Sweetly situated on Florida’s scenic Space Coast, the town of Melbourne offers peaceful beaches, wondrous seascapes and enchanting historic sites, all within an easy drive of such popular tourist meccas as Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center.
Originally two townships, Melbourne and Eau Gallie, this delightful little bit of old Florida offers a lively marriage of historic and modern charm. Dating back to the 1800s, the city was named for its first postmaster, Comthwaite John Hector, an Englishman who relocated to Florida after many years in Melbourne, Australia. Today, Melbourne offers visitors plentiful recreational, shopping and entertainment opportunities along a sunny, sensational stretch of coastline.
Exciting air-boat rides and peaceful paddling journeys allow ample exploration of the Indian River Lagoon, an enchanting waterway separating mainland Melbourne from its picturesque barrier island. Tour Sebastian Inlet State Park for glimpses of intriguing native wildlife and marine animals. Melbourne incorporates a portion of Florida’s Saltwater Paddling Trail, bringing intrepid explorers through tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems as they journey across the lagoon and into Haulover Canal, a popular playground for manatees and dolphins. The multi-use, traffic-free East Coast Greenway also winds through Melbourne, allowing bicyclists and hikers a safe and scenic path through some of the state’s loveliest coastal areas. Golfing, snorkeling, swimming and biking opportunities abound throughout the region.
Stroll into the Florida of old in historic Downtown Melbourne and Olde Eau Gallie, where streets are lined with funky little specialty shops, lovely historic buildings and intriguing museums. Shop for crafts, antiques or bikinis in the bustling downtown area or just browse art galleries and bookstores before enjoying a hip happy hour or fine seafood dinner. Celebrations of all kinds keep the city’s streets alive with color and excitement, and annual events like the Arts Festival, Independent Filmmakers’ Festival, Aviation Day,IndiaFest and Oktoberfest help keep an exuberant vibe in town year-round.
Great tourist attractions are within a short drive. Head to the nearby Kennedy Space Center for a day of out-of-this world fun and education. Kids love floating beside spacewalking astronauts in the IMAX film Hubble 3D, thrilling to the Shuttle Launch Experience and roaming amid towering rockets. Featuring over 550 animals from around the world, Brevard Zoo invites kids of all ages to visit with giraffes, cheetahs, monkeys and white rhinos before heading into the tree tops for the zoo’s zip line and obstacle course or into the water at the splashy Paws On play area.
