Introduction
Melbourne, Florida, is a wonderful Space Coast town with beautiful white sandy beaches which tend to be a bit quieter than those of its nearby neighbors like Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island. There are plenty of things for you and your family to do in the city itself, and also, the great centralized location allows you quick access to a variety of other Florida destinations.
Do you like outdoor activities with lots of Florida sunshine? This is certainly place for you. The best part is that everything is close together, so you don’t have to travel too far.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Melbourne.
For great deals on even more great things to eat, see, and do in Melbourne, Florida and across the Sapce Coast, be sure to check out Groupon HERE!
Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo is easily one of our favorite zoos in Florida. It has over 600 species of animals from Australia, Asia, Africa, and even native Florida. One of the best things about this zoo is definitely the giraffe encounter. This allows visitors to feed the giraffes by hand! The zoo also includes a zip line, a top-notch bird aviary, and a kangaroo encounter where you actually get to go into the exhibit to interact with the kangaroos.
There’s a giant children’s play area and splash pad located adjacent to the petting zoo. Additionally, there is a train ride where you will get to see some additional animals and learn all about their characteristics and behaviors. You will definitely want to check out this zoo!
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Sebastian Inlet State Park is a great place to spend a day if you love the great outdoors. This is an excellent location for fishing. The inlet has over 99 miles of shoreline to fish from. You also have the option to rent jet skis or even take an adventurous boat tour.
Hiking is an option as well. There are over 11 miles of hiking trails throughout the park that lead through marshes, swamps, and pine forest habitats allowing you to experience the real Florida up-close and personal!
Downtown Melbourne
Downtown Melbourne is one of the best downtown areas in all of Florida. It is an ideal place to go for a walk, especially in the evening when all the shops are open and the sun is setting.
The architecture is beautiful to look at and it’s worth taking a few photos.
You can also grab some good food from one of their restaurants or just enjoy some tea and pastries while browsing one of the shops or art galleries. Most of the shops, stores, and other businesses are concentrated along East New Haven Avenue. Find a great place to park and go for a stroll!
Wickham Park
Wickham Park is a giant 280 public park in Melbourne with many amenities including picnic areas, athletic fields, gardens, woodlands, trails, and even a play ground! This is a fantastic place to spend the day having fun with your family.
The park also contains several ponds, sport facilities, and even areas dedicated to hosting weddings and family gatherings.
This park hosts numerous events throughout the year including car shows, disc golf tournaments, fundraising walks, garden tours, cross country races, and more. At Christmas time, Wickham Park lights up for the annual Space Coast Light Fest. Wickham is definitely one of the best things to do in Melbourne!
Florida Tech Botanical Garden
The Florida Tech Botanical Garden is a garden located on the Florida Institute of Technology campus. It is over 100 acres of beautiful gardens including an arboretum, a butterfly garden and two nature trails. The arboretum has over 2,000 trees and shrubs from around the world including palms and cycads. The butterfly garden is the main attraction in this garden which is filled with many butterfly-attracting flowers and plants. You’ll love seeing all of the beautiful butterflies filling the air!
Andretti Thrill Park
Andretti Thrill Park is a family-friendly indoor amusement park with rides, games for all ages and of course great snacks. It’s an awesome place to go if you want to have fun with the whole family and do something a little different. You’ll enjoy the bumper cars, laser tag, a variety of other activities, and finish it all off with ice cream!
Get your discounted Andretti Thrill Park tickets form Groupon HERE.
Renninger’s Flea Market
Renninger’s Flea Market is huge, and has just about everything that you could imagine. From local produce, to clothing, to tools, to electronics, and even a number of locations actually offering a variety of services. This place is worth taking time to explore. It is open Friday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Perhaps our favorite thing were the numerous food court areas where you can try a variety of cuisines.
Conclusion
Melbourne is a beautiful city, and we hope you enjoy exploring it as much as we did!
While in the area, be sure to check out some of the other great Space Coast towns such as Cocoa Beach and Titusville.
For great deals on even more great things to eat, see, and do in Melbourne, Florida and across the Sapce Coast, be sure to check out Groupon HERE!