Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral is a part of the ocean coast in the east of the Florida peninsula (USA), facing the Atlantic. A settlement of the same name is located near the cape. Landscapes preserved in pristine condition, pristine sandy beaches and warm lagoons attract many tourists vacationing in the surrounding resort towns. In this subtropical region, the beach season lasts most of the year.

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Cape Canaveral is home to the National Aerospace Agency’s famous spaceport, as well as an equally famous cruise seaport, one of the largest in the world.

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Video: Cape Canaveral

Contents

Highlights

Cape Canaveral is a popular resort region in the United States. People come here to sunbathe on the beaches and fish in the ocean, play golf and surf, and watch the good-natured manatees that inhabit the coastal lagoons. In the small towns located in the region, tourists will find cozy hotels, restaurants, resort stores, entertainment. There are paved roads, well developed public transport. Large hotels are built in the city of Port Canaveral, where cruise ships are moored.

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Nowadays Cape Canaveral is the most famous part of the Space Coast of Florida (Space Coast). Here operates the J. Kennedy Space Center with numerous launch facilities. Rockets launching manned spacecraft, artificial satellites and interplanetary probes into orbit are launched from here. The spaceport is accessible to tourists and has a museum dedicated to space exploration. If lucky, travelers will be able to see an epic rocket launch. Part of Cape Canaveral is closed to the public, there is an air base of the U.S. Space Force.

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Less than an hour’s drive separates Cape Canaveral from the resort city of Orlando, home to the world-famous Disney World theme parks. This city is also home to the closest international airport to the coast.

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History of Cape Canaveral

In the 1920s, Spanish navigator Francisco Gordillo charted a wide triangular ledge on a map of the Florida peninsula. Captain Gordillo named it “Cabo Cañaveral,” which means “Cape of Reeds.” The region was inhabited by the Ace and Jega Indian tribes of cannibals, who aggressively met “pale-faced” foreigners, so colonizers avoided these places.

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The first settlement of Europeans appeared at Cape Canaveral in 1564, when the French sailing ship Trinité was wrecked on the reefs. The ship’s crew, led by Jean Ribault, built Fort Caroline out of the wreckage, but the Spanish soon attacked the fortifications of dangerous rivals and destroyed the entire garrison. Battles for possession of Florida between France, Spain, and England continued into the eighteenth century, but the War of American Independence resulted in the peninsula becoming part of the United States of America.

In the 19th century, Cape Canaveral was a sparsely populated place. In those days, graduates of Harvard University established a rifle club here. This event wouldn’t be worth mentioning if it weren’t due to an amazing coincidence or even prophecy.

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In 1865, Jules Verne’s sci-fi novel From the Earth to the Moon was published in France, describing how members of a shooting club in Florida decided to create a colossal cannon, the Columbiade, capable of sending a projectile with three passengers to the moon. In a review of the book, the London edition of The Pall Mall Gazette called this projectile a Space ship for the first time in history.

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Exactly 100 years later, the great sci-fi writer’s foresight came true: in the 1960s, the first spacecraft launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral entered Earth orbit, and in July 1968, the Apollo spacecraft with three astronauts flew to the Moon and the first man set foot on the surface of the Earth’s satellite. A little later, space shuttles were created in the United States, one of which was named Columbia.”

Back in the late 1940s, Cape Canaveral was chosen by military engineers as a test site for ballistic missiles. The best direction of takeoff in the equatorial zone – east, in this case, the rotation of the planet helps missiles to overcome the Earth’s gravity. In addition, it is desirable that the trajectory of the launch vehicles passed over uninhabited areas – to avoid casualties in case of possible accidents. And east of Cape Canaveral just to the east of Cape Canaveral are deserted expanses of the Atlantic. During the launch of missiles, part of the coastal water area is closed to ship traffic.

The first unmanned rocket launch from Cape Canaveral was in July 1950. In the 1960s from here launched manned spacecraft projects Mercury and Gemini, put into orbit by powerful Saturn series launch vehicles.

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Curiously, in 1999, subscriber telephones in the Cape Canaveral region were assigned a special international code of 321, the last digits in the spacecraft launch countdown.

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In the early 1950s, construction began on a large commercial and passenger ocean port at Cape Canaveral. Today it is known as one of the world’s busiest cruise harbors. The port serves more than 4 million tourists each year.

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Geography

Scattered off the east coast of the Florida peninsula, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, are many sandbanks, rocky reefs, and long barrier islands. One of these, Merritt Island, which is roughly in the middle of Florida’s eastern coastline, is home to Cape Canaveral. This region is part of Brevard County, Florida.

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The island is separated from the mainland on the west by the Indian River, which forms a narrow lagoon with brackish water, and on the east by the Banana River, its channel also turned into a long lagoon. Merritt Island is connected to the Florida peninsula by man-made causeways and bridges.

