Page 56 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA
Central East Florida’s premier music and arts entertainment center is the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne. This 126,000-square-foot venue hosts edu- cational, cultural and community events.
Port Canaveral is one of the most popular cruise ports in the nation. The Cove, a waterfront recreation area, has a large selection of martini and tiki bars with live entertainment. The views from the nearby Exploration Tower are stunning.
The world-class Skydive DeLand facility offers programs for all experience levels including tandem jumps where an experi- enced instructor uses a parachute system built for two and jumps with you and an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course—an instructional program for beginners hoping to become skydivers.
The DAYTONA 500 attracts the world’s best drivers to compete in the biggest NASCAR event. Dubbed the Great American Race, it’s the most important event on the annual racing calendar.
The premier Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) headquarters, also located in Daytona Beach, offers two four- star courses.
ROAD TRIPS
Step back in time at the House of Refuge Museum at Gilbert’s Bar in Stuart, offering fantastic scenery and photo opportunities. The House of Refuge is the only one remaining of the original 10 havens built for shipwrecked
INSIDER TIP Major League Baseball teams have been spring training in Florida for more than 100 years. Traditionally, spring training takes place from late February through March. The New York Mets practice and play at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. For ticket information call: 772-871-2115. For schedule information, visit: Florida Grapefruit League: floridagrapefruitleague.com
New York Mets, Port St. Lucie: milb.com/st-lucie
LAUNCH WATCH ON COCOA BEACH • FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM
sailors along the Atlantic coast of Florida. These houses played a critical role when ships dominated the trade markets of the world.
A road trip for conservationists must definitely include the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, a 20-mile stretch of untouched beach between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso. Best known for sea turtle conservation, this area is a natural nesting
habitat for loggerhead and green sea turtles. Visit Titusville to explore the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, which displays a collection of aircraft carriers and artifacts of all types from around the world, from pre-
World War I to the present.
Located in Volusia County’s Port Orange,
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens combines a history, nature and garden visit all rolled
AIRBOAT EXCURSION, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY • STOCK.ADOBE.COM/ONEINCHPUNCH
54 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA