Road Trips CENTRAL RE GION ➏ Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway Embark on a journey along Florida’s central Atlantic coastline. Attractions along this 233-mile byway range from Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Park—which has bragging rights as the place where the 16th-century explorer fi rst disembarked in what’s now Florida—all the way to the modern Space Age. For some down-to-earth fun, visit in winter, when the weather is optimal for kayaking and camping, plus January’s Space Coast Birding Festival. Begin your journey in Titusville, a town that’s the centerpiece of Florida’s Space Coast. At the family-friendly American Police Hall of Fame and Museum, pay your respects to the more than 9,000 fallen o cers whose names appear on the museum’s memorial. Titusville is also home to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Sebastian Inlet on the Indian River Then head southeast across the Indian and Banana rivers to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Stand up close to the shuttle Atlantis , ride the Shuttle Launch Experience simulator and have lunch with an astronaut. Continue on to Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral. The seven-story structure is architecturally stunning. Inside, galleries, interactive exhibits and fi lms tell the story of the area’s history, while outdoor observation decks o er unparalleled views of Florida’s East Coast. And when rockets launch from Kennedy Space Center, the Exploration Tower o ers a front row seat to history. After all that learning, you deserve some rest at Cocoa Beach. Only an hour’s drive east of Orlando, enjoy people-watching on the pier, shop for a new swimsuit at the original Ron Jon Surf Shop, then hang 10 in the Atlantic waves. Continue down to Melbourne for a visit to the Brevard Zoo. Yes, there are thousands of animals, but it’s how you’ll see them that makes this zoo a standout. Glide high above the zoo’s residents during the Treetop Trek ziplining experience, or kayak around the property’s river to see the gira es and other animals up close. End your trip at the beginning, so to speak, with a stop at Ponce de Leon Landing Park in Melbourne Beach. Imagine what it was like for the explorer back in 1513, and you’ll appreciate how far you’ve come. ð MAIN STREETS The Space Coast's Historic Cocoa Village This vintage riverfront neighborhood maintains its old-world charm with restaurants, cafes and art galleries filling buildings that date to the 1890s. On Brevard Street, events range from wine strolls to classic car shows and art festivals. A few blocks east, people gather at the riverfront park for live concerts, to walk along the waterfront boardwalk, and to admire the broad Indian River. PHOTOS: WILLIE J. ALLEN JR.; SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM Historic Cocoa Village 22 4 VISITFLORIDA.com
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