During the last 74 years I have covered most of Florida from Key West to Pensacola.  That said haven't done anything but drive up and down I-95 in the Titusville area.  Looks like we will be spending a few days on Merritt Island playing tourist.   Since I haven't been in the area since Patrick AFB in 1963, we already are dedicating one day to tour Kennedy Space Center.   Any suggestions for neat things to see, or places to dine that may not show up with the standard giggle search?

Datsun240ZGuy
Datsun240ZGuy MegaDork
1/16/24 10:37 p.m.

Buy a surf board. Cocoa Beach.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/16/24 10:40 p.m.

Hey I'm from there! 

Obviously KSC, especially the Saturn V exhibit and the Shuttle one. Driving around the space center you can see all the huge cool buildings of all the different rocket companies. The Black Point Wildlife Drive while you're out there is a lot of fun. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aorTLZ18sic6iv3n6

In Cocoa Beach, Ron Jon's is worth going for a sticker, but the beach itself is pretty good, too. Hit up the Brevard Zoo, it's actually really good! Valiant Air Command at the regional airport is decent and you can ride in the C47 if you're lucky. Manatee Cove Park is the best spot to see them. The American Muscle Car Museum is WILD!

Thanks for the info.

Any restaurants the locals know about but don't show up in tourist propaganda?

SEADave
SEADave Dork
1/17/24 10:37 a.m.

Dixie Crossroads is a must-go in the area.  

dyintorace
dyintorace GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
1/17/24 1:01 p.m.

The Cape Canaveral National Seashore is a wonderful beach. Totally undeveloped which is awesome. 

grouperalley
grouperalley GRM+ Memberand New Reader
1/17/24 3:36 p.m.

Fat snook restaurant for excellent dinner

We had a pretty good visit.  Spent the best part of one day at KSC.    Space technology overload in a good way.

Spent some time bird watching in Merritt Island Refuge, and Black Point Drive.  Besides birds there were gators and Manatees.  Walked on the Atlantic Beaches to compare them to our Gulf beaches.

Dined for lunch at Ossorio in Cocoa Village.  Did a dinner at the old standby, Dixie Crossroads in Titusville.  Also dined at Canaveral Seaport.

Topped it off with being able to view a night launch of a SpaceX rocket.  All in all, not a bad weekend in great weather.

Daraku
Daraku New Reader
2/26/24 1:08 p.m.

Cocoa Beach has the port with good restaurants where you can watch the cruise ships and fishing boats while dining, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island Wildlife refuge and is close to Brevard Zoo. 

Hotel Melby has a roof top bar in Downtown Melbourne and the Village Market has one in Indialantic. I am not sure if Cocoa Beach has any at this time but there is Squid Lips on the intercoastal in CB that would also work. Near Cocoa Beach is also Cocoa Village with little shops, bars and restaurants and is not a far drive to one of the airboat tours which can be fun.

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