Inexpensive things to do on the Space Coast (Tampa, Palm Bay: rent, house)

[yodykat]

We just recently moved to area and we have guests coming to visit. What are some fun inexpensive things to do?

[chopchop0]

Brevard zoo, beaches, Kennedy space center to name a few

[1insider]

Kayak in the Thousand Islands in Cocoa Beach. There are several groups that rent kayaks and do tours. Just Google "Cocoa Beach Kayaking" You'll get up close to manatees, dolphins and see all sorts of wildlife. Once you go around the first corner it feels like you're a million miles from civilization. AND it's cheap.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Brevard zoo, beaches, Kennedy space center to name a few

Lots of good ideas already, but here's my list.

1, Zoo is about $15 a piece but there are additional charges if you want to kayak or do the tree trek activities etc

2, KSC is a little more expensive than when you could take the bus tour for $7.95. It is now around $55 for adults and $45 or so for kids. Still a really cool place to visit though. There is one ride, IMax movies, meet an astronaut, and the Atlantis is open now.

3. Lots of different kinds of beaches.....Hard pack sand in Cocoa Beach up at the Pier where there are shops and restaurants. Spend time looking around in Ron Jons Surf Shop about a mile South of the pier.

Head farther South on a low tide, full moon time of the month and you might see some of the reef that is right on the shore.It is really cool.

Parking is free at Brevard County beaches and most have restrooms, showers(outdoor), and some have food stands or restaurants.

Some other good ideas.

4. If Space Center is too expensive for your group, get the space exploration feel by heading to Titusville and going to Space View Park. It has 3 different sections. There is a section for Apollo missions, Gemini, and Mercury and Military Memorial. It is really cool place to take a walk and measure your hand to the astronauts etc. They are working on the Shuttle Memorial now. There are also good oportunities to see dolphin, manatees, and birds like Spoonbills, blue herons etc in the river.

5. About a block North is the bridge that gets you out to the National Sea Shore. There is a charge per car to get in but if anyone is 60(maybe 62-can't remember) you can get the lifetime pass for $10 to National Parks and use it to get a carload in (4 people). There are something like 13 parking/acess aut park at threas be first one if not full...you can walk South from there and see launch pads etc. from the Space Center. We have watched a launch from there and it is awesome. The last accese there is "iffy" so unless you want to get a tan with no tan lines and possibly get arrested for it<g> I would choose one of the other accesses. Each access has a porta potty in a brick building because there is no water. You need to bring food, water, everything you will need for the day with you. Beaches are beautiful.
It is a long drive out to the beach-just follow the signs. There is a lot to see along the road, with places to stop and take pictures of KSC and the river. There are also nature trails(advise long paants and boots-not flip flops), manatee viewing area, and a drive through Nature Trail in the Wildlife Preserve that is awesome. The drive through nature trail takes quite a while to do so allow time. The marsh and mangroves are so cool.
Titusville has some great places to eat, but our favorite when we do the show the tourists some sites is El leoncitos which is on US1 right across from the Assembly Building...good atmosphere, good people, and good food.

6. Head to DownTown Melbourne to look in the shops and go to a restaurant or bar. It has some cool botiques, island type clothes shops, antiques, an English and Irish shop, etc. and is a good day trip.

7. Do a nature walk in Turkey Creek Park in Palm Bay. It has a boardwalk to the Canoe dock where you can possibly see manatees, lots of turtles, gar, and sometimes alligators or walk through the hammock or pine tree areas along the creek to the Tree House area. You can still see the Hurricane effects on some of the trees.....they slant.. Bring water to drink on the trail because it is a good walk and not as shady as it used to be because so many trees fell in 2004.

8. Go down to the Stick Marsh and see some gators. It is South on Babcock Street. Watch for the sign at the canal bridge. If you go west it is a 7 mile dirt road out to the little park where the ramps for air boats are. There is a cement dock, a little pavillian, and a restroom there. Bring anything you will want to eat or drink. It is pretty isolated spot, but your cell phone should get a signal. It is a pretty cool spot to fish from, watch for birds, turtles, and gators. You can also go East off Babcock to another portion that has a visitor center but we have never done that so don't know what is there.

9. Take them down to Grant and show them the paintings done by the Highwayman artists. They have a whole section of the big building showcases them. Lots of other cool things to see. Can't miss it right on US1.

10. Take them to Fort Christmas Park. Bring picnic lunch. It is on Rt. 50 in Christmas, Fl. Follow the signs to the park. there is a park with tennis courts, basketball courts, playground, pavillians, grills etc, but also a replica of the Fort that is a museum and a whole section of homes, buildings moved to the park to show how people lived in early Florida.

[Rabflmom]

Forgot about Airboat tours on the St. Johns, dolphin tours on the Inercoastal, deep sea fishing on a party boat, go on the gambling cruise, or take the bus to Tampa to gamble over there. Watch for festivals and art shows on the weekends, too. Lots of good ones and either free or don't cost a lot.

If interested in history, Brevard Museum in Cocoa, the Liberty Bell Museum in Melbourne, &The Rosetter House in EauGallie

There is the Art Museum in Eau Gallie section, too.

We usually go up to Ponce Inlet to see the LightHouse. It is a cool park and only costs $5.

And if anyone is interest in Nascar, it is worth the trip to do a tour. I am not a fan, but it is still really intersting and we have a great time. We sometimes combine the 2- hit the track tour (we do the shorter one for less than $20) and then drive down to the lighthouse. Some of the beaches in Daytona/inlet area you have to pay a fee to go on during peak season, but just driving on the beach is awesome.