Page 66 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA

ATTRACTIONS renovations to the Speedway transformed it a 1940s tourist attraction can be found. Or how
Fort Pierce’s Downtown Farmers’ Market is a into a state-of-the-art facility with premium about the wonderful, family-friendly, very
big draw on Saturday mornings from 8 AM to amenities and unparalleled conveniences affordable Marine Science Center in Ponce
noon, rain or shine, with local foods, crafts including luxury trackside suites with patios Inlet where you can touch stingrays, observe
and artwork for sale. Live music is also and more than 7,000 solar panels, making it the sea turtle hospital and learn about
featured. Come and see why this farmers’ one of the top five largest solar installations at Florida’s marine environment. New last
market consistently ranks among the top a professional sports venue in the country. season, the Daytona Lagoon and Family
five in America. There are tons of things to see and do. Book a Entertainment Center, steps from the beach,
Nature Lovers can choose from two 30-minute, 90-minute or a three hour VIP completed upgrades to the property which
botanical gardens in St. Lucie County. tour. NASCAR fans should sign up for the includes two new water slides, a 54-foot-high
Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce Richard Petty Driving Experience, where they 4-lane mat racer slide and a new inner tube
showcases the country’s largest public can drive on the track or be a passenger for experience that shoots riders backwards over
display of tropical bonsai trees while the laps with a professional driver. The Daytona a 50-foot drop. Complementing the regular
Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens feature International Speedway attracts millions of features, this is a favorite family draw.
myriad tropical habitats. visitors annually. And in De Leon Springs State Park, you can
For family fun-filled activities in Looking for quirky hidden gems in the make your own pancakes at the Old Spanish
Melbourne, visit the Brevard Zoo or Andretti Daytona Beach area? Visit Sugar Mill Botanical Sugar Mill, take an eco/heritage boat tour,
Thrill Park. The zoo houses monkeys, Gardens where dinosaur statues left over from hike nature trails and swim in the springs.
jaguars, kangaroos, meerkats and a Komodo
dragon, plus you can kayak through 22 acres
of wetlands. The Andretti Thrill Park ANNUAL EVENTS
includes batting cages, kiddie amusement
rides, paddleboats, a large arcade and indoor
JANUARY JUNE
laser tag. Best of all, there are several go-cart
Frog Leg Festival, Fellsmere Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival
tracks, one of which is restricted to fans with
Port Salerno Annual Seafood Festival
a valid driver’s license who wish to travel 40 ROLEX 24 at DAYTONA AUGUST
miles per hour on a European-style course. Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, Coke Zero 400, Daytona Beach
One of Florida’s most famous attractions is Titusville Dancin’ in the Streets, Stuart
the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
FEBRUARY SEPTEMBER
Discover what it means to be a hero through
Annual Festival of the Arts, Hobe Sound New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival
the stories of NASA’s Space Pioneers at Heroes DAYTONA 500 Rivertown Craft Fair, DeLand
and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall Downtown Festival of the Arts, Stuart Space Coast Pride Festival, Melbourne
of Fame. Get a close-up view of Atlantis, the Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest, Vero Beach
Merritt Island Pioneer Day OCTOBER
only space shuttle displayed in flight, with
NASA Day of Remembrance, Biketoberfest Motorcycle Rally, Daytona Beach
more than 60 interactive exhibits. Launched Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Dark Sky Festival, Jasper
late last year, the newest exclusive activity is Indiantown Rodeo
the Fly with an Astronaut Experience. FEBRUARY–MARCH Volusia Pride, New Smyrna Beach
New York Mets Spring Training Games,
Accompanied by a retired NASA astronaut,
Port St. Lucie NOVEMBER
take a guided tour of Kennedy Space Center,
DeLand Original Music Festival
eat a catered lunch, tour Space Shuttle MARCH Downtown Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Atlantis and then step aboard the Shuttle Bike Week Motorcycle Rally, Daytona Beach Festival of the Trees, Vero Beach
Launch Experience to find out what it feels DeLand Outdoor Art Festival Halifax Art Festival, Daytona Beach
Grant Seafood Festival Jensen Beach Pineapple Art & Music Festival
like to blast-off into space. Be sure to check
Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival Navy SEAL Museum Muster and Music Festival,
the center’s website for rocket launches.
Pelican Island Wildlife Festival, Sebastian Fort Pierce
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest, Under the Oaks Art Show, Vero Beach Sebastian Clambake
is located in the town of Ponce Inlet, slightly Stuart Air Show
APRIL Turkey Creek 5K Trail Run, Palm Bay
south of Daytona Beach. It’s a great place to
Cocoa Beach Uncorked
watch the sun set or catch a moonrise.
Fort Pierce Oyster Festival DECEMBER
Feel the need for speed? Whether you are a Ormond Beach Celtic Festival St. Johns River Christmas Boat Parade, DeLand
devoted NASCAR fan or have no idea what all Stuart Christmas Boat Parade
of the hype is about, the world’s first and only MAY Surfing Santas, Cocoa Beach
Stuart Sailfish Regatta Top of the Lake Christmas Festival, Okeechobee
motorsports stadium, the Daytona Interna-
tional Speedway, will blow you away. Recent

64 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA