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The Space Coast

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Ancient home to Native Americans, this part of Florida is where Spanish explorers first landed on American soil – and from where man’s first voyage to the Moon took off. Today, the area’s highlight is the cutting-edge Kennedy Space Center, from where NASA has launched all its space programs since 1968. Here, visitors get a chance to see the shuttles that orbited in space, and meet the astronauts who manned them.

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Left The spectacular Saturn V shuttle displayed at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, Kennedy Space Center right Fishing at Playalinda Beach, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Highlights

Kennedy Space Center

Become a virtual astronaut and experience what a journey into outer space feels like at this stellar space center, the only one of its kind (see Kennedy Space Center).

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Step back in time to the area where Florida’s early inhabitants lived, and where native wildlife thrives today (see Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge).

Canaveral National Seashore

Bask in the sun on beautiful, soft white sands that are frequented by migrating sea turtles (see Canaveral National Seashore).

Brevard Zoo

See animals native to Florida, as well as from lands as far away as Africa and Australia, in this 73-acre (30-ha) zoological park (see Brevard Zoo).

Cocoa Beach and Pier

Take a break at this famous resort, with a white-sand beach, and a pier with restaurants and souvenir shops (see Cocoa Beach and Pier).

Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science

Explore this little gem of a museum with exhibits on everything from 7,000-year-old Native American culture to astronauts (see Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science).