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Interesting Facts
- To the moon and beyond. Cape Canaveral got its start as a missile testing range in 1947 and has been the center of America's space program since. From here, Alan Shepard became the first American in space in 1961 when he boarded Freedom 7; John Glenn orbited Earth in 1962; Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to step foot on the moon in 1969; and the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986. See the full history with a tour of the Kennedy Space Center.
- Where's the best place to view shuttle launches and other spacecraft shots? Your best bet is to plan early. Tickets go fast at the official launch-viewing site. But there are other good viewing spots along the Indian River on U.S. 1 near Titusville, the Bee Line Expressway as it crosses the Indian and Banana Rivers, State A1A in Cocoa Beach, and in Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.
- Want to set sail for the Caribbean? Port Canaveral is the second largest port in the continental United States for three- and four-night cruises. Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Premier and Norwegian are among the major cruise lines operating out of the port.
- Interested in wildlife? Manatees, bald eagles, giant sea turtles and alligators can all be found nearby. One of Florida's largest wilderness areas nearly 200,000 acres at Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides homes to more than 500 species of wildlife. The refuge is a major wintering area for migratory birds, and the seashore is an important nesting area for giant sea turtles May August. An estimated 5000 alligators inhabit the mangrove swamps of Merritt Island.
- Tee off at a course built by one of golf's legends. The Space Coast features a Gary Player-designed course the Baytree National Golf Links off Interstate 95 in Melbourne. Player designed the course for all levels of golfers, so there are five sets of tee boxes. From the back tees, the course is over 7000 yards long. A mixture of water, white sand bunkers and unique red shale waste areas as hazards await to test a golfer's skill.
- Surfs up! For beach fans, the Cocoa Beach Pier is the place to go. Built in 1962, it is considered one of the top surfing destinations on the East Coast. But there's more: The pier offers more than 800 feet of fishing spots, shops and fine restaurants!
- Catch a glimpse of early man in North America. In addition to its spectacular wildlife, the Canaveral National Seashore is home to 100 mounds of early Timucuan residents of the area. The most notable is Turtle Mound, a 35-foot-tall pile of oyster shells assembled between 600 and 1200 A.D.
- Florida is called the Sunshine State, and the Space Coast offers an unusual opportunity to look into the world of solar energy. The Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida is the largest and most active state-supported institute researching renewable energy and energy efficiency. Science buffs can learn more about solar thermal systems, energy-efficient buildings and alternative-fueled vehicles.
- Looking for some flip-flops and a boggie board? Check out the renowned Ron Jon Surf Shop. The gaudy, Art Deco-style castle offers more than nine acres of everything you need for a beach outing. It's been an institution in Cocoa Beach since 1963 and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Suntan lotion, surfboards, beach chairs, umbrellas, swimsuits, sunglasses, T-shirts it's all for sale here.
- The Boys of Summer flock south in the spring for training camp, and the Space Coast is home for the exhibition games of one Major League Baseball team. The Washington Nationals' spring-training games are at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne.
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