28.6 degrees North (Latitude), and 80.6 degrees West (Longitude)
Our plans to travel to Florida's Cape Canaveral & Kennedy Space Center began with my son Reid's desire to view one of NASA's final space shuttle launches. None of us had ever seen a launch before, nor had we spent any real time in Florida's natural areas. I got to work researching the area and making this dream trip a reality. Well, as anyone who has ever tried to view a launch knows, actually seeing one is never guaranteed. If you live nearby, your chances increase dramatically, but you need to have a very flexible schedule. Our friend Erik flew to Florida 3 times last fall and did not get to see a launch. There are a million reasons why a launch could be delayed, but only one set of circumstances under which one will actually occur. Unfortunately, we were not among that lucky group of folks who watched the Space Shuttle Discovery exit Earth's atmosphere for the last time. However, the Kennedy Space Center is open year-round, and houses several NASA mission collections including moon rocks! Plus, it offers a variety of fun space related activities. The positive side of not seeing a launch is that you have plenty of time to explore this fascinating sub-tropical environment. As I began to plan our trip, I discovered that Florida is chock-full of beautiful National and State Parks. Once I secured a house swapping situation, I purchased airline tickets to a lesser-known Florida airport.
Flying into Melbourne International Airport, FL (Space Coast) was a logistical dream. This airport is from the good old days...small, easily accessible, clean, and friendly. After landing, it took us 15 minutes to get our rental car, and were on our way. Side note: Ticket prices were the same price as Orlando International Airport, FL.
We swapped houses with a couple in Melbourne, and were like two ships passing in the night. We never actually met in person, but arranged to swap houses after meeting online. Their home was perfect; we each had our own bedroom, a nice kitchen, washer and dryer, and a lovely screened in porch (essential in Florida)....for free! House swapping is a great way to familiarize yourself with a city or town, while having all the comforts of home. An added bonus is meeting interesting folks, and if things work out well, you can plan on swapping more than once. To set up a house swap you may want to subscribe to a service such as HomeExchange.com, or simply list your home on Craigslist. Rick Steve provides some helpful tips on house swapping.
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| Reid in front of VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) |
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| Future NASA employee |
After settling in, we drove north to Kennedy Space Center (KSC), where we spent a couple of days visiting as many aeronautic sites as possible. One of the most rewarding activities was KSC's guided tour. We were able to catch a glimpse of the Space Shuttle Discovery (from afar & through an open bay door), the Vehicle Assembly Building, and the NASA causeway (where launches are viewed at Cape Canaveral). The Shuttle Launch Experience was SO much fun for the kids that we boarded the simulator twice!
Once we felt like we had learned all we needed to know about NASA, we were off to explore Cape Canaveral National Seashore. As luck would have it, it was peak bioluminescence season. We reserved a night kayaking trip with A Day Away Adventures, and met them at Mosquito Lagoon the next evening. (Yes, there were LOTS of mosquitos. Wear proper gear and bring bug spray. They are vicious!) We arrived well before dark, and were outfitted with sea kayaks, PFDs (personal flotation device), paddles, and glow in the dark necklaces (these helped us to see each other in the dark). Once the safety talk was completed, we began paddling into the mangroves. Our trip coincided with the end of rainy season, and since fresh water was abundant, wildlife was as well. While at the seashore, we saw many osprey & bald eagles, a bottlenose dolphin (at least that Joe's story), several West Indian Manatees, and schools of mullet.
Bioluminescence refers to tiny single celled organisms that light up when agitated. So when a school of mullet, a manatee, or any other sea life swim by, their entire body glows in an iridescent, light-green color, much the way a green glow-in-the-dark necklace appears at night. It was a scene straight out of the movie Avatar, and the sight of hundreds of fish darting past our canoes in the dark was a surreal experience. Completely awed by the evening, we returned to shore, and slept very well that night.
Bioluminescence refers to tiny single celled organisms that light up when agitated. So when a school of mullet, a manatee, or any other sea life swim by, their entire body glows in an iridescent, light-green color, much the way a green glow-in-the-dark necklace appears at night. It was a scene straight out of the movie Avatar, and the sight of hundreds of fish darting past our canoes in the dark was a surreal experience. Completely awed by the evening, we returned to shore, and slept very well that night.
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| Night kayaking Mosquito Lagoon |
We spent the next day hanging out in quaint Indialantic, Fl. The white sand and warm water made for a perfectly relaxing day at the beach. When we were feeling hungry we strolled over to The Original Bizzarro Famous New York Pizza joint, right on the beach in Indialantic. Both times we went it was packed. Just tell them what you want, pay, & move on...if you don't, you're wasting their time. The good-natured, high energy of the place feels like NYC and is, for that reason, FUN! In contrast to that, Indialantic is a sweet, patient beachside town situated on the barrier island separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Indian River Lagoon.
The Melbourne Causeway connects Indialantic to Melbourne, where our swapped home was located. There are so many benefits to house swapping. In addition to the cost savings benefit, we feel that it allows you to have a more authentic experience. For example, by having a kitchen we were free to explore the local food markets, and prepare our meals at home. In Melbourne, we discovered a locally owned health food store, Nature's Market Health Food. We were able to get everything we needed for a week on the coast. Early September is still very hot in Florida; too hot for many crops that grow well in Colorado during the same time. As a result, local produce choices are limited. The store boasts a small cafe and juice bar as well. After preparing sandwiches and snacks, we borrowed a cooler from Dave and Jane, (our house-swapping partners), packed it with ice, and ventured forth. When we were tired of eating so healthy, we drove to historic downtown Melbourne, and ate at the original Mustard's Last Stand. Sitting in the outside patio that evening, eating Chicago-style hot dogs, fries, and enjoying a cold one was a perfect way to end our day at the beach!
As our Space Coast vacation came to a close, we were so happy to learn that Dave and Jane enjoyed Boulder as much as we enjoyed Melbourne, and we agreed to swap again in the future.
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| The Original Bizzarro New York Pizza |
The Melbourne Causeway connects Indialantic to Melbourne, where our swapped home was located. There are so many benefits to house swapping. In addition to the cost savings benefit, we feel that it allows you to have a more authentic experience. For example, by having a kitchen we were free to explore the local food markets, and prepare our meals at home. In Melbourne, we discovered a locally owned health food store, Nature's Market Health Food. We were able to get everything we needed for a week on the coast. Early September is still very hot in Florida; too hot for many crops that grow well in Colorado during the same time. As a result, local produce choices are limited. The store boasts a small cafe and juice bar as well. After preparing sandwiches and snacks, we borrowed a cooler from Dave and Jane, (our house-swapping partners), packed it with ice, and ventured forth. When we were tired of eating so healthy, we drove to historic downtown Melbourne, and ate at the original Mustard's Last Stand. Sitting in the outside patio that evening, eating Chicago-style hot dogs, fries, and enjoying a cold one was a perfect way to end our day at the beach!
As our Space Coast vacation came to a close, we were so happy to learn that Dave and Jane enjoyed Boulder as much as we enjoyed Melbourne, and we agreed to swap again in the future.
Next time, we hope to go on a guided sea turtle walk with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, kayak in the Sebastian Inlet, canoe in the Lower Wekiva River and Blackwater Creek, and sign the boys up for Surf Camp. We know for sure we won't be at an amusement park. Florida has too many beautiful outdoor spaces to explore!
What is your favorite outdoor activity to do in Florida?
