Palm Bay

Situated 25 miles south of Cocoa Beach and a little more than an hour southeast of Orlando, Palm Bay is a hidden gem of Florida’s Atlantic Coast, offering world-class fishing, upscale waterfront dining, and access to the area’s top beaches and attractions, including Brevard Zoo and Kennedy Space Center.

With access to the Intracoastal Waterway and Indian River Lagoon as well as marshes teeming with fish and wildlife, anglers will find no shortage of adventures here, from reeling in trophy bass, bluegill, and more at Stick Marsh to guided offshore excursions in pursuit of sport fish. Visitors can also fish the day away at Castaways Point Park’s two fishing piers, picnic beneath the park’s large shade trees, launch a canoe or kayak, and try to spot dolphins and manatees in the water.

Palm Bay’s land-based adventures can take the form of off-road biking, paintball, golf, exploring the area’s expansive parks and trails, and driving the scenic highway that runs along the lagoon. At the 130-acre, ADA-accessible Turkey Creek Sanctuary, visitors have the opportunity to spot manatees, otters, birds, alligators, and other animals and explore nearly two miles of boardwalk in addition to trails for biking and hiking.

The area’s diverse culinary scene offers authentic coastal dining experiences on the water with restaurants that include Lazy Turtle RiverFront Grill & Tiki Bar and The Shack Riverfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar, which offers live entertainment daily. Visitors can also enjoy food and live entertainment at various festivals and community events, including the Reggae and Food Festival. While in Palm Bay, families with children will want to check out Andretti Thrill Park and Brevard Zoo in nearby Melbourne and take a trip up the coast to Kennedy Space Center, less than an hour away on Merritt Island.