What to Do Before or After Your Cruise from Port Canaveral

By Janet K. Keeler

Besides the theme parks, there is a variety of things to do around Port Canaveral either before or after a cruise. A novelty for many visitors is riding bikes on the hard-packed sand of Brevard County. There are loads of places in Cocoa Beach to rent bicycles by the hour and hit the sand, among them Beach Bums, A1A Beach Rentals and Village Cycle Shoppe.

Many of the bike shops also have kayaks, paddleboards plus fishing and beach gear. And surfing? They hang 10 along the Space Coast and you might want to book a lesson which usually comes with board rental. The Cocoa Beach Surf School caters to families and kids. Sebastian Inlet State Park is the epicenter of Florida competitive surfing and finding a place to watch the surfers ride the waves is a cool thing-to-do near Port Canaveral Cruise Port if you’re not ready to go all cowabunga.

Port Canaveral is near lots of small cities that have their own flavor. You could head over to the historic downtown of Melbourne and browse the unique shops then stop into Meg O’Malley’s for some serious Irish grub. Drive south to Indialantic and visit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. North of the cruise port is Titusville and Dixie Crossroads restaurant, a favorite local spot that serves shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp and other seafood landed at the docks just miles away.

If you don’t have a car and depending on where you are staying for your extended vacation, the Brevard bus and trolley system could get you where you want to go. Tickets cost about $1.50 per ride, less if you qualify for a reduced fare or buy a multi-ride pass.

Here are four more things to do before or after a cruise from Port Canaveral.

The Space of the Space Coast

For more than 50 years, Brevard County has been the center of America’s space program and there’s no better place to experience the history than the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. The visitors complex is every bit as much of a theme park as the ones in Orlando except there’s no roller coaster—yet. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of thrills. The Rocket Garden gets you up close to some of the towering vessels that explored space, including the Mercury-Atlas which launched John Glenn’s historic mission to orbit the Earth in 1962. Like the brochure says, you really do feel like you’re walking among giants, literally and figuratively. Visitors have opportunities to meet astronauts in person. There is a shuttle simulation ride that punctuates both the excitement and danger of space travel, and astronaut training simulators, too. Don’t forget that the visitor center is part of the working space center. Look at the schedule in advance and you might be able to hear a bonafide countdown and watch a launch. You can also watch launches for free almost anywhere in the county. The beaches will be lined with folks and their binoculars.

The Natural World on Display

Just north of the cruise port is the Canaveral National Seashore, the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline. With so much development all around, the national seashore offers a respite to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The visitors center in New Smyrna Beach provides the history of the area and more information on things-to-do. There are 24 miles of beach and since this is Florida’s East Coast, the sunrise is a big draw. The park opens at 6 a.m. so you can get there in time for the daily sun show. The beach is also a nesting ground for protected marine turtles so you’ll need to tread lightly. Two-thirds of the park is Mosquito Lagoon, a favorite place for kayakers. Nearby is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a favorite spot for birders—there are 350 species in the refuge—and photographers (keep that smartphone charged!). Even without a fancy camera you can capture photos of bald eagles and egrets. Merritt’s bird population swells from November to April as migratory birds take to the Atlantic Flyway.

The Zoo the Locals Love

The Brevard Zoo in Melbourne holds a special place in the hearts of many people who grew up on the Space Coast. They remember birthday parties, summer camps and feeding the giraffes especially. Giving nibbles to the lorikeets might come in a close second. If you’ve got young children in tow, the zoo is a wonderful spot to entertain them for at least a half a day—just remember that the giraffes take a rest on Tuesday and Thursday mornings so if you have your heart set on feeding them, plan accordingly. There are 900 animals from all around the world at the zoo, and the adventurers among you might want to kayak past the giraffes, rhinos and lemurs. The gentle train trip—it’s just 10-minutes long— past the camels might be more your wee kids’ style.

Oddly, the Wizard of Oz

No, you for sure aren’t in Kansas. The new Wizard of Oz Museum in Port Canaveral is just minutes south of the cruise port. Why Florida? Mostly, the operators say, because there are so many tourists in Central Florida either going to theme parks or sailing away on cruises and they figured if they build it, they will come. The museum houses historic displays and artifacts from the making of the movie, including Dorothy’s iconic blue pinafore. But what sets this museum apart is the immersive experiences. Through modern technology, mostly laser projectors, visitors feel like they're caught in that movie’s tornado, traveling through Munchkinland or even floating in the poppy field. But wait, there’s more. The museum also houses immersive experiences via the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh and a space experience using images from the James Webb telescope. Keep an eye out for the Wicked Witch everywhere. It’s open daily and tickets are $29 for adults and $15 for kids, immersive experiences included.