NASA's Kennedy Space Center, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is situated in the middle of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge which is gaining notoriety as one of our nation's most productive breeding grounds for the endangered bald eagle. Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center features guided bus tours, a theater, an art gallery, a rocket garden, a gift shop and various displays. The five-story IMAX theater features films with footage shot by NASA astronauts on location -- in space. The human side of space is highlighted at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and U.S. Space Camp with memorabilia from the original Mercury Seven and Gemini astronauts.

Experience the "Shuttle To Tomorrow" and the new "Astronaut Adventure" an interactive simulator that gives guests the sensations experienced by a jet fighter pilot on a training mission, a shuttle pilot gliding from 10,000 feet to landing, and Skylab astronauts floating in weightlessness. Brevard Community College's Planetarium allows you to keep your feet on the ground but your eyes in the sky. This advanced astronomy teaching facility features the world's only tandem team of a Digistar planetarium projector and Minolta Infinium star projector.

At Port Canaveral, you can climb aboard a cruise liner or fish for the ocean's finest seafood from our jetty. An exciting new development on the Space Coast is the announcement by Disney Cruise Lines that Port Canaveral will be homeport for two new cruise ships, the first of which will begin service in early 1998. Each of the two mega-ships will accommodate 2,400 passengers and will sail on three- or four-day cruises with optional vacation packages that can include the world-famous Disney World theme parks. Port Canaveral also offers three parks including one featuring ocean-front camping for RVs and tents.

High-tech or historical, fast-paced or laid-back -- whatever you prefer, you will find it in the Cocoa Beach Area. For more information stop by our information centers in Historic Cocoa Village, on Merritt Island, or at the beach.

Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center Spaceport USA