Visit Florida - Visit Florida 2025

For a detailed state map, see pages 20-21.

FROM SEA TO SPACE

Yes, you can witness a blast-off from Cape Canaveral, or follow the thundering sound of cars and motorcycles to Daytona. But along Florida’s Space Coast, you can also fish or surf in havens like Sebastian Inlet and tour wildlife preserves. Here, amid the exhilaration, you’ll discover ample opportunities to enjoy the slow life.

ATTRACTIONS

Watch a Kennedy Space Center rocket launch from Jetty Park, one of NASA’s recommended viewing spots near Cape Canaveral. Sports fans can catch a Daytona Tortugas game at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach and pay tribute at the baseball legend’s statue. The Motorsports Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach explores the history of racing through iconic vehicles and memorabilia, with a nod to the nearby Daytona International Speedway. The Andretti Thrill Park in Melbourne provides adrenaline-pumping attractions, including go-kart racing and arcade games for family-friendly fun. Pick your own flowers and enjoy farm activities, animal encounters, wagon rides, and a farm store at Harris Establishment Farms in Palm Bay, a rural escape in the Central East Florida countryside.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Scan the QR code to discover places to stay in Central East Florida: VISITFLORIDA.com/places-to-stay

DINING

Sample local specialties and learn about the quirky past of historic Cocoa Village on a two-hour guided walk with Cocoa Village Food Tours. The Sir Malcolm at The Daytona Hotel in Daytona Beach serves up a sophisticated atmosphere and modern American cuisine with ocean views and coastal flair. Riverpark Terrace in New Smyrna Beach charms guests with waterfront dining, sunset views, and a menu full of fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients. Squid Lips in Sebastian is a beloved waterfront spot known for its casual atmosphere and seafood specialties like fish tacos and grilled shrimp. After a day at the beach, cool down with homemade ice cream at Ho Daddy O’s Surf Cream in Ponce Inlet.

OUTDOORS

Watch for nesting sea turtles and migrating shorebirds among the wildlife habitats and beaches of Canaveral National Seashore near Titusville. With shallow waters sheltering snook, redfish, and trout, St. Lucie Flats Fishing in Fort Pierce is a premier destination for sport-fishing. Stay up late for darksky stargazing far from city lights at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park near Lake Okeechobee. Ranked among the 75 best golf resorts in the country, PGA Village in Port St. Lucie boasts worldclass public golf courses and accommodations in a pretty setting. Whether you’re learning to surf or perfecting your shredding technique, there’s a class for you at Surfari Surf School in Ormond Beach.

EVENTS Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Cape Canaveral celebrates the region’s ecosystem with birdwatching tours and wildlife exhibits. At Fellsmere’s Frog Leg Festival, sample fried frog legs and gator tails in a high-spirited environment.

Scan the QR code for a current list of some major events: VISITFLORIDA.com/things-to-do/events

CULTURE

Learn about celebrated Florida landscape painter A.E. Backus and see the largest public collection of his work at the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce. The Museum of Art - DeLand shares a remarkable collection of contemporary and historical art, plus exhibitions, educational programs, and events. Learn about local surf culture through the decades— courtesy of displays showcasing surfboards and memorabilia—at the Florida Surf Museum in Cocoa Beach. Take a guided journey through the history of Ormond Beach’s Gilded Age resorts on a Historic Loop Bus Tour. Explore McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach, an oasis of lush tropical landscapes and unique botanical collections.