Extend Your Stay to Enjoy Central Florida Beaches and Wildlife
Just a short drive from the convention center and the attractions area are some of Florida's - and the country's - best beaches. After your meeting, make time to recharge your battery with a day spent swimming, surfing or enjoying Florida wildlife.
Orlando's closest beaches are located on Florida's Atlantic coast, in Brevard and Volusia counties. From the attractions area, hop on State Road 528 east, also known as the Beach Line. Take I-95 north and you'll find New Smyrna Beach and the Canaveral National Seashore. Continue east on 528 and you'll hit world-famous Cocoa Beach. From there, take A1A south to the Melbourne-area beaches and Sebastian Inlet. Or take I-4 east to the shores of Daytona Beach.
Surf's Up
Cocoa Beach first became a household name in the 1960s when droves flocked to the nearby Kennedy Space Center to see rockets launch to the moon. But the Space Coast also offers some great surfing, clean, uncrowded beaches and the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Ron Jon offers everything from surfboards and bikinis to kids' toys and household décor. Ron Jon is also host to Craig Carroll's Cocoa Beach Surfing School, where you can learn how to "hang 10" and also rent surfboards, skim boards, wetsuits, kayaks, beach bikes and other gear. Long board surfing, once considered a sport for "old timers," is also popular in Cocoa Beach due to smaller crowds and more mellow waves.
Small beach towns dot the Space Coast south of Cocoa Beach along State Road A1A and public beach access and parks are plentiful. Most have seasonal lifeguards, covered picnic areas, restrooms and showers. Some offer children's play areas and beach volleyball nets. Learn more about Brevard County parks.
Experienced surfers may want to head a little further south to Melbourne 's Sebastian Inlet State Park. Known as "Surf City," Sebastian Inlet boasts the state's most consistent surf at its "Monster Hole" and "First Peak " and therefore draws big crowds.
More daring surfers may opt for the 13-mile (21-kilometer) stretch of New Smyrna Beach. The area's Ponce Inlet is known as "the wave magnet" for those who prefer to trick ride and put on a show for onlookers. Several national surfing competitions are held here each year. Surfboards and boogie boards are available for rent from several local vendors and surf shops.
For the Nature Lovers
Although Central Florida is best known for its man-made attractions, its natural wonders have been luring travelers for even longer. Central Florida's East Coast comprises roughly a quarter of the state's Great Birding Trail, a 2,000 mile (3,330 kilometer) network of prime bird-watching and conservation sites. True lovers of ornithology may want to plan a trip around the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in January.
Just south of New Smyrna, the Canaveral National Seashore boasts 24 miles (39 kilometers) of protected natural coastline, making it the longest in the United States. Several different habitats-the ocean, beach, lagoon, salt marsh and pine flatland-provide life for 1,045 species of plants, 310 species of birds and a number of endangered species including loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles, West Indian manatee, Southern bald eagle, peregrine falcon and Florida scrub jay. There are numerous well-marked self-guided trails and beach access in several areas. Fishing piers and boat ramps are also available. In June and July, make a reservation to join a park ranger to watch loggerhead turtles nest on the beach.
Sebastian Inlet State Park provides numerous short-distance nature trails and a 6-mile (9.7-kilometer) nature hike with the opportunity to view up to 180 species of birds. The park also offers sheltered picnic pavilions, restrooms with showers, pet camping, boat ramps, canoe and kayak rental, areas for scuba diving and swimming, as well as a pier for fishing or dolphin and whale watching. The area is also home to the largest assemblage of nesting sea turtles in the United States and ranger-led tours are available in June and July, with a reservation.
Throughout the year, be on the lookout for playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the ocean and rivers. Manatees can be spotted throughout Central Florida springs, lagoons and rivers, particularly March through October. January and February are ideal times to spot the endangered right whale as it migrates along the coast.
History & Culture
Central Florida's beaches not only provide sun, sand and waves - many beaches have historical significance as well. Juan Ponce de Leon Landing in Melbourne Beach is the site where the legendary Ponce de Leon landed on April 2,1513. New Smyrna Beach is rich in history, from its discovery by Turnbull to the role it played in the Seminole War and the War Between the States. It's also been named one of the "100 Best Small Art Towns in America" by author John Villani.
On a trip to Daytona Beach, you can still drive your car along sections of the broad, flat beach. You will be following in the tire tracks of early race car drivers who set land speed records on this sandy "track." These early turn-of-the-20th-century racers formed the foundation for today's NASCAR phenomenon.
On the way to Cocoa Beach, stop in quaint Cocoa Village to browse antiques, eat lunch and stroll past the historic homes lining the Indian River on Florida Avenue. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame are sites you won't want to miss - you can tour restricted areas, ride simulators, see space shuttle launch pads and meet an experienced astronaut. Few people realize that the Space Center property is also a wildlife refuge - and a great place to spot alligators, manatees, American bald eagles and more.
On your next Orlando trip, schedule an extra day or two to take in some of Florida's natural treasures. Whether you're in the mood to simply relax on a white-sand beach with a good book, take surfing lessons, or marvel at native Florida wildlife, in just an hour's drive, you can enjoy some of the best beaches the Sunshine State has to offer.