No matter where you are traveling to, each city has at least one thing you have been dreaming about seeing your entire life. The list of what first-time visitors dream about seeing all over the world is one that grows longer every day. And now that you are embarking on your Merritt Island vacation for the first time, we know that you have a couple of things in mind, but you may not realize all that this timeless patch of land has to offer. And because we at Happy Palm Stays like to see that our guests have the best time, we have created this ultimate first-time visitor guide to Merritt Island, inviting our guests to explore everything that makes our island home one of our favorite places on earth!
Merritt Island Attractions
Most islands don’t have a lot to offer in the way of attractions, maybe featuring a lighthouse or two at most, but Merritt Island isn’t most islands. One of the world’s biggest attractions calls this area its home, drawing in thousands of visitors every year, and providing a gateway of such to the stars. Below, we have provided more information about this wonderful attraction and added another attraction that you will want to visit during your stay!
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way on Merritt Island
Yes, the space race began right here on Merritt Island, with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex acting as your gateway to the stars. Built in the early 1960s and originally called the Launch Operations Center, much of the structure is still in use today, showing just how forward thinking the developers were. As you explore the Kennedy Space Center (the name change happened after JFK’s untimely demise), you may find it hard to believe that you are walking on the ground where some of your favorite space race stories began, but there will be signs. The Rocket Garden offers beds of rocket ships, not flowers, and features the oldest rocket, the Juno 1 Rocket which launched our first satellite into space in 1958. The Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour, lasting three hours, is one that we highly recommend taking, as it goes in depth into the space race, the complex, and the future of space exploration. If you aren’t a joiner, however, that’s ok, there are plenty of interactive activities, flight simulations, movies, to examine on your own.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1963 Refuge Headquarters Road
Something that always surprises visitors is the realization that Kennedy Space Center shares land with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, but it’s true. Both have coexisted peacefully almost since the very beginning, with the refuge being established in 1963. Today, guests can pay $10 per car to drive through the refuge, enjoying a 7-mile-long self-guided tour and encountering much of the wildlife that lives a protected and happy life in the habitat. Over 500 species of wildlife and 140 species of fresh and saltwater fish live within the boundaries of the refuge and even though you won’t be able to see them all, we can almost guarantee that you will see alligators and a variety of birds. Fishing is popular on the refuge and with six different hiking trails meandering through the wilderness, you and your family can enjoy a close up view of everything that makes the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge wonderful.
72 Miles of Coastline
Merritt Island is also considered the gateway to some of the most beautiful beaches on the 72 miles of coastline that makes up the Space Coast, so of course, you are going to want to spend at least one day at the beach, and the ones listed below will bring you joy.
Playalinda Beach in Titusville
Quiet and serene, Playalinda Beach (Playalinda means pretty beach in Spanish) is one of the most popular beaches in the area, offering fantastic surfing and a relaxing vibe that will make you wish you never had to leave. It is a part of the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, so an entrance fee will need to be paid a fee that isn’t that expensive, costing just $25 per car.
Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral
This wonderful beach park offers charcoal grills, picnic tables, public restrooms, and outdoor showers, allowing beachgoers to spend their entire day frolicking in the surf and not have to leave for meals or other Merritt Island thing to do when you get back!
Jetty Park Beach in Cape Canaveral
One thing we haven’t mentioned during our tour of beaches is that any of these beaches also offer prime viewing of rocket launches if you happen to be here when one is taking place and that includes the final beach on our list, Jetty Park Beach. Offering the 1200-foot-long Malcolm E. McLouth Fishing Pier, anglers love to visit Jetty Park Beach and swimmers may find themselves in the midst of a sea turtle encounter, as the swimming turtles seem to love this part of the Space Coast as much as you will! If you do run into one, though, be sure to admire from afar as they aren’t pets and treating them as such can endanger them even further than they already are.
Merritt Island Events and Festivals
A visit to Merritt Island will feel celebratory no matter what you do, but the events listed below lend themselves towards even more celebrations, helping to create memories that will never be forgotten.
Founders Day at Field Manor, April 19, 750 Field Manor Drive in Merritt Island
Although the first Founders Day was more of an exercise in conceit, if we want to be truly honest with you, today it has become an integral part of the Merritt Island experience. In 1868, the Field family held a celebration to honor their arrival on Merritt Island shores, and we are sure that first event was a wonderful one, but we much more appreciate the Founders Day celebrations we have enjoyed for the last 10 years. Offering live music, museum tours, a silent auction, and a large selection of food trucks selling everything from barbecue to ice cream, this event also offers beer and wine, with one of the sponsors being the Bugnutty Brewing Company. Proceeds go towards keeping the Field Museum alive and this year will be put towards a new roof, so you can be doing a good deed while having an even better time!
