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Things to do in Merritt Island

Our most recommended things to do in Merritt Island

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Admission Ticket

1. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Admission Ticket

Enjoy many exhibits, shows, and attractions at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, including Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience, Gateway complex, Rocket Garden, and Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing®. Experience the exhibit "Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted", which includes a live interactive theater presentation about the Red Planet. Enjoy the deep space launch by visiting the Gateway complex to discover the current and upcoming cutting-edge innovations of space exploration from NASA and their commercial partners. Then enter the spaceport of the future and launch aboard one of four unforgettable journeys to distant worlds on an immersive ride. Head to the Apollo/Saturn V Center via a Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, which features a fully restored, massive Saturn V rocket, one of only 3 in the world. At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex you'll have the opportunity to explore the world’s largest collection of astronaut memorabilia. Not only will you see tributes to the heroes of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Programs, but what is happening now and next at Kennedy Space Center, America’s multi-user spaceport.

Merritt Island: Kennedy Space Center Entry Ticket and Tour

2. Merritt Island: Kennedy Space Center Entry Ticket and Tour

Get the most out of your time at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex by combining a 1 or 2-day admission ticket with the in-depth Explore bus tour. On the Explore tour, you'll ride along with a space expert as they take you on a tour of America’s multi-user spaceport. The KSC Explore Tour goes beyond the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, making several stops to capture once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. Get a photographic view of numerous spaceflight icons like the Vehicle Assembly Building and historic Launch Complex 39, disembarking to capture photos along the way to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. With your admission ticket to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, enjoy many exhibits, shows, and attractions, including Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience, Gateway complex, Rocket Garden, and Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing®. Experience the exhibit "Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted", which includes a live interactive theater presentation about the Red Planet. Enjoy the deep space launch by visiting the Gateway complex to discover the current and upcoming cutting-edge innovations of space exploration from NASA and their commercial partners. Then enter the spaceport of the future and launch aboard one of four unforgettable journeys to distant worlds on an immersive ride. At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex you'll have the opportunity to explore the world’s largest collection of astronaut memorabilia. Not only will you see tributes to the heroes of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Programs, but what is happening now and next at Kennedy Space Center, America’s multi-user spaceport.

From Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Day Trip with Transport

3. From Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Day Trip with Transport

Learn all about space on a day tour to the Kennedy Space Center from Orlando. Meet an astronaut, jump on board the Shuttle Launch Experience simulator, and watch an IMAX film. Stroll around the rocket garden full of real rockets, and visit the Gateway complex to learn about the future of space travel. Hear interesting facts and stories about the center from your driver and guide during your transfer. Upon arrival, enjoy plenty of time to roam around and visit the many attractions available on-site. Benefit from having your guide on hand who will be available to answer any questions during your visit. Choose from the following options: • Transportation only: Take the worry out of your transportation needs between Orlando, Kissimmee, or Lake Buena Vista to the Kennedy Space Center with a door-to-door transfer. • Transport from Orlando and Entry Ticket: Enjoy the ease of transportation to the Kennedy Space Center and skip the line to get your tickets at the door. • Small-Group Tour: Enjoy hotel pick-up and a breakfast bag en route to the complex on a small-group tour (up to 12 people) with more specialized assistance from your tour guide. Additionally, during the day at Kennedy Space, go on the KSC Explore Bus tour to get inside the NASA gates for photo stops near the launch pads and at the vehicle assembly building. Take advantage of a $15 voucher redeemable for food on the complex. • Kennedy Space Center Express: Meet the bus at the final meeting point (ICON Park) and avoid the hassle of pickups. So you get some extra time in the morning as you board at the last stop.

Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Ticket with Bus Transfer

4. Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Ticket with Bus Transfer

Boldly go where so many satisfied space enthusiasts have gone before! Explore the many exhibits, shows, and attractions at the Kennedy Space Center's visitor complex, including the Hubble Telescope exhibit, Eye on the Universe, Journey to Mars Explorers Wanted, the Virtual Shuttle Launch Experience, the Rocket Garden, and IMAX movies including Hubble 3D IMAX and Space Station 3D. Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex showcases the priceless spacecraft Atlantis and 30-year shuttle program with more than 60 interactive experiences. The NASA bus tour offers a unique opportunity to glimpse the behind-the-scenes working of the space center, exploring startling views of the Vehicle Assembly building, and the Mobile Rocket Launch pad. Continue onward to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, featuring the immense, fully-restored Saturn V rocket; the largest ever built. Relive Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon and experience the thunderous rumble of the rocket's lift-off.

Kennedy Space Center: Chat with an Astronaut with Admission

5. Kennedy Space Center: Chat with an Astronaut with Admission

Blast off and experience a trip like no other to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Visitor Complex. Shake hands with an astronaut, learn about various Apollo missions and see Space Shuttle Atlantis®.  Visit the space station in the morning or afternoon, depending on what tour you choose. Explore your surroundings, enjoy either breakfast or lunch paired with one alcoholic drink (for adults) or light refreshments. Enjoy exhibits, shows, and attractions, including the world's largest collection of astronaut memorabilia. Walk around, visit the Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience, Rocket Garden, and Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing®. Meet a real astronaut, one of the coolest experiences you will get on Earth. Chat with them as they tell you about their missions, and get a photo taken with them. Experience a great day out with all the family. That's one you can tick off your bucket list.

