Page 54 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA
ATTRACTIONS
Fort Pierce’s Downtown Farmers’ Market is a big draw on Saturday mornings from 8 AM to noon, rain or shine, with local foods, crafts and artwork for sale.
Nature Lovers can choose from two botanical gardens in St. Lucie County. Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce showcases the country’s largest public display of tropical bonsai trees while the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens features a variety of tropical habitats.
For family activities in Melbourne, visit the Brevard Zoo or Andretti Thrill Park. The zoo houses giraffes, lorikeets, rhinos and monkeys. The Andretti Thrill Park includes batting cages, amusement rides, a large arcade and indoor laser tag. Best of all, there are several go-cart tracks, one of which is restricted to fans at least 16 years of age who wish to travel 40 miles per hour on a European-style course.
One of Florida’s most famous attractions is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Discover what it means to be a hero through the stories of NASA’s Space Pioneers at Heroes and Legends, featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Get a close- up view of Atlantis, the only space shuttle displayed in flight. The Chat With An Astronaut experience allows guests to sit down for breakfast or lunch with an astronaut for a group conversation about life and work in space. Be sure to check the center’s website for rocket launches.
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest, is located in the town of Ponce Inlet,
slightly south of Daytona Beach. It’s a great place to watch the sun set or catch a moonrise.
Feel the need for speed? Whether you are a devoted NASCAR fan or have no idea what all of the hype is about, the self-proclaimed “World Center of Racing,” the Daytona International Speedway, will blow you away. This is a state-of-the-art facility with premium amenities and unparalleled conveniences including luxury trackside suites with patios and more than 7,000 solar panels. There are tons of things to see and do. Book a tour. NASCAR fans should sign up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience— drive on the track or be a passenger for laps with a professional driver. The Daytona International Speedway attracts millions of visitors annually.
Looking for quirky hidden gems in the Daytona Beach area? Visit Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens where dinosaur statues left over from a 1940s tourist attraction can be found. Or how about the wonderful, family- friendly, Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet where you can touch stingrays, observe the sea turtle hospital and learn about Florida’s marine environment. The Daytona Lagoon and Family Entertainment Center, steps from the beach, includes a water park as well as laser tag, go-carts, miniature golf, rock climbing and an arcade—making this a favorite family draw.
In De Leon Springs State Park, you can make your own pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill, take an eco/heritage boat tour, hike nature trails and swim in the springs.
DAYTONA BEACH GOLF LPGA INTERNATIONAL • DAYTONA BEACH AREA CVB
JANUARY
NASA Day of Remembrance, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival Port Salerno Seafood Festival ROLEX 24 at DAYTONA
FEBRUARY
Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts DAYTONA 500
Downtown Stuart Art Festival
Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest, Vero Beach Merritt Island Pioneer Day
Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, Titusville
FEBRUARY–MARCH
New York Mets Spring Training Games, Port St. Lucie
MARCH
Bike Week Motorcycle Rally, Daytona Beach Grant Seafood Festival
Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival Pelican Island Wildlife Festival, Sebastian Under the Oaks Art Show, Vero Beach
APRIL
Fort Pierce Oyster Festival Ormond Beach Celtic Festival
MAY
New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival
JUNE
Vero Beach Film Festival
AUGUST
Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona Beach
SEPTEMBER
Space Coast Pride Festival, Melbourne
OCTOBER
Biketoberfest Motorcycle Rally, Daytona Beach DeLand Original Music Festival
Indiantown Rodeo
NOVEMBER
Downtown Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Halifax Art Festival, Daytona Beach
Jensen Beach Pineapple Art & Music Festival Navy SEAL Museum Muster and Music Festival,
Fort Pierce
Sebastian Clambake
Stuart Air Show
Turkey Creek 5K Trail Run, Palm Bay
DECEMBER
Festival of the Trees, Vero Beach
St. Johns River Christmas Boat Parade, DeLand Stuart Christmas Boat Parade
Surfing Santas, Cocoa Beach
Top of the Lake Christmas Festival,
Okeechobee
52 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA
ANNUAL EVENTS