2/6/2024 0 Comments Canaveral seashore![]() If you’re into historic military aircraft or want to enjoy dazzling aerial demonstrations, you can get your fix at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville. (Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center) Witness warbirds on display or up in the air New to The Points Guy? Sign-up for our daily newsletter and check out our beginner’s guide. ![]() When you’re ready to press pause on the theme parks, here are a few places where you won’t have to wait in line to see the real Florida along the Space Coast. But heading east from Orlando and making time to visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the surrounding natural attractions is a must. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good roller coaster (the Incredible Hulk at Universal Orlando is my all-time favorite, even if my babies aren’t even close to being old enough to ride it themselves). But as a Floridian, it does make me scratch my head when people come to this wild state and an animatronic alligator and themed thrill rides are as far as they get. I certainly understand the appeal of Orlando and the theme parks for a vacation, field trip or excursion before or after a cruise. The region offers easy access to areas of pristine natural beauty where you can learn to surf or paddle through bioluminescent waters at night and scout for manatees, dolphins and alligators by day. Roughly 55 miles east of Walt Disney World Resort, Florida’s Space Coast - home to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral - has 72 miles of coastline that stretches from Titusville in the north to just north of Sebastian Inlet in the south. Theme parks might bring you to Central Florida, but if you neglect to venture east to the beaches and wildlife-rich Indian River Lagoon near Kennedy Space Center along the state’s Space Coast, you’ll be missing out on the real Florida. The largest nude crowd is at Playalinda, though this is mainly due to the limited parking at Apollo Beach.Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. In either location, you can be arrested for lewd behavior or photographing naked children-yes, whole families are known to enjoy the beach. At Playalinda Beach in Brevard County, nudity is illegal, and while arrests have been made over the years, law enforcement tends to turn a blind eye to the matter unless complaints are made. At Apollo Beach, which is in Volusia County, nudity is legal and an agreement was made between the nudists and the National Park Service to keep suits on until 150 yards south of the last parking area (though not everyone follows the rules). The National Park Service follows state and county laws in regards to nudity since there is no federal law addressing the subject, and both nude beaches were established before Canaveral National Seashore was created. Access to these is from the very last parking area at both Apollo and Playalinda Beaches. Unexpected at a National Seashore are two nude beaches. People head to Playalinda simply to avoid the hassle of trying to find a parking spot at Apollo. The increased popularity can also be attributed to the fact that Playalinda has nearly 1,000 parking spaces as compared to a little more than 150 at Apollo Beach. The only development is the road through the park and the parking areas, each of which has a small building that houses a chemical toilet (no water) and a boardwalk that leads over the sand dunes to the beach.ĭue to its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center-a large tourist draw-Playalinda Beach is much more popular than Apollo Beach. This means you must bring your own drinks, food, and beach equipment. There are no hotels, homes, restaurants, or other tourist amenities lining the shore. There is no camping on Klondike Beach, so you must return from your journey by the end of the day.įor those who have never visited a National Seashore, this is a rare opportunity to spend time on a beach that is as pristine today as it was thousands of years ago. See Canaveral National Seashore’s Backcountry Hiking Day Use web page for the current prices. There is a small fee, and only 25 permits are issued each day on a first come, first served basis. Get your permit at the entrance stations at Apollo Beach or Playalinda Beach. The beach in the middle, Klondike Beach, can only be reached on foot, and a backcountry permit is required to enter. A park road runs the length of each, and there are various beach access locations, all complete with parking areas. The northern section, Apollo Beach, and the southern section, Playalinda Beach, are accessible by vehicle. While the Canaveral National Seashore beach stretches continuously from the northern park boundary to the southern park boundary, it is divided into three sections for managerial purposes. Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |