 783-6514
www.bbwbeachbash.com/

*Extended Stay Melbourne
1701 Evans Road
Melbourne, FL 32904
Telephone: (321) 733-6070
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)

*Sandrift Motel
14451 US Highway 1
Sebastian, FL 32958
Telephone: (772) 589-4546
Reservations: (800) 695-8284 (hotels.com)
www.sandriftmotel.com/

*Oceanique Resort
2105 Highway A1A
Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937
Telephone: (321) 777-6512

*Oceanfront Cottages
612 Wavecrest Avenue
Indialantic, FL 32903
Telephone: (321) 725-8474
Fax: (321) 725-8474
www.oceanfrontcottages.com

Where to Eat

Space Coast is not only filled with opportunities for the astronauts-at-heart to have some experience at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. This place is also filled with notable restaurants, which will satisfy your hunger for good food and the good life. Here are some of those.

*Beef O’ Brady’s
4711 Babcock Street
Palm Bay, FL 32906
Telephone: (321) 724-9462, Fax: (321) 724-4270
www.beefobradys.com/

*Boston Market
2450 Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
Telephone: (321) 254-6549
www.bostonmarket.com/

*Makoto
4700 Babcock Street Northeast
Palm Bay, FL 32905
Telephone: (321) 984-3587

*Blueberry Muffin Restaurant
1130 North State Road A1A
Indialantic, FL 32903
Telephone: (321) 725-7117

*Enigma Casual Dining
1550 Highway A1A
Satellite Beach, FL 32937
Telephone: (321) 779-8202
www.enigmabeachside.com

*New England Eatery & Pub
5670 South Highway A1A
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
Telephone: (321) 723-6080
www.newenglandeatery.com/

*Thai Paradise
225 West Cocoa Beach Causeway
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 783-1687
www.thaiparadisefl.com/

*Shuckleberry Fin’s Oyster Bar
2 South Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 783-2401
Fax: (321) 783-0418

*The Cove
1462 A1A
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Telephone: (321) 777-2683

*Zachary’s Restaurant
8799 Astronaut Boulevard
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Telephone: (321) 784-9007
www.zacharysrestaurant.com/

*Portofino Italian Grill
3350 South Washington Avenue
Titusville, FL 32780
Telephone: (321) 567-0636
www.portofinoitaliangrill.com/

*Durango Steakhouse
3455 Cheney Highway
Titusville, FL 32780
Located In: Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Kennedy Space Center
Telephone: (321) 264-2499, Fax: (321) 242-5724
www.durangosteakhouse.com/

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