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The coastline of the Merritt Island barrier island is 39 kilometers of beaches, mangroves, and lagoons. Much of its territory is preserved in pristine condition and has been declared a biosphere reserve. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Park covers an area of 567 km². It is home to manatees, crocodiles, sea turtles, and up to 500 species of animals among the estuaries, marshes, and dunes covered with subtropical plants. North of the resort town of New Smyrna Beach is the Canaveral National Seashore, which stretches to the cordons of the Kennedy Space Center.

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The coral reefs and sandbanks off Cape Canaveral are subject to strong currents and whirlpools formed by the powerful Gulf Stream flowing from south to north 30 kilometers off the coast. Many ships headed for shore have crashed here. There are several safe passages and they are marked by the lights of lighthouses.

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Climate and weather

Cape Canaveral is located in a humid subtropical climate belt. The proximity of the warm Gulf Stream ocean current eliminates the cold season in the region. Tropical showers with thunderstorms are common in the summer. The rainiest period is in September, and the driest month is April. From the middle of spring till October the air temperature fluctuates within +32 … +35 °С. Even in January the air above Cape Canaveral warms up to +22…+26 °С.

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Coastal waters of the Atlantic near the beaches of Cocoa Beach, which is 7 kilometers south of the Cape, are comfortable for swimming all year round. In summer, the ocean water temperature reaches +27…+30 ° C, in winter the water is cooler, up to +18…+22 ° C.

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Interesting places

At the tip of Cape Canaveral rises a 46-meter lighthouse, the first of those built here. The structure was erected in 1848, and in the late 19th century it was moved 1.5 kilometers from the surf line, which threatened to collapse the building. Now the lighthouse is located on the territory of the military base of the U.S. Space Forces. Tourists wishing to tour the historic landmark, as well as visit the space rocket and satellite museum located on the base, must apply for and pass a security check.

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At the northern tip of the barrier island is the J. Kennedy Space Center. A museum complex dedicated to near-Earth space exploration is open there. The exhibit is available for visits from 09:00 to 17:00.

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Interestingly, almost the entire territory of the Space Center is a protected park with swampy jungles, pristine lagoons. Launch pads and other engineering structures are placed far away from each other, and occupy less than 10% of the territory.

The Space Center’s Visitor Center is a protected park with wetlands and pristine lagoons.

The Visitor Center organizes bus tours of the cosmodrome for $75 per person. There is a special location for observing NASA spacecraft launches.

The launches are also clearly visible from the coastal beaches accessible to the public. At the southern end of the coast stretches Playalinda Beach, where 13 extensive parking lots are arranged. Americans come here to watch space rockets take off, swim and sunbathe. Parking for a car is $20 a day, for a motorcycle or ATV $15. Pedestrians and bicyclists are charged a $10 fee.

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On the opposite, north side of the coast is Apollo Beach, and there is also parking and a visitor center. From here you can see rockets taking off from other launch pads at the huge spaceport. To the south, beyond a strip of coastal swampy jungle, is the wild, sandy Klondike Beach. The only way to get there along the trails is by foot, bicycle, or horseback.

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Cruises along Cape Canaveral

Luxury liners from Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean International cruise companies sail out of Port Canaveral into the ocean. In recent years, Oasis-class liners have been added to the fleet. In March 2022, the world’s largest cruise megaliner Wonder of the Seas with a length of 362 meters and displacement of 272,470 tons, which is comparable to the dimensions of a combat aircraft carrier, departed from the port at Cape Canaveral on its maiden voyage. On 18 decks of the colossal ship there are cabins for 6988 passengers and 2300 crew members. The ship has 20 restaurants, 4 swimming pools, a theater, a children’s water park, an ice skating rink. There is even a botanical garden with about 10,000 plants pleasing to the eye.

The routes and duration of ocean voyages are varied – from 3-day voyages to the nearest Bahamas or Bermuda to 9-day voyages to the Caribbean archipelagos. Cruises cost from $194, with shore excursions charged separately.

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In the state of Florida, gambling is outlawed, but the ban does not extend to the seas. The four-deck liner Victory is based in Port Canaveral. On board the ship is equipped with casino halls, installed 600 slot machines. There are 2 restaurants and 5 bars for players. Floating casino twice a day goes to the open sea, performing day and evening mini-cruises lasting 6 hours. A ticket on the Victory costs from $20.

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Entertainment

The ocean surf and bottom topography off the coast of Cape Canaveral create great surfing conditions year-round. Thousands of wave riding enthusiasts come to the coast. The beach of Cocoa Beach, known as the surfing capital of the Space Coast, is well equipped. By the way, 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater was born here. The city has a famous surf school, stores and sports equipment rentals. Beach bars and taverns are open along the long coastline. Surfing festivals are organized in Cocoa Beach, the most spectacular of the festivals is held on Christmas Eve.

