Brevard County

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Brevard County is in East Central Florida. Because of the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County is also known as the Space Coast.

[edit] Regions

Brevard County is over 70 miles north to south, and not very wide. To the west are large unpopulated areas of the St. Johns River, marsh, swampland and ranches. On the other side of this emptiness is Orlando, the hub of Central Florida.

Brevard cities are clustered in the south, central and north, with gaps of 20-30 miles in between. The other distinction between areas is the mainland and "beachside" on the barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. The extremely large Merritt Island falls in between the mainland and beachside, bordered on the west by the Indian River and on the east by the Banana River. (These two rivers are actually channels from the Atlantic Ocean, and contain a brackish mixture of fresh and salt water.)

North

  • Mainland - City of Titusville, Mims
  • Island - Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Kennedy Space Center
  • Beachside - Canaveral National Seashore; Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Central

South

[edit] Cities

[edit] Other destinations

Brevard County is the closest beach to central Florida's many major amusement parks and attractions. Highway 528 (the "Beeline") is a straight shot from central Brevard to east Orlando (and Orlando International Airport).

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

  • Melbourne International Airport (MLB), in Melbourne, [1].
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO), in Orlando.

[edit] By car

Brevard County is over 70 miles north to south, and not very wide. To the west are large unpopulated areas of the St. Johns River, marsh, swampland and ranches. On the other side of this emptiness is Orlando, the hub of Central Florida.

North-South

  • Interstate 95 (I-95) - runs north south all the way up the east coast of the USA. In Brevard it is west of most developed areas, but a great uncongested way to get from one end of the county to another, or to access major east-west highways.
  • U.S. Highway 1 (U.S. 1) - again, runs all the way up the east coast of the USA. However, this is a busy city road with lots of stoplights and traffic (however, in between the south, central and north areas of the county it is a convenient drive).
  • A.1.A - alternate U.S. 1, can be found in most US east states that have a barrier island. It is the main north-south road on the beachside. Lots of stoplights and congested, but if you are beachside there's very few alternatives (the occasional neighborhood backroad won't go far).

East-West

  • Highway 50 - This east-west road connects Titusville (North Brevard) to Orlando. It has stoplights and traffic.
  • Highway 528 - this swift-moving east-west artery was built solely to connect the Space Center (which is kind of in between north Brevard and central Brevard) to Orlando. It is an incredibly straight shot, with no more than 4 deserted exits on the 40+ mile trip. It has a direct exit to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) just as you come to civilisation, before the traffic starts. Make sure you have enough gas and a working car for this ride, as there are *no* service stations or amenities. The eastern end of this road connects to north-south roads I-95, U.S. 1, Courteney Parkway, Tropical Trail, Port Canaveral Road, and then curves around to become A.1.A. on the beach.
  • State Road 520 - This central Brevard road is also an east-west connection from Brevard to Orlando, but is lengthier, with tons of stoplights and traffic when in town.
  • Highway 192 - This south Brevard road connects Melbourne and Indialantic to St. Cloud and Kissimmee (actual home of and entrance to the Disney World parks). It is congested with traffic and stoplights at both ends. Ten years ago the main part of the deserted route was an unlit two-lane road without paved shoulders - lights were recommended even during daytime due to accidents. This may have been improved since then.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

  • Space Coast Area Transit [2] is the name of the local Brevard County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. $1.25 per ride, or $35 for a monthly pass. The bus service provides efficient, quick and frequent stops within cities and local areas (both beachside and mainland.) However, attractions in Brevard County are typically far apart (the county is narrow, but over 70 miles long from North to South), which is a challenge for the bus service. Getting from the south mainland (Palm Bay) to the beach via the sole bus route takes a long time (up to 2 hours) due to the many stops scheduled, as does the extended 1-2 hour trip from South Brevard up to Kennedy Space Center. A rental car is a good idea for travel outside your immediate city.

