What's a great way to wind down from an action-packed central Florida theme park vacation?
Take one part sand and surf and add a kid-friendly theme of space or speed, and you've got a winning recipe for a relaxing -- and memorable -- Sunshine State family getaway.
Billed as the closest beaches to Orlando's theme parks and the "birthplace of space," Florida's Space Coast stretches 72 miles, from the northernmost town of Titusville to the southern coastal community of Palm Bay. In the center, there's Cocoa Beach, East Coast surfing capital of the United States and hometown of world-champion surfer Kelly Slater. Travel south along Route A1A to Melbourne's beaches, and you'll find yet more gnarly surfing action.
Just north of Cocoa Beach is Port Canaveral, home to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Disney cruise ships and one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. If you're a baseball fan, head southwest to Viera's Space Coast Stadium, where, during the month of March, you can watch The Washington Nationals play some of the Major League's most talented teams. Kids of all ages will love The Brevard Zoo, located in nearby Melbourne. At this small but smartly designed and action-packed attraction, you can feed giraffes and lorikeets, hang with monkeys on an aerial adventure course, and even kayak through animal exhibits.
Around 80-miles north of Cocoa Beach and within an hour's drive of Orlando is Daytona Beach, "the birthplace of speed." Spanning 23 miles along central Florida's Atlantic coast, the beach districts of Daytona include the quiet communities of Ormond-by-the-Sea and Ormond Beach to the north, lively Daytona Beach in the center and condo-rich Daytona Beach Shores and Ponce Inlet to the south. Biker-friendly Daytona Beach revs up during the months of March and October, when major motorcycle events fill the streets and area hotels. Ponce Inlet is home to Florida's tallest lighthouse, a top-rated beach, and a number of water sports and boat tour operations.
Beyond alluring stretches of sand, both Daytona and the Space Coast boast major attractions that draw visitors from around the world. In the Daytona area, Daytona International Speedway is the best-known venue, while the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex -- a sprawling 70-acre compound that borders a national wildlife refuge -- gets top tourist billing on the Space Coast.
For families seeking a natural getaway, both the Daytona area and the Space Coast offer an abundance of kid-friendly recreational opportunities. From parasail flights, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding lessons to kayak eco-tours and guided sea turtle walks, the options are exciting as well as beginner-friendly.
Space Coast and Daytona Beach Family Vacations
Space Coast and Daytona Beach Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Port Canaveral's family cruise base
- Daytona and Cocoa Beaches and 72 miles of sand
- Kennedy Space Center's 70-acre compound
Written by Jackie Perrin
Read more about Space Coast and Daytona Beach Attractions
Best Space Coast and Daytona Beach Family Hotels
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