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Cape Canaveral marinas offer 6-hour fishing tours in the lagoons and offshore. Deep sea fishing for large tuna is especially interesting. Renting an ocean-going motor yacht with a skipper costs from $1150. All necessary gear, as well as a fishing license in Florida provides the owner of the vessel.

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In the sky above Cape Canaveral you can see a passenger airplane performing “dead loops”. It is a specially equipped Boeing 727-200, capable of writing out parabolic trajectories in the air. At the moments of dive, zero gravity occurs on board and the effect of weightlessness is created. The airplane is designed for training astronauts, but on certain days the board receives and inquisitive tourists who want to experience unique sensations.

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At the Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy Space Center to book a ticket for such a tourist flight, The Zero-G Experience. The flight lasts 5 hours, during which time the airplane performs 15 parabolas. During unforgettable minutes passengers, dressed in blue NASA uniforms, float in the cabin of the airliner, as if in a spaceship. The cost of the adventure is $9070 per person. Each participant receives a keepsake of their flight suit, photos taken in flight, and a disk with video.

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Shopping

Athletes and resort-goers who are serious about surfing are regulars at the iconic Trader Rick’s Marketplace, which sells the latest wave gliding boards and accessories from top manufacturers. The store is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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Everything beachgoers need can be found at the Tropical Threads boutique. It offers protective cosmetics, lightweight clothing and shoes suitable for hot climates, umbrellas, air mattresses, masks and fins for snorkeling. There are departments of toys and souvenirs. Opening hours: 09:00-17:00, on weekends the doors close an hour later. Another pavilion with a beach assortment is right at the entrance to the pier.

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The Zero Gravity attraction’s virtual store sells models of a Boeing 727-200 airplane ($175), caps and T-shirts with the Zero G logo, space symbols ($25-55).

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In coastal towns there are seafood markets of the Wild Ocean chain. On the counters, studded with ice, exhibited fresh catch of local fishermen. You can also order shrimp, delicious fish or oysters for a specific date. Fish restaurants are open in the markets.

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Cafes and restaurants

The Cape Canaveral area is home to dozens of restaurants and cafes, beach bars and eateries. For example, the Cocoa Beach Pier is home to Pier 62 Restaurant. It is open from 11:00 to 22:00, Monday is a day off. The restaurant serves seafood dishes, grilled meats, fried chicken, vegetable salads, cheese plates, and desserts. The price range is $7.95-$27 for a generous portion.

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At the farthest end of the pier, Rikki Tiki Tavern awaits guests. The outdoor area under a canopy of palm fronds offers a magnificent view of the ocean expanse. From here fans watch the surfers during the competitions. The doors are open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Bars and eateries along the coast offer burgers and sandwiches ($19-$25), tropical fruit juice or something stronger. The owner of the Ocean Freeze daiquiri bar is famous for inventing a Frozen yard ice cocktail with limitless combinations of ingredients ($14-$16).

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Where to stay

The closest beach hotels to Cape Canaveral are located to the south, in the resort towns of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. There are many hotels from well-known international chains, among them the Courtyard by Marriott Cape Canaveral. The range of prices for accommodation is 206-312 $ per night. In the same price category offer rooms hotels Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront (208-340 $), Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach (195-301 $).

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Oceanfront villa with 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen and garden with pool will cost $445 per night, for a night in a beach bungalow with 2 bedrooms ask from $265. Accommodation in condominiums and guest houses – from 255 $.

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Cheaper rooms are offered by La Quinta Inn Cocoa Beach ($115-197), Motel 6 Cocoa Beach ($85-141).

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Transportation

The SR-3 freeway runs along Merritt Island from south to north to the Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy Space Center. The highway is crossed from west to east by FL-528 from Orlando, which runs along a causeway across the lagoon to the towns of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. There is a toll on FL-528: $2 per car.

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On the Space Coast, passengers are served by buses of the budget transportation company Space Coast Area Transit. There are 23 commuter routes, with a fare of $1.50. The buses run between resort communities, beaches, and attractions. The outer trunk of the buses are arranged to carry bicycles, wheelchairs. Surfboards are allowed to be transported in the cabin. Any point along the coast can be reached by cab.

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Among tourists to the beaches of Cape Canaveral, bicycles are popular. Good models for riding on the beach sand can be rented, for example, in the store Trader Rick’s, it is located on the waterfront in Cocoa Beach. Rentals are $25 for a full day, including a plastic helmet and flex lock.

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How to get there

Port Canaveral is conveniently accessible via Orlando International Airport. In the arrivals area of Terminal A, you can check in at the counter of Go Port, a transportation company specializing in cruise port transfers. An attendant will escort travelers to the soon-to-be-departing bus. The fare is $29.99. The shuttle covers a distance of 72 kilometers in 50 minutes.

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A cab ride from the airport to Port Canaveral will cost $68.34.

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It is possible to rent a car at Orlando Airport, but prices here are noticeably higher than in many regions of the US. A standard 5-seater car costs from $147 per day, an SUV from $162, and a minivan from $275.

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