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What to do in Port Canaveral beside Disney

ddy123

By ddy123,
in Royal Caribbean International

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bowler15547

bowler15547

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Posted

Other than the Space Center, the town of Cocoa Beach is just a 15 minute Uber from the port. One of my favorite places in the states, that I visit without being on a cruise. It is a nice beach town, with nice beaches and good restaurants around. I recommend the Sandbar Beach Grill and visiting Ron Jons as well as Cocoa Beach Surf Co.

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

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Can't go wrong with Kennedy Space Center.  Global launch calendar below.  Dates always subject to change 🚀🛰️🛸👨‍🚀👩‍🚀

 

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/launch-schedule/

 

This sounds fun, heck, I might even take you. Less than an hour away in Melbourne

 

https://www.tankamerica.com/

 

This sounds fun as well. Over in Kissimmee

 

https://machinegunamericaorlando.com/

 

Cable wakeboarding anyone? Just past the airport on the turnpike 🏄‍♂️🏄‍♀️🚤

 

http://www.aktionparks.com/orlando-watersports-complex/

 

Or, just go to the best little beach town in the country. 😎 🌊🌴🐚🍺

 

 

IMAG7404.jpg

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island lady "Live from...." Rare

island lady

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Do a kayak tour, 1/2 day fishing from the port, visit the port area and observation tower (good restaurants on the water for lunch and cocktails), visit little Cocoa Village (great walking town, lots of shops and cafes), take a tour of the alligators on a airboat (about 20 minutes away), enjoy the plentiful and free beaches of Cocoa Beach, visit Jetty Park and beach, (walk out onto the Jetty) at the port.  On a rainy day, there is always the Mall on 520!  😉 

 

One of my favorites....lunch at Grills restaurant...right next to the ship.  

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robtulipe

robtulipe

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We took our two grand kids, who live in the UK, on an Air boat tour of the nearby St. Johns river which they found very interesting as this was their first visit to FL.

This was booked as a RCI tour as they had an excursion sale for our last April Anthem cruise so you should check out your cruise's excursion offerings.

There are many You Tube videos showing this type of excursion.

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HollandA

HollandA

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Go to the Space Center if you haven't been already. I'm hating we won't have time to take my kids when we're down there in June for our cruise on the Harmony (coming in late night before sailing and then driving home right after arriving back).

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Capt_BJ

Capt_BJ

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During winter months and if Port Canaveral is the first stop when sailing from NY for example, the beach is what a lot of people want! I totally understand and highly recommend to walk over to Jetty Park. The beach there is wide with some wave action and life guards are on duty. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and some beach toys (beach chair/umbrella rentals for 2 people are about $15 a day). The beach café is pretty good too! http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/

If you want to go to the beach near restaurants/bars, try the Cocoa Beach Pier area - http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/ or further down near Coconuts on the Beach. Cruise ship shore excursions go to Shepard beach (near Ron Jon) so do not go there if you want to avoid your fellow passengers! 
 
Disclaimer - I do not endorse any of the companies/establishments listed and I have no relationship (personal or business) with them. My list is just a starting point
 
