When somebody says they’re going on a trip to Florida, destinations such as Miami, Orlando, and the Florida Keys immediately come to mind. It’s seldom to hear someone actually say they’re going to lesser-known places such as Palm Bay, especially if you’re not from the state or even the country. That’s why if you’re after a Floridian experience that’s off-the-beaten-path, come out to the Space Coast and visit Palm Bay. Palm Bay is the largest and most populous city in Brevard County, with a local population just a little over 100,000 residents. The lifestyle is slow and laid-back, the water activities, abundant, and the people, warm and friendly. If you’re planning on stopping by soon, here are the best things to do in Palm Bay, Florida.
1. Unwind at Fred Poppe Regional Park
Take a break at Fred Poppe Regional Park, a 200-acre (80.9-hectare) park in Palm Bay. You can play competitive sports here, go biking or running around the paths, or try your hand at bass fishing in the lake. Fred Poppe Regional Park is also the perfect place in Palm Bay to do absolutely nothing. Just pick a quiet spot and you’re good to go.
Fred Poppe Regional Park
Address: 1951 Malabar Rd, Palm Bay, FL 32907, USA
Website: Fred Poppe Regional Park
Price: Free
2. Go kite boarding or paddle boarding with Endless Windz
Want to feel the wind your hair? Skip the usual and go kite boarding or paddle boarding with the folks at Endless Windz instead. They’ll gear you up and partner you with a guide so you can learn how to ride the wind and the waves. There are several programs you can avail depending on the difficulty and your skill level. You can even have a certified instructor on jet ski to watch you if you require the assistance.
Endless Windz
Address: Palm Bay, FL
Website: Endless Windz
Price: From 220 USD
3. Experience a sea turtle watch at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is technically in Melbourne Beach already, but it’s so close to Palm Bay that you should definitely check it out while you’re in the area. This protected wildlife habitat is an important nesting and hatching ground for loggerhead and green sea turtles, which come to the beach from August to September to lay their eggs, which will then hatch anytime between October to March. Take part in the local conservation efforts (only one percent of sea turtles survive to adulthood) by joining the night-time sea turtle watch and turtle dig programs. It will be quite a touching and memorable experience.
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Address: 3315 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951, USA
Website: Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 15 USD for the sea turtle watch program
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4. Marvel at custom cars at Larsen Motorsports
Are you a car lover? Larsen Motorsports would be heaven for you. Their showroom is open to visitors, and it’s in there where you’ll find an impressive collection of jet cars, parts, and other equipment. Larsen Motorsports even has an educational program called Blazing Trails, open to anyone who’s interested in the science, art, and engineering behind jet car racing and automobiles in general.
Larsen Motorsports
Address: 2495 Palm Bay Rd NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905, USA
Website: Larsen Motorsports
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9am - 5pm (closed on Fri - Sun)
5. Enjoy a kayaking tour at Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Water activities come in a dazzling array here at Palm Bay. If you want a relaxing and scenic kayak session, Turkey Creek Sanctuary would be perfect. There’s nothing quite like rounding down the bend and catching the rays of sunlight that pass through the sand pines, palmettos, and live oaks that cloak Turkey Creek. Alternatively, if you’d also like to prefer more of the sanctuary, you can go hike along the nature trail and watch the birds fly by.
Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Address: 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905, USA
Website: Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
Price: Free
6. Embark on nature trips at Micco Scrub Sanctuary
Micco Scrub Sanctuary is one of the last places in Brevard County where you can find a wide variety of indigenous scrubby and mesic flatwoods– these plants cover approximately 1,300 acres (526 hectares) of the sanctuary! There are two ways to explore the trails that snake throughout Micco Scrub. You can don your hiking boots and go on foot, or go sit on horseback and enjoy the views. To help preserve the sanctuary, don’t forget to stay on the trail.
Micco Scrub Sanctuary
Address: 500 Micco Road Palm Bay, FL 32909
Website: Micco Scrub Sanctuary
7. Admire the beautiful blooms at Valkaria Gardens
Valkaria Gardens is the go-to provider for tropical plants and blooms in Palm Bay, but their garden is also open to visitors who just want to relax and admire the vibrant flowers and foliage. The place is also open to host special events, such as weddings and parties so if you’re planning a fete while you’re in Palm Bay, Valkaria Gardens would make a great venue.
Valkaria Gardens
Address: 8205 Babcock St SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909, USA
Website: Valkaria Gardens
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 4:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 4:30pm
8. Spend the day at Palm Bay Marina
What Palm Bay Marina lacks in size, it makes up for in charm and activities ordered. You can use the facility as your base when you decide to go sailing or kayaking (rentals are available). If it’s a fishing adventure you’re after, you can stock up on bait and other necessities here. Or if you want, you can simply just hang around Palm Bay Marina with a book on one hand and a glass of cold drink on the other. Lazy days are great, too!
Palm Bay Marina
Address: 4350 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905, USA
Website: Palm Bay Marina
Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (daily)
9. Soak in the scenery at Castaways Point Park
For a city park, Castaways Point ranks as one of the prettiest we’ve set our sights on. It’s located on one of the very few stretches of beach that line the Indian River Lagoon, which opens out to sea. What you get is a quiet and scenic park in the city where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the sunset. From Castaways Point’ piers, on a good day, you might even sight manatees and porpoises swimming in the water.