Cocoa Beach: Dolphin & Manatee Watching Paddle or Kayak Tour

6. Cocoa Beach: Dolphin & Manatee Watching Paddle or Kayak Tour

Our guests will meet their tour guide at the water where he will be set up a ready to start our adventure! Once we set off, your tour guide will be sharing facts about the amazing wildlife and the interesting history of Florida and Cocoa Beach. Guest will have a relaxing time as they paddle through the pristine waters and experience the true beauty of "Natural Florida". While your group is on this adventure your tour guide will guide you to all of the areas where we see the most dolphins, manatees, beautiful pink spoonbills ("Florida Flamingo's"), sea turtles, bald eagles, pelicans, osprey, conchs and much more. In fact, there are only a few places in the world to see the West Indian Manatee and Cocoa Beach is one of them! We are conveniently located just 45 minutes from Orlando Theme Parks and just minutes from almost anywhere in Cocoa Beach. With over 13 years of experience our tours fill up fast so book your tour today. You will paddle down the beautiful waterways of Cocoa Beach and get an up close and personal experience with the amazing nature, beauty and wildlife that Florida has to offer including, Dolphins, Manatees, Sea Turtles, live Conch, Pelicans, Mangroves, pink spoonbills (Florida Flamingos) and much more. We will make a stop on the beautiful islands and as we go over the interesting History of the town.

From Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Full-Day Tour

7. From Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Full-Day Tour

Enjoy round-trip transportation from Kissimmee or Orlando to Kennedy Space Center with a knowledgeable driver who will show you the best way to get around. Be transported to the cutting edge of space exploration through hands-on exhibits, movies, and presentations, including an astronaut encounter. Choose between roundtrip transportation only or select the option to include entry to the Kennedy Space Center. Prior to arriving your tour guide will let you know the best way to see and do the park so you can maximize your time. Upon arrival, start with a bus tour that provides a complete overview of the vast spread of operations, including the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Complex 39B, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, with its recreated moon landing and awesome full-size Saturn V rocket. Back at the main complex, visit the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, with its emotional presentation of one of the four surviving orbiters. Take a ride on the riveting Shuttle Launch Experience, a clever simulator with the inside track on what it feels like to blast off from the Space Center. You can also visit the Heroes and Legends center (including the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame), soak up the grandeur of the IMAX Theater with its eye-popping large-screen movies, or wander the Rocket Garden.

Orlando: Kennedy Space Center and Airboat Tour

8. Orlando: Kennedy Space Center and Airboat Tour

Less than one hour from Orlando is NASA’s launch headquarters – the Kennedy Space Center. The visitor site offers a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the space program. Tour NASA’s launch headquarters, and see space shuttle launch pads from a four-story observation deck. Walk beneath a massive Saturn V moon rocket, and relive Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. Meet a real astronaut, stroll through the Rocket Garden, and enjoy five-story IMAX space films. The center also includes the space shuttle Atlantis, bringing visitors nose-to-nose with the priceless Atlantis spacecraft as only astronauts have seen it before.  More than 60 interactive, touchscreen experiences and high-tech simulators bring to life the people, passion and patriotism behind NASA’s 30-year space shuttle program. Explore the complexity of the engineering marvel that launched the Hubble Space Telescope and built the International Space Station (ISS). Guests can practice docking to the ISS, extract cargo from the payload bay, and create sonic booms and glide to a landing on the re-entry slide. They can also experience the sensation of floating in space, explore a high-fidelity replica of the ISS, experience an orbital sunrise, and take the helm at the shuttle cockpit. On your airboat ride, glide through the grassy marsh of the St. Johns River and Lake Poinsett at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. As the boat slows down to an idle you will have several opportunities to take pictures of local wildlife, such as alligators, eagles, and several species of wading birds by the hundreds. Then visit a natural cypress swamp.

Kennedy Space Center: Chat with an Astronaut Experience

9. Kennedy Space Center: Chat with an Astronaut Experience

See history in the making at the Kennedy Space Center. Travel from a meeting point to the Space Coast. On the way your guide will explain more about the facility and how to make the most out of your time at the visitor center. Chat with an astronaut who will answer your most pressing questions in a casual, small-group setting. Enjoy a sampling of food and beverages while having a group conversation about what it is really like to live and work in space. Hear amazing stories of space travel and shuttle launches. Back at the visitor center, ride the Shuttle Launch Experience, the simulator that takes you out of this world! Sit back and enjoy an IMAX movie, stroll through a real-size space shuttle, walk around the incredible rocket garden, look at a moon rock, and even enjoy some space ice cream.

Merritt Island: Bioluminescent Sea Night Kayak or SUP Tour

10. Merritt Island: Bioluminescent Sea Night Kayak or SUP Tour

Enjoy a kayaking or standup paddleboard adventure that is suitable for all levels on this tour from Merritt Island. Discover the aquatic night life of the Banana River Lagoon Nature Preserve as comb jellyfish and bioluminescent phytoplankton light up for the night.  Meet your guide and get set up with all the gear necessary for your selected trip. Watch as your guide gives you a short tutorial on how to use your kayak or paddle board. Embark on your trip from a private launch site. Glide through the Banana River Lagoon Nature Preserve and feel the thrill of spotting bioluminescent sparkling comb jellies that are present in the water all year round. In the summer, witness dinoflagellates plankton as they put on a dazzling display.  Travel worry-free with a guide that knows the best spots for bioluminescence. Return to your meeting point and return your gear at the end of your tour. 

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What people are saying about Merritt Island

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 3,525 reviews

We had a great guide who gave us great information on how to navigate the exhibits at KSC. Even with that good information there wasn’t enough time to see everything! (Not thru any fault of the travel company) KSC has changed so much and it is wonderful and there is so much to see and do there. Pick up was easy, the bus was nice and the guide and driver were fabulous!

Excellent family activity with well presented exhibits. Well organised transport around the facility and management of people through exhibits. All the family enjoyed this activity from the grandchildren to the grandparents

Bus tour is excellent, giving a more in depth orientation to Cape Canaveral's space program

Took my fiance for his birthday. It was out of this world!!!

Great Time! Easy to access the passes electronically.