[edit] By taxi

Private taxi companies are listed in the phone books. However, attractions in Brevard County are often far apart (the county is narrow, but over 70 miles long from North to South), so the miles add up. A rental car is a good idea for a serious tourist.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex [3] [4] - this busy tourist attraction offers museums, movies, a rocket garden and bus tours of important shuttle preparation and launch facilities. This is an official Federal site - however, the visitor complex is run by contractors for a profit, so prices are comparable to private tourist attractions, not a typical national park. Basic admission (a 2 day pass) includes an excellent bus tour, the museums and the IMAX movies. Additional special tours or programs should be booked in advance since they sell out quickly. NOTE: this facility may *sometimes* be closed on shuttle launch days!
    • Shuttle Launches - passes to bring your car to sites "close" to the shuttle can be purchased through the KSC Visitor Complex [5]. Keep in mind that for safety reasons, the closest approach available is at least 4 miles away, and often much further (7 miles, 10 miles, etc.) Very few viewing sites offer a glimpse of the shuttle on the pad before launch - in which case, it really doesn't matter where in Brevard county you are. You will definitely see its blazing engines launch it up into the sky, and (seconds later, depending on the distance) hear the booming noise as it rattles your windows. On a clear day, a shuttle launch can sometimes be seen from Orlando! Most people with a launch pass arrive many hours early to choose the best location in their assigned area, and the gridlock getting out (everyone leaving at once) will take at least an hour. Additionally, launches are subject to cancellation for weather or a problem in any of the billions of parts that go into a vehicle, so a launch date can never be considered firm.
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge [6] - this large area spans a variety of habitats. Half is brackish estuaries and marshes, and the rest include coastal dunes, scrub oaks, pine forests and flatwoods, and palm and oak hammocks. It is home to 16 threatened/endangered species, including the manatee, the Florida scrub jay, sea turtles, bald eagles, and others. Over 1,000 plant species and more than 500 species of wildlife have also been documented on the refuge, including 330 species of birds, 117 fishes, 65 amphibians and reptiles, and 31 mammals. Self-guided car and walking tours are offered. This is a remote area with virtually no amenities, but you can leave for lunch and return later if you wish. NOTE: this area will *usually* be closed on shuttle launch days, and if a previous launch is postponed, the new date may suddenly affect your plans.
  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station [7] - due to security this unique national treasure is usually closed to the public, however a free bus tour is offered once a month by reservation only. Call 494-5945, 494-5949 or 494-5933 for reservations and more information. However, most of these unique Air Force sites, including older manned and unmanned launch pads, the newer unmanned vehicle launch pads and the intimate Air Force Museum, can also be seen from a fee-based special KSC bus tour of Cape Canaveral.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Canaveral National Seashore
  • Beaches - Brevard County has dozens of miles of pristine beach. The most famous area, Cocoa Beach, has the smoothest and shallowest water and is a unique mecca for surfers across the country. The public beach across from the entrance to Patrick Air Force Base is also a popular surfing site. South of Satellite Beach, there tends to be submerged rocks close in to the shore, however the sun and sand are just as delightful. Public Beach access [8] and parks are available frequently along the beachside cities. County and City parks, which provide parking for a reasonable fee, may also offer amenities such as showers, bathrooms, and picnic pavilions. Pets and cars are not allowed on the beach.
  • Cruises - Evening and extended cruises are available from Port Canaveral. These are especially popular for their casino facilities which are not available on land.
  • Fishing - both Fresh and Saltwater fishing are available, please check licensing requirements. Exciting deep water sportfishing and charter boats are offered by private operators in Port Canaveral.
  • Golf - There are many public golf courses.
  • Water - Rent jetskis, ski boats, sailboats, canoes, and kayaks. Tours on airboats through the St. Johns River (seeing gators up close!) are also offered.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

Don't feed the animals! Brevard has some fascinating wild animals, including manatees, dolphins and alligators. All three are protected species, and all interaction (including touching or feeding them) is prohibited. "Friendly" dolphins and manatees seem safe, but they are powerful and unpredictable and may attack humans in the water. Additionally, feeding them interferes with their normal biological drives and reduces the natural fear which keeps them safe from dangerous people. Throwing leftover scraps to a wild gator seems fun - but a gator approaching you for scraps looks just like a hungry gator approaching to eat you! Such gators are inevitably destroyed as nuisance animals, so feeding them is no favor. Other endangered animals such as sea turtles also need your protection - large nests of sea turtle eggs on the beaches are usually marked by wildlife officials and must never be disturbed.

Sunburn can occur even on cloudy days. Re-apply sunblock regularly.

Life preservers are essential for motorized water activities - even the best swimmers can't stay above water if they are unconscious.

Lightning - Afternoon thunderstorms with frequent lightning occur often during the summer. Wait out storms in your vehicle, under dry shelter (not a tree) or indoors.

Hurricanes are not a frequent problem in Brevard County. Hurricanes "headed right for us" usually veer off along the coast without making landfall. A rare evacuation is ordered well in advance so that nobody gets caught on a barrier island. The six-month hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. More Information: National Hurricane Center.

[edit] Get out

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