a) Sunward Tours - http://www.sunwardtours.com They can arrange just about any activity
b) FunDay Tours - https://www.facebook.com/funday.tours Work primarily with pre-formed groups such as shore trips but check them out anyway
c) Segway Tours - http://spacecoastsegwaytours.com/ will guide you around the port
d) Airboat rides – There are several but most shore excursions go to Midway - http://www.airboatridesatmidway.com/ or Lone Cabbage - http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/ . To get away from the crowds, try Grasshopper -http://www.airboatecotours.com/ , Old Fashioned Airboat Rides - http://airboatrides.com or Switchgrass -http://switchgrassoutfitters.com 
e) Kayaking to see manatees and wildlife - Adventure Kayak - http://kayakcocoabeach.com/, Fin Expeditions -http://www.finexpeditions.com for Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands. Also Calypso - http://calypsokayaking.com at Manatee Cove not far from Kennedy Space Center. Note – from November to March the Manatees prefer warmer water in other areas and may not be seen regularly around Canaveral.
f) Learn to Surf. Cocoa Beach Surf Company - http://cocoabeachsurf.com/surf_lessons_camp.html or Ron Jonhttp://www.ronjonsurfschool.com are solid representatives of the surf school companies
g) Air Force Space and Missile History Center – http://www.afspacemuseum.org/historycenter/ The history of the launch areas around Canaveral. Very informative.
h) Warbird Museum – http://www.vacwarbirds.net/ If you love aviation then this is the place to go. Lovingly maintained by volunteers (mostly ex-armed forces). It is an amazing museum.
i) Police Hall of Fame – http://www.aphf.org/museum.html More interesting than most expect. Various exhibits of the history of major crime as well as impressive though very sad memorial. 
j) Astronaut Hall of Fame - https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/t...l-of-fame.aspx is part of the Kennedy Space Center experience but in a different location.
k) Brevard Zoo and Treetop Trek - https://brevardzoo.org/ 
l) Shopping - Dinosaur Store and Museum - http://dinosaurstore.com/ and Ron Jon Surf Shop -http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/ Fun for kids old and young!
m) Wildlife Parks - Jungle Adventures – http://www.jungleadventures.com - An old-time Florida animal park. Not fancy but friendly and interesting. Larger than Expected. Shore excursions often combine the Jungle and a Midway Airboat ride in the same package. 
n) Boat rides on the Banana River to see wildlife including manatees (not many around during Nov and Apr). Start with Island Boat Lines - http://www.islandboatlines.com/ and also Wild Side Tours http://wildsidetours.com/
o) Forever Florida - http://foreverflorida.com a really adventurous safari with swamp buggy rides, ziplines, etc! A bit far unless you have car.
p) Cocoa Beach Skatepark - http://cocoabeachskatepark.com/ Certainly unusual for cruisers but a seriously fun and safe skatepark for the cool kids in your family if they packed skate boards! Open at 4pm during school days so plan accordingly so they can skate for 2 hours or so before returning to your ship.
q) Brewery – Florida Beer Company - https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBeerCompany a very good tour and tasting arrangement! Close to the Port.
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ramja96

ramja96

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

Other than Disney:

 

1. Kennedy Space Center

 

2. Universal Studios

 

3. SeaWorld

 

4. I Dream of Yogurt in Cocoa Beach  😄

 

Add LUNCH AT THE SANDBAR to #4 and you have a winner!

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accio_7

accio_7

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I really appreciate this information and this thread as I am debating on whether to stay in Orlando or Port Canaveral the day before my Harmony cruise next December. Also debating on visiting both parks at Universal for the solo purpose of exploring the WWoHP LOL (NERD ALERT!), but it sounds as if there is actually a ton to see and do in the Port Canaveral area. 

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ramja96

ramja96

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8 minutes ago, BillOh said:

After the sandbar recommendations, I looked it up. How is parking there, what did you eat that is so good?

 

I love the blackened fish tacos (grilled fish tacos are good, too), my DW likes their wraps. Wash it down with a hurricane (choice of categories 1 thru 5). But their menu is HUGE, and pretty much all of it is good. Their parking lot is really small in front of the building, but there's a parking lot right across the street.

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Rogueperson "Live from...." Rare

Rogueperson

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If you have a car rental, your world opens up.  I had access to a car at my last port stop on the Grandeur in April of this year and I ended up doing this.  http://www.zombieoutbreak.co/florida It was so much fun!!!  There are tons of stuff like this.

 

Also, https://www.thevoid.com/locations/orlando?gclid=CjwKCAiAiarfBRASEiwAw1tYv1rglPNfCFxnrfUB0otiloetKR2_-rnB4qAzgKGM7FFr6vqyAR_c5hoCmXsQAvD_BwE is at Disney Springs aka Downtown Disney.  You NEED to get tickets or you won't get in.  I found out about this WHILE I was in Orlando, and could not score tickets same day.  If you're a fan...

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