While Brevard County enjoys one of the most diverse economies in the country, it will always remain intrinsically connected to the economy of the space program and the Kennedy Space Center, which has significantly impacted the county’s ups and downs since its start in 1962.
With rockets launching almost every week, there is a renewed interest in America’s space program. People line the beaches and roadways surrounding Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch rockets launched from pads 39A and 39B, and the adjoining Canaveral Space Force Base pads. Since the opening of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center 60 years ago, large crowds have been coming to Brevard County for a firsthand experience as the race for the moon heated up. For a comprehensive look at the space program, tourists can head to KSC’s visitors complex.
In January 1958, Explorer I, America’s first satellite, proved to the world that the country was ready for the Space Age. Four years later, when Kennedy Space Center opened, Keuper would find a large supply of engineers eager to advance their careers by enrolling at the new institution of higher learning. Back on Earth just miles away from where Explorer I launched, missileman and nuclear physicist Jerry Keuper was busy launching another out-of-this-world endeavor, Brevard Engineering College, now known as Florida Institute of Technology.
Whether you are looking to connect with nature and wildlife — or seek solace while camping under the stars — the Indian River Lagoon’s spoil islands offer a picture perfect setting for all that is related to nature. The man-made sanctuaries that dot the inland waterways from Mims to Sebastian Inlet are havens for tranquility — and provide a peaceful place for both recreation and wildlife conservation.
With 72 miles of beaches, the Space Coast offers plenty of opportunities for surf fishing. With calmer seas and warmer weather, summertime can be one of the best seasons for newbies and youth to learn the sport. There is plenty of free advice and information available — from resources that can be accessed online to professional Surf Charter guides to area bait and tackle fishing outlets. The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot when first getting started.
Vacation Island Paradise, a tiny horseshoe-sliver of land with several names. Also known as Grant Farm Island, or VIP Island, this unique enclave of 65 homes is geographically just a five-minute boat ride from the South Brevard mainland, but mentally miles from the routine hassles of life. A 50-acre part natural, part spoil island created from dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway, VIP Island is one of the few inhabited islands in Florida accessible only by boat.
When the pandemic closed down schools, Gemini Elementary School third grader Copeland Watters was bereft, not so much about missing in-person classes and catching up with friends, but about not being able to enjoy the school garden.
Sometimes it takes just one person with an idea and a few poker buddies to start something big. So big that it evolves into The Children’s Hunger Project, a 501c3 charity that feeds nearly 3,000 children weekly, in 47 elementary schools, in an effort to eliminate the growing problem of weekend childhood hunger.
All types of birds, alligators, snakes and wild boars can be found in the large wildlife sanctuary that is a good portion of NASA’s field center on Merritt Island. Only about 9% of the 144,000 acres that comprise the John F. Kennedy Space Center has been developed. NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, at 525 feet tall, is visible from quite a distance.
A scavenger and broad-winged opportunist that often feeds on carrion, the Crested Caracara is widespread in the American tropics. The word caracara comes from a South American Indian name, based on the bird’s call. When seen for the first time, it might look like a bald eagle with a bad hairpiece. To see the strikingly patterned Crested Caracara up close, visit the Brevard Zoo.
Melbourne couple devotes years and passion in creating their Garden of Eden. For nearly 35 years, Bruce and Gina Ragan have enjoyed careers that engage their extreme creativity. Bruce, an iconic East Coast surfboard builder, and Gina, a talented landscape painter and photographer, the Melbourne couple share a passion for everything nature, healthy eating and self-sustainability.
Satellite Beach house of worship has a national reputation for getting around, literally. Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles thriving years after its relocation from Fort Pierce.
Surfriders keep Brevard coastal waters clean and healthy. When they’re not surfing, members of the local chapter are busy with monthly beach cleanups and cleaning up the berms of their adopted section of highway A1A at Sebastian Inlet.
Brevard County’s 71 miles of coastline is one of the most active areas for sea turtle nesting in the United States. Anyone interested in witnessing the nesting process, can participate in nighttime turtle walks led by several organizations including Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Friends of the Carr Refuge, and Sebastian Inlet State Park.