Merritt Island

Merritt Island, situated between Cocoa and Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Central East Coast, is the home of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as well as the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, making it an ideal destination for space enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island’s most famous attraction, offers thousands of experiences and activities. Visitors can meet and talk with an astronaut, participate in a simulated shuttle-launch experience, and see the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The facility's many children’s features and programs include the immersive, multi-story play area called Planet Play.

A haven for wildlife watchers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to flamingos, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, snail kites, and hundreds of other bird species, and is a main field trip destination during the annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, which draws birders from all over the country. Families with young children and visitors with disabilities can see Merritt Island wildlife, including alligators and wading birds, up close without having to leave the comfort of a vehicle by cruising the seven-mile, one-way Black Point Wildlife Drive. More family-friendly fun can be found at Rotary Park Merritt Island, which features a 140-foot fishing pier, playground, boardwalk, and nature center.

Wildlife, including dolphins and manatees, can also be seen in the waters surrounding Merritt Island, and nighttime bioluminescent kayaking provides a unique look at a natural phenomenon that causes plankton to glow when disturbed, turning the water bright blue. For visitors who would rather take a more leisurely approach and spot dolphins while relaxing with a drink in hand, Tiki Cruises provides private, captioned one-day boat tours.

Plan your trip at Visit Space Coast.