Rockets, Manatees & Boardwalks Make for Vacation Memories

Located just 35 miles east of Orlando, Florida’s Space Coast makes an excellent family vacation destination. This diverse coastline stretches from Titusville in the north to well past Melbourne in the south; and it’s well within driving distance of the Orlando and Melbourne international airports. Best of all, wheelchair-access is excellent along the Space Coast, where you’ll find everything from wildlife and warbirds to moon rocks and manatees.

Blast off for Kennedy Space Center First stop on any Space Coast itinerary should be the Kennedy Space Center, the anchor attraction of the area. Access is excellent throughout the complex with level walkways, wide doorways, accessible restrooms and ample space to maneuver in all the exhibition areas. An access brochure is also available at the ticket booth.

The best plan is to arrive early and take the first bus over to Launch Complex 39 and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The bus tour is included in the admission price, and all buses have wheelchair-lifts and tie-downs. Back at the main visitors complex you’ll find a number of other diversions to round out your day. Make sure to catch the 3-D presentation at the IMAX theater and save some time to walk (or roll) aboard the Space Shuttle Explorer. And don’t miss the famous Rocket Garden, where you can get a close-up look at eight historic rockets.

Manatees Galore Kennedy Space Center shares its property with Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve, a 35-mile long barrier-island populated with an abundance of wildlife. So pack a picnic lunch, take your binoculars and spend a day exploring the area. It’s important to note that because of its proximity to Kennedy Space Center, the refuge is closed during launches, so check the refuge website for updated schedule information

The visitor center is located on State Route 402, approximately five miles from the refuge entrance. A quarter-mile accessible boardwalk trail winds behind the visitor center and allows wheelchair-users an unobstructed view of the surrounding salt marsh. Just up the road, the Black Point Wildlife Drive is also a must-see, with several viewing platforms and turnouts along the road.

And of course, don’t leave the reserve without getting a glimpse of the playful manatees. The best place to view them is at the manatee observation deck near Haulover Canal, approximately 10 miles from the visitor center. There is ramp access to this boardwalk deck, which overlooks a popular manatee feeding area.

Warbirds & Stars Located just west of Kennedy Space Center at the Space Center Executive Airport in Titusville, the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum is one of the newer attractions in the area. This excellent aviation museum includes a comprehensive display of military aircraft dating back to WWI. Access is good throughout the museum; with accessible parking near the entrance and level access to the main building and the restoration shed. It’s a must-see for aircraft buffs, and great fun for kids.

And for a little star gazing, head on over to the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory, located on the campus of Brevard Community College. There’s no admission charge to the rooftop observatory, which is accessible by elevator. Be forewarned though, the observatory is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, from sunset until 10:15 P.M., so plan ahead.

Last but not least, don’t miss Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach. Located next to the Holiday Inn on Atlantic Avenue, this beachside park includes a 1,000-foot beach boardwalk, the Johnnie Johnson Nature Center and an excellent marine hammock boardwalk trail. There is ramp access to the nature center, which contains a number of interpretive exhibits about local wildlife and marine ecology. Accessible parking is available near the nature center, and the beach boardwalk is just around the corner.

The highlight of the park is the Marine Hammock Trail. This 3,155-foot interpretive trail is 6-feet wide and has level access from the nature center. The boardwalk is not entirely flat—undulating would be a better description—but it’s shaded and there are lots of spots to stop and take a break. It’s hard to believe such a diverse ecosystem exists literally in the backyard of the Holiday Inn, but it does. If you like nature, then this is definitely the place for you, and it’s a great way to top off your Space Coast vacation.

If You Go
Kennedy Space Center
866-737-5235; www.KennedySpaceCenter.com
Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve
321-861-0667; www.merrittisland.fws.gov
Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum
321-268-1941; www.vacwarbirds.org
Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory
321-433-7373; www.brevardcc.edu/planet
Space Coast Office of Tourism
321-433-4470; www.space-coast.com

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide
For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com for access news, resources and industry updates.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLES PANNELL