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

Louise
Posted May 13, 2024
| 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

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

2. Have an air adventure



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

3. Have a golfing adventure


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


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

4. Have a historic and cultural adventure


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

5. Have a wildlife adventure


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

6. Have an island adventure


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

7. Have an adrenaline-surging adventure


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

8. Have a sailing and fishing adventure


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

9. Have a Cocoa Beach adventure



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

10. Have a sea adventure (from USD 69.0)



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.

Paddle Board or Kayak Eco Dolphin Manatee Tour

Duration 2 hours

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.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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