10 Best Things To Do In Merritt Island, Florida - Updated 2024

things to do in merritt island florida
Louise
Louise 
Updated
| 3 min read

Did you know the space shuttles used to be launched from Merritt Island? Today, visitors might still be able to catch the sight of an unmanned rocket launch from the neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island is a peninsula located in Brevard County of Florida and still a popular tourist’s attraction today. At Merritt Island, you may engage in a wide range of adventures, from the sea to the air to space; from nature to technological advancement, there is more than enough to keep you excited.

Find out about the top 10 things to do in Merritt island, Florida below!

1. Have a space adventure

STS-125 Atlantis Liftoff 02
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Scott Andrews, Canon used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to have a space experience. At this Florida’s gateway to space is where rockets launch and inspiration begins. Be sure to start your journey early to have a full-day space experience. Spend time at the different sessions to have the fullest experience.

Kennedy Space Center

Address: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, SR 405, 32899 Kennedy Space Center, FL

Website: Kennedy Space Center

Visited this place?

2. Have an air adventure

Lets get this weekend started! 888-FOR-RIDE

Posted by Florida Air Tours on Friday, 9 June 2017

Posted by Cocoa Beach Helicopter Tours on Thursday, 3 September 2015

Some views can only be captured when you are up in the air! Helicopter tours allow you to take the panoramic view of the Merritt Island and the surrounding areas, so be ready with a camera. There are at least two helicopter tours operators for you to choose from. Take an adventure to see the Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island from the air.

Florida Air Tours

Website: Helicopter tours

Beachside Helicopters

Website: Helicopter tours

Visited this place?

3. Have a golfing adventure

Posted by Duran Golf Club on Wednesday, 10 August 2016

Voted best public course, Duran Golf Club is one of the top 50 practice ranges in the US. Once a fertile sod farm, the land offers the plushest greens for the course. Together with the lakes and ponds, sweeping doglegs, native landscaping and palm trees, the golfers’ experience can be one of its kind. You can stay late into the evenings as the entire facility is illuminated until 9 p.m. daily.

Duran Golf Club

Address: 7032 Stadium Parkway, 32940 Viera, FL

Website: Duran Golf Club

Only 28 days until Masters week! Who do you have as the favorite going in?

Posted by Viera East Golf Club on Monday, 10 March 2014

Rated four stars by Golf Digest, Viera East Golf Course is another putting green that you should not miss. Designed by Joe Lee, Viera East is a multi-award winning premier public golf facility with views of native marshlands and pristine lakes on every hole you play.

Viera East Golf Course

Address: Viera East Golf Club, 2300 Clubhouse Drive, 32955 Viera, FL

Website: Viera East Golf Course

Visited this place?

4. Have a historic and cultural adventure

Posted by Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Wednesday, 2 November 2016

The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center maintained a free museum, library, and plaza displaying a wide range of military artifacts, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in the Middle East. It seeks to educate the public about the country’s military efforts, both past and present.

The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center

Address: 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy, 32952 Merritt Island, FL

Website: The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center

Visited this place?

5. Have a wildlife adventure

Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary 1/20/10

Posted by Kevin Weldon on Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural lagoon surrounded by a manmade dike. Take the trail on the dike to the waterways and discover the wildlife. Alternatively, you can view the birds at the birdwatching tower or view the rest at a distance from the Old Humpbacked Troll Bridge.

Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: 805 Sykes Creek Pkwy, 32952 Merritt Island, FL

Website: Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary

Visited this place?

6. Have an island adventure

Posted by Brevard County Sams House at Pine Island on Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Sams House is the oldest stand home in Brevard County (1875). You can find the interactive exhibits highlighting the Pine Island’s rich history of the inhabitants. You may also engage in hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking through five different habitats and over 10 kilometers (six miles) of trails. You may be able to get a glimpse of some wading birds, bald eagles, alligators, manatees, bobcats and much more. Your Pine Island adventure can be unforgettable!

Sams House at Pine Island Conservation Area

Address: 6195 N. Tropical Trail, 32953 Merritt Island, FL

Website: Sams House

Visited this place?

7. Have an adrenaline-surging adventure

Taking advantage of the sunshine in Florida to get some practice in!

Posted by Flyboard Central Florida on Monday, 23 February 2015

If you are the type that will go for the extreme sport, this flyboarding is one that you should not miss! Flyboarding is the new award-winning extreme water sport. It is gaining its momentum as a water sport in the California waters. Ever dreamt of swimming like a dolphin and flying like a bird? Just strap on the Flyboard and your dream will become a reality!

Flyboarding

Address: 1891 E. Merrit Island Causeway, 32952 Merrit Island, FL

Website: Jump Right In Flyboarding

Visited this place?

8. Have a sailing and fishing adventure

Happy Fathers Day! We have lots of room for an ocean adventure this afternoon at both locations! Let's go fishing! Book Now online www.blueheronfishing.com

Posted by Blue Heron Fishing on Sunday, 18 June 2017

Blue Heron Fishing Charters offer custom deep Sea, near coastal and in-shore fishing adventures around the Cocoa Beach, one of the finest fishing areas in Florida. Whether you are an experienced or novice angler, there is something for everyone. Let Captain Frank bring you a memorable sailing and fishing adventure!

Blue Heron Fishing Charters

Address: Kelly County Park, corner of Beach Line (Hwy. 528) and Banana River Drive, Merritt Island, Florida

Website: Blue Heron Fishing Charters

Visited this place?

9. Have a Cocoa Beach adventure

Just wow! Thanks Shelly Pardo-Wetzel for sharing Wake up Cocoa Beach https://www.facebook.com/groups/353345641423053/

Posted by I love Cocoa Beach FL on Thursday, 13 April 2017

Relax and enjoy happy hour at the Pier tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. 🍺🍷🍹

Posted by The Cocoa Beach Pier on Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Only an 18-minute drive from Merritt Island, you can reach Cocoa Beach where more activities await you and your family. It is one of the more affordable vacations you can have in this area. Simply spend a relaxing day at the beaches or join the endless activities from there. This Cocoa Beach adventure is fun for your entire family!

Cocoa Beach

Address: 32931 Cocoa Beach, Florida

Website: Cocoa Beach

Visited this place?

10. Have a sea adventure (from USD 69.0)

Went out for a paddle board tour with Rain and @sobesurf through the Banana River Aquatic Preserve in Florida. #standuppaddle #paddleboarding #urbank9dogtraining #brooklyndogtraining #blacklab #labrador

Posted by Urban K-9 Dog Training on Thursday, 4 February 2016

Playful Manatee at Merritt Island NWR. Nikon D3s--Nikkor, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AF-I , 1/500 sec; f/10; ISO 500

Posted by Jim Hansen on Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Join the Paddle Board or Kayak Eco Manatee Tour to spot the wildlife along the River Aquatic Preserve. You will find manatees, one of the endangered wildlife species in the area. You may also find dolphins, fish and a diverse population of birds as you are on your stand-up paddleboard or kayak. This tour is a two-hour journey with expert guidance and all the equipment required, suitable for all skill levels.

Visited this place?

Paddle Board or Kayak Eco Dolphin Manatee Tour

Duration: 2 hours

92 reviews

Gather your best memory from Merritt Island, Florida

By now, you probably know that you don’t need “rocket science” to discover what you can do at Merritt Island, Florida. The adventures are yours to take. You must go and gather the memorable, exciting and “outer space” experience.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Louise is a creative writer and a children’s book author. She loves travelling with purpose, be it for work, missions, teaching, for a humanitarian cause, or for pure fun. She has been traveling to...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Merritt Island
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.