Hack Space Con 2025, May 11-15, Kennedy Space Center
We are starting to believe they can turn anything into a Con event and Hack Space Con is the perfect example. Offering a conference that brings together cyber security experts, ethical hackers, and space technology enthusiasts, this dynamic event is sure to open your eyes to a whole new world. The first two days of this five day event are paid training days but starting on the 13th there will be fascinating talks given by the most influential specialists in the industry, workshops, tabletop exercises, and space cyber talks. Also offering vendor halls, career fairs, merch sales, and some after hour events that include Hacker Jeopardy, Hacker Feud, Slide Shenanigans, and Pool Bar Con Party, or in other words, a little something for everyone.
Space Coast State Fair, October 30 Through November 15, Space Coast Daily Park in Melbourne
While much of the world is starting to drag out their winter clothes at the end of October, here on the Space Coast we are reveling in idyllic weather and the realization that it is state fair time once again. Offering everything you would expect from a fair, including free concerts, livestock shows, baked goods competitions, rides, carnival games and so much more, the Space Coast Fair is one that we look forward to all year and we love to share the good times with our Happy Palm Stays guests. Guests with tiny travelers will love the Kiddie Rides, including a giant slide, the Hero Zone which is an adventure obstacle course, and the Rio Grande Train. Theme nights include Mommy Mondays (moms get in free), Teacher Appreciation Night on Tuesdays, and veterans receive free admission every day of the fair, so don’t forget your ID if you are a veteran!
A Taste of the Town
Oh how we love vacation food and during your Merritt Island Adventures the restaurants we have listed below will be the ones you dream about when you have returned to real life, perhaps even waking up feeling sad because they are so far away from your own home! These restaurants are located not just in Merritt Island, but all over the Space Coast.
Causeway Diner, 712 N Courtenay Parkway #102 in Merritt Island, Open Daily at 6 AM
We all need that one restaurant in which we feel comfortable and at home, and on Merritt Island, Causeway Diner fits the bill. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, on weekends it closes at 3 instead of 8, offering only breakfast and lunch. This restaurant isn’t expensive and it isn’t fancy, but it does serve the best comfort food in town, including Greek and Italian specialties that will add a little extra spice to your life.
The Fat Snook, 2464 S Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, Closed Mondays
Even on the most casual of vacations you may find yourself in need of a special occasion meal such as the ones served by the Fat Snook in Cocoa Beach. Open for dinner only, the menu is seafood-centric, offering a Caribbean influence, and impressing every one of the 2000 to 10,000 taste buds waiting on your tongue! Their Wild Blue Crab Feature available on the starter menu is different every night, according to the whim of the chef. (And it even says chef’s whim in the description!)
Marker 24 Riverfront Grille, 1360 S Banana River Drive in Merritt Island
If this is your first visit to Florida, you may be surprised at just how sweet and delicious the seafood is, and when you want the best of the best without spending a fortune, Marker 24 Riverfront Grille is the direction in which we are going to point you. Offering views of the Banana River while serving a menu that covers the gamut from surf to turf and even features tacos and pizzas, this meal is going to be the one you never forget. Especially when you order their local catch specials served in a variety of different ways. Also offering a full bar, a kids’ menu, and a dessert dish that changes regularly, there really isn’t a bad meal to be had at Marker 24!
Only One Chance for a First Time Merritt Island Vacation
You only get one chance to experience something for the first time, but we know that you will enjoy your comfortable adventures at home with Happy Palm Stays so much you’ll want to return again, wondering if lightning will strike twice in the same location. Spoiler alert, it will, as our Merritt Island sanctuaries have just one purpose in their lives, and that is to make our guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and at home during their Florida vacation! They offer a large selection of amenities, including community pools, hot tubs, and grill areas where you can turn your catch of the day into the meal of the day. Feeling lazy? Take at least one day to chill around the pool, nap under ceiling fans in quiet living rooms, and play board games with the family, continuing the tradition of family night even as you are miles away from home.
Come Back Soon
Our Florida retreats are designed to be an integral part of your vacation experience whether it is your first time or your 100th visit and we hope that this, your first visit, instills a love for the Space Coast and entices you to return again and again. Reserve your favorite Happy Palm Stays Merritt Island escape today and come home every night to comfort, luxury, and relaxation!
