Florida’s Space Coast: Your Guide to the Ultimate Escape from Cooler Weather

For vacationers, what to do, see, eat and enjoy on the Space Coast this fall.

For beach bums and adventure seekers alike, when it comes to finding an all-encompassing, warm-weather travel destination this fall or winter, Florida’s Space Coast is it. And there’s no passport required.

With 72 miles of inviting Atlantic coastline and idyllic temperatures that average in the mid-80s, there is more than enough activity to satisfy every member of the family. In fact, Florida’s Space Coast was recently named one of the world’s top trending travel destinations for 2020.

“The sun is always shining on the Space Coast and our beaches are open all year round,” says Peter Cranis, the executive director of Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism. “For the rest of 2019, we still have a wide range of fun and engaging events on the calendar, including a few off-the-wall activities.”

Whether you’re a foodie, wildlife lover, sports and fitness junkie, space travel enthusiast or something else altogether, Florida’s Space Coast is the place to indulge in your passions.

“These events are a reflection of just how diverse and unique the local Space Coast culture is,” Cranis adds.

If you’re still planning your vacation itinerary for the rest of the year, here’s a sampling of upcoming events and ongoing attractions.

For Foodies 

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  • There’s still time to enjoy a first-class foodie experience now through Nov. 16 “Flavor on the Space Coast” promotion.18 of Brevard County’s best restaurants are challenging their chefs to create amazing three-course menus at a special prix fixe. Participating establishments span the county, from Titusville to Melbourne Beach.
  • Take in some scintillating local cuisine at the fourth annual Downtown Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Saturday, Nov. 16. It’s the perfect place to explore the diverse cultural influences and array of flavors found on Florida’s Space Coast.

Fitness Fun 

  • Runners can take part in the out-of-this-world Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon Dec. 1 along the Intracoastal waterfront in Cocoa. This will be the 48th edition of “the only space-themed marathon and half marathon on the planet.” Modest cash prizes are in store for the best space costumes worn by race participants.

Family Favorites 

  • The Space Coast State Fair is Brevard’s largest and most-popular annual family event. Set for Nov. 1-17 at Space Coast Daily Park in Viera, the fair invites visitors to enjoy world-class rides and attractions, interactive games, and free concerts and other shows.
  • Celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Eve experience unlike any other, the world-renowned Surfing Santas event in Cocoa Beach. Expect hundreds of surfers in their best Santa suits riding the waves the morning of Dec. 24, with thousands of spectators spreading even more Christmas cheer along the beach.

Wildlife Encounters 

  • Paddle a clear-bottomed kayak through bioluminescent lagoons and watch the water sparkle with luminescent organisms. Seeing this aquatic phenomenon is believing – it’s a breathtaking experience.
  • Families can’t get enough of Brevard Zoo, which is home to more than 900 animals and is the only U.S. zoo to offer guided kayak tours around the animal exhibits. Feed the giraffes, lorikeets and cockatiels, mingle with ring-tailed lemurs, and check out the awesome rhinos. In November, a new exhibit, Rainforest Revealed, will be opening.

And if Space Is Your Place 

  • Space lovers will have a field day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. You can lunch with an astronaut, prepare for deep-space travel in the all-new Astronaut Training Experience, and feel what it will be like to live on Mars. Also, depending on the timing of your Space Coast visit, you might even get to watch a real-life rocket launch. You’ll find excellent viewing spots all up and down the Space Coast.

About Florida’s Space Coast 
Florida’s Space Coast is a family friendly destination located 45 minutes east of Orlando. Encompassing Cocoa Beach, Melbourne and The Beaches, Port Canaveral, Titusville, Palm Bay and Viera, it is home to the world’s second-busiest cruise port and 72 miles of beaches (the longest stretch in the state), as well as 190,000 acres of wetlands and waterways full of habitat found nowhere else. Florida’s Space Coast is home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where rockets still soar into orbit. For more information, contact Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or visit VisitSpaceCoast.com.

Whether you’re a foodie, wildlife lover, sports and fitness junkie, space travel enthusiast or something else altogether, Florida’s Space Coast is the place to indulge in your passions.