Welcome to Best Space Coast — where you can enjoy free family activities and exciting coastal adventures, including spectacular rocket launches in Florida and exploring the beautiful Space Coast parks!
Magical Encounters with Florida Wildlife
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
Few moments compare to seeing a sea turtle glide onto the sand under a starry sky to lay her eggs — or watching tiny hatchlings make their brave journey to the ocean. From May through October, the Space Coast becomes one of the most important sea turtle nesting areas in the world. 🌊💫
Visitors can respectfully observe guided walks, hatchling releases, or even spot fresh turtle tracks on early-morning beach strolls.
📍 Best Spots to Experience Sea Turtles on the Space Coast:
- Melbourne Beach & Indialantic
These beaches are nesting hot spots for loggerheads and green turtles. Visit early in the morning to see fresh tracks (look but don’t touch!).
- Sebastian Inlet State Park (Nighttime Turtle Walks)
Guided nighttime walks during nesting season let families see turtles safely and up-close as they lay eggs.
- Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (South Melbourne Beach)
A globally significant nesting area and a must-visit for turtle lovers. Visit the Barrier Island Center for exhibits, guided tours, and live updates on nesting activity.
- Cocoa Beach & Satellite Beach
Calm stretches of sand here are often dotted with nests — look for marked areas, especially from June to August.
🌿 Tips for a Respectful Turtle Experience:
- Visit May–October, especially June–August for nesting and July–September for hatching.
- Never use flashlights or phone lights on the beach at night — they can disorient hatchlings.
- Observe from a distance and stay below the dune line.
- Join a guided turtle walk through the Barrier Island Center or Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Preservation Society.
- Look for fresh tracks at sunrise — it’s nature’s artwork in the sand.
- Click below to Follow Florida’s sea turtles on their ocean journeys with this live interactive map from the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Watch them travel from the Space Coast beaches across the sea in real time!
🌿 Magical Manatee Tracker — Best Spots to See & Experience
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
🐋 Magical Manatee Tracker
Discover one of Florida’s most heartwarming sights — the gentle manatee! These peaceful “sea cows” glide through our warm waters during the cooler months, especially around natural springs, calm canals, and rivers. Seeing them in the wild is a magical experience for families of all ages. 🌿💧
📍 Best Free Manatee Viewing Spots:
- Manatee Sanctuary Park – Cape Canaveral: Stroll along the boardwalk and watch for manatees near the warm-water outflow.
- Turkey Creek Sanctuary – Palm Bay: A scenic boardwalk through lush hammocks where manatees often appear near the waterway.
- Cocoa Riverfront Park – Cocoa Village: Visit on calm mornings to see manatees or dolphins near the docks.
- Satellite Beach Canals: Quiet, shaded residential canals where manatees often gather — a true local secret!
- Sebastian Inlet State Park: Look near the tidal flats and lagoon for manatees on warm afternoons.
🌿 Tips for a Magical Visit:
- Go in the morning or midday, when manatees surface to warm up.
- Bring polarized sunglasses for clear viewing.
- Observe quietly — never feed or touch manatees.
- Watch during November–March for the best sightings.
- Click below to follow real Florida manatees on live GPS maps from Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s research team. See where rescued and released manatees travel and learn their stories.
🐬 Dolphin Discovery Guide
🐢 Sea Turtle Tracker — Witness Nature’s Most Magical Moment
🐬 Dolphin Discovery Guide
Nothing compares to seeing a dolphin leap gracefully from the waves or swim beside a boat in the Indian River Lagoon. These playful and intelligent creatures are common along the Space Coast and can often be seen year-round. 💙
📍 Best Free Spots to See Dolphins:
- Cocoa Beach Pier: Watch for pods near the shoreline, especially in the morning or early evening.
- Indian River Lagoon (Melbourne & Palm Bay): Dolphins love these calm, brackish waters — try the observation docks or kayak launches.
- Sebastian Inlet State Park: Dolphins often appear in the inlet’s strong currents chasing schools of fish.
- Port Canaveral Jetty Park: A great place to see dolphins (and sometimes manatees!) swimming near the cruise ships.
