Top 16 Things To Do In Palm Bay, Florida

things to do in palm bay florida
Vanna
Vanna 
Updated
| 6 min read

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

things to do in palm bay florida | unwind at fred poppe regional park
Source: instagram

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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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9. Soak in the scenery at Castaways Point Park

things to do in palm bay florida | soak in the scenery at castaways point park
Source: instagram

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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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Palm Bay: One of Florida's hidden gems

Turkey Creek in Palm Bay, FL
Source: Photo by user Revelcaps used under CC BY-SA 4.0

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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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.

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Vanna is born and raised in the Philippines and describes herself as a local tourist-- she's made it her mission to see as many of the country's 7,000+ islands. But that doesn't mean she's not...Read more

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