Castaways Point Park
Address: 2990 Bay Blvd NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905, USA
Website: Castaways Point Park
Opening hours: 8am - 9pm (daily)
10. Play bowling at Shore Lanes Palm Bay
Invite your friends or travel companions to a fun round (or two) of bowling at Shore Lanes Palm Bay. They have daily specials as well as themed plays, such as Throwback Night every Sunday and X-Factor Bowling every Saturday night until the clock strikes 12. You can also rent a lane, open for up to six players, which includes shoe rental and exclusive use of a bowling lane for two hours. Play a competitive game among yourselves, or strike up a match with the other groups for an even more exciting time.
Shore Lanes Palm Bay
Address: 4851 Dairy Rd, Melbourne, FL 32904, USA
Website: Shore Lanes Palm Bay
Opening hours: 9am - 12am (daily)
Price: From 1.75 USD
11. Challenge your friends at Hurricane Paintball Park
Friendly competition is great! If you want to keep up the momentum, head to Hurricane Paintball Park, a 14-acre (5.6-acre) facility solely dedicated to all the fun and shenanigans that come with paintball. Hide in towers and conceal yourself behind walls and forts as you wait for your enemies. Hurricane Paintball Park offers affordable rates but if you invite more people to come with you, you can score a great deal.
Hurricane Paintball Park
Address: 770 Hurricane Street, Brevard, Palm Bay, FL 32908, USA
Website: Hurricane Paintball Park
Opening hours: Mon: 24 hours; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed from Tue - Fri)
Price: From 10 USD
12. Play a round at Majors Golf Club
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Just Having A little fun
Posted by The Majors Golf Club on Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Golf lovers, it’s your time to shine! Golf clubs and courses are scattered all over Florida, and Palm Bay in the Space Coast is no exception. Majors Golf Club ranks as one of the best in the region, with the centerpiece being the 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by none other than Arnold Palmer. Make the most out of the undulating terrain and admire the hills from afar whenever you need a break. If you’re not ready for the course, you can opt to stay at the practice greens or even get professional instruction from the experts at Majors Golf Club.
Majors Golf Club
Address: 3425 Bayside Lakes Blvd SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909, USA
Website: Majors Golf Club
Opening hours: 6:30am - 6pm (daily)
Price: From 18 USD
13. Treat yourself to comfort food at Dottie's Restaurant
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Dotties Restaurant on Monday, November 6, 2017
After a day out kayaking or playing golf here in Palm Bay, it’s important to reenergise at one of the local restaurants. For honest-to-goodness American comfort food and other classics, Dottie’s Restaurant is the reigning queen in Palm Bay. Menu favorites include omelettes (available in more than 10 varieties), sandwiches, chicken tenders, and country fried streak. Wash it all away with your drink of choice (options include iced latte, fruit juice, and homemade lemonade).
Dottie's Restaurant
Address: 5275 Babcock St NE, Palm Bay, FL 32905, USA
Website: Dottie’s Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6am - 2pm; Sun: 7am - 2pm
14. Make the most of the night at Siggy's - An American Bar
For local nightlife in Palm Bay, Siggy’s is hard to beat. This so-called American bar offers live music entertainment, hosting the best bands in Brevard County every Friday night. During big sports events, Siggy’s turns into a rowdy sports bar, the air filled with cheers, whoops, yells, and the occasional exclamations of despair. As for the food and drinks, there’s a wide variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and burgers available.
Siggy's - An American Bar
Address: 1153 Malabar Rd NE # 1, Palm Bay, FL 32907, USA
Website: Siggy’s - An American Bar
Opening hours: 11am - 2am (daily)
15. Catch a movie at NCG Palm Bay Cinema
It can get hot in Palm Bay! One of the best ways to cool off if you’re rather tired of the usual water activities is to head to NCG Palm Bay Cinema and watch the latest movies on the big screen. NCG Cinemas, not just in Palm Bay, are all sensory-friendly facilities. That means people with hearing and reading disabilities can request for captioning and audio descriptive devices so they can enjoy the movies.
NCG Palm Bay Cinema
Address: 160 Malabar Rd #120, Palm Bay, FL 32907, USA
Website: NCG Palm Bay Cinema
Opening hours: 10am - 11pm (daily)
Price: From 6.50 USD
16. Explore Indian River National Scenic Byway
From Palm Bay, explore the other areas of the Space Coast starting by taking the Indian River National Scenic Byway. Along the way, you’ll pass by several of the region’s best attractions, from sanctuaries and wildlife refuges to islands and historic homes. You can drive down the entire length of the byway from Oak Hill to Wabasso Beach, or stop on certain spots and even spend the evening there for the ultimate Indian Lagoon experience.
Indian River National Scenic Byway
Address: Space Coast, Florida
Website: Indian River National Scenic Byway
Palm Bay: One of Florida's hidden gems
Palm Bay is part of the larger, so-called Space Coast, which promises more things to do and adventures to experience. We suggest starting your Space Coast exploration in Palm Bay then heading out to the neighboring cities and towns to make the most out of your stay. Welcome to Florida’s most underrated, hidden gems!
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