- Causeway Pull-Offs Along the Indian River Lagoon: There are peaceful spots to pull over and enjoy incredible views of the lagoon. From these quiet roadside areas, you can often see dolphins gliding by, manatees surfacing, and even adorable horseshoe crabs moving gently along the shallows. It’s one of the simplest, most magical ways to connect with nature — all for free. 🌞🐚
🌊 Tips for Spotting Dolphins:
- Look for ripples or splashes breaking the surface.
- Visit on clear, calm mornings when the water reflects their movements.
- Bring binoculars or a camera with zoom to capture the moment.
- Remember to observe respectfully — enjoy the view but don’t approach them by boat or jet ski.
🐢 Gopher Tortoise Trails
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
🐬 Dolphin Discovery Guide
One of the most special sights on the Space Coast is spotting a gopher tortoise making its slow and steady way through the grass. These gentle land turtles are a protected species that dig deep burrows, providing homes for more than 350 other animals!
They’re often seen sunning themselves on the trails or nibbling on wildflowers in the warm Florida sunshine — especially in peaceful local parks. 🌞
📍 Best Free Spots to See Gopher Tortoises:
- Wickham Park – Melbourne: A family favorite with shaded trails where tortoises are often spotted along the walking paths and near the open meadows.
- Gleason Park – Indian Harbour Beach: Keep an eye on the edges of the grassy areas and trails — the tortoises here are surprisingly friendly and unhurried.
- Lori Wilson Park – Cocoa Beach: Occasionally you can see them in the dunes along the boardwalk nature trail.
🌿 Fun Facts:
- Gopher tortoises dig burrows up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep!
- They’ve lived in Florida for millions of years, making them true locals.
- When you see one crossing a trail or road, never move them far — just help them safely cross in the direction they’re heading.
- Click below to Discover Florida’s burrowing gopher tortoise—“nature’s apartment builder”—and learn how you can spot their long sandy tunnels and the hundreds of species that live in them.
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
Even more accessible to everyone are the majestic pelicans found all along Florida’s Space Coast. With their calm confidence and graceful flight, pelicans have become a beloved part of our coastal landscape. Watching them soar in formation over the river or gather at fishing piers is one of the simplest and most peaceful joys of life near the water. 🌊
📍 Best Free Spots to See Pelicans:
- Cocoa Beach Pier: Pelicans perch here all day, watching the waves and fishermen below.
- Port Canaveral Locks: Great for seeing brown pelicans swoop down to catch fish as boats pass through.
- Indian River Lagoon Causeways: Watch them floating quietly near the mangroves or diving at sunset.
- Sebastian Inlet & Jetty Park: Frequent hangouts for both brown and white pelicans — they often rest together on the pilings.
🌿 Fun to Know:
- Pelicans work together in flight, forming V-shaped lines to save energy.
- Their long bills and expandable throat pouches can hold up to 3 gallons of water and fish!
- Despite their size, they’re graceful divers — folding their wings just before hitting the surface.
💙 Local Tip:
Bring a camera or just take a slow walk by the water — you’ll almost always see a pelican or two gliding by, completely unbothered by time.
Dive into the world of Florida’s brown pelicans—learn where they soar, feed, and nest along the coast. Explore the live habitat map, spotting tips, and conservation efforts.
🕊️ The Mighty and Majestic Crane
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
🕊️ Pelican Paradise — Grace on the Water
Keep your eyes open as you explore the Space Coast — you just might see one of Florida’s most striking residents, the sandhill crane. Tall, elegant, and dignified, these magnificent birds are often found strolling across open fields, parks, and even quiet neighborhoods.
Their distinctive red crowns and long, graceful legs make them impossible to miss once you’ve seen one. Watching a pair of cranes move together or hearing their unforgettable, echoing call across the wetlands is a moment of pure wonder. 🌅
📍 Where to Spot Cranes on the Space Coast:
- Wickham Park – Melbourne: Wide open fields where cranes often wander with their mates or chicks.
- Viera Wetlands: A favorite nesting area for bird-watchers, with great views of cranes year-round.
- Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands (Viera): Early mornings and evenings are best for spotting them feeding near the water.
🌿 Fun to Know:
- Sandhill cranes can live over 20 years in the wild and often mate for life.
- Their trumpet-like calls can be heard for miles, especially during spring nesting season.
- Always admire them from afar — these tall, gentle birds are protected and deserve quiet respect.