mayfieldlodge Posted January 16, 2012 #1 Share Posted January 16, 2012 We will be cruising in to Port Canaveral for the day in April and wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a day trip? we have considered paying the cruise for transfers to the theme parks in Orlando put may not be value for money given the amount of time available 0700-2100. Not really interested in the space centre either. Can anyone suggest any alternatives for a family of 3 43, 40 and age 16!!. Any info would be appreceiated thanks:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted January 16, 2012 #2 Share Posted January 16, 2012 (edited) http://www.treetoptrek.com/ http://finexpeditions.com/ Edited January 16, 2012 by Capt_BJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohninDC Posted January 16, 2012 #3 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Check the member reviews of the Carnival Pride and other hsips that stop in PC for ideas and suggestions. There's always the beach! Good luck! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisteria1019 Posted January 16, 2012 #4 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Browsing Ron Jon's Surf Shop = you can even rent surf boards there. Brevard Zoo, renting a car and driving through some of the small coastal towns on AIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolittle Posted January 17, 2012 #5 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Depending on the type of people there is a National park called'' Canaveral National seashore'' it is close but also out of the way ,it is the largest stretch of undeveloped beach in Fla. Also has ten of thousands of acers of wetlands and wildlife. Most tourists never find it is Floridas best beach(I.M.H.O.) If you look at any map of Florida you will see it look at port canaveral and look north along the ocean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Vic Posted January 17, 2012 #6 Share Posted January 17, 2012 1. Brevard Zoo 2. A 2-hour boat ride on the Indian River Lagoon with Island Boat Lines http://www.islandboatlines.com/Home_Page.php 3. An airboat ride at Lone Cabbage Fish Camp http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/ Of course, you'll need a rental car for any of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxdude5 Posted October 31, 2016 #7 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Depending on the type of people there is a National park called'' Canaveral National seashore'' it is close but also out of the way ,it is the largest stretch of undeveloped beach in Fla. Also has ten of thousands of acers of wetlands and wildlife. Most tourists never find it is Floridas best beach(I.M.H.O.) If you look at any map of Florida you will see it look at port canaveral and look north along the ocean. I know this is an old thread, but I am curious about Canaveral National Seashore. We are looking for an inexpensive day trip in November with a group of 10 aged 8-65. Would love to hear more about your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhdhd Posted November 1, 2016 #8 Share Posted November 1, 2016 CNS is a nice, unspoiled beach, but there are no services (food, drinks, chair rentals, etc.). And the north end is known as a nudist area--just in case that is or isn't your bag. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxdude5 Posted November 1, 2016 #9 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thank you for your reply! We might just do Jetty Park since it is closer and has more amenities--which is more appealing for the kids and teens in the group. Thank you for the info--very helpful, especially about the nude beach part. Could have been quite a moment for the teens in our group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Oviedo32765 Posted November 1, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 1, 2016 There are two parts to Canaveral National Seashore - Apollo Beach and Playalind Beach. See map Apollo Beach is an hour further North by car than Playalinda. Both beaches do not have any services or lifeguards as mentioned by hrhdhd. The photos below are Apollo Beach, but Playalinda isn't much different, except there are usually more people at Playalinda. I would recommend that if you go, stop by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Information Center. It is on the way to Playalind Beach. There are Park Volunteers that will tell you what's happening in the refuge and where to see it. The have great maps to guide you. Ask them about: $10 Interagency Senior Pass (lifetime pass) Black Point Wildlife Drive Scrub Ridge Bio Lab Road Manatee Observation Deck Another good day trip would be to the Viera Wetlands (aka Rich Grissom Wetlands) just 30 minutes South of Port Canaveral on North Wickham Road. The great part about these wetlands besides free admission is that you can drive thru them. Here's a link to what you might see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxdude5 Posted November 1, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Stunning photos. Thanks for all of the information. This is so helpful, not just for this trip, but for future trips too! Thanks for taking the time to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted November 1, 2016 #12 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) I HOPE you used search and found the much more current and COMPLETE replies to this same question ..... this is not mine but something I saved: We think there is a lot to do near the Port - even Disneyworld and other theme parks are just an easy hour away by road! Please look at this map of Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach for orientation: {dead link, but find the area on Google Earth and you are good to go} Step 1: What is your cruise terminal? If 5, 6, or 10 then you need transport. Either a rental car shuttle or a pre-arranged ride. Cocoa Beach Shuttle is a good starting point for pre-arranged pickups. 888-taxi is available and despite some bad press about prices they are popular and efficient. If 1, 3 or 4 then you have some activities within walking distance: {most visiting ships end up at T-3 which is on the south or B side of the port, near Jetty Park} 1. Jetty Park (FREE) for a beach/suntan. Very scenic area and very nice beach.http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/ 2. Beach bus stop – For $1.25 one-way, the local beach bus will take you to Cocoa Beach (Shepard Park for Ron Jon area) or within walking distance of the famous Cocoa Beach Pier (use Publix Stop). About 30 minutes to these stops.http://www.ridescat.com/ 3. The Cove at the Port – All the famous restaurants (Millikens, Rusty’s, Fishlips, Grills) http://visitportcanaveral.com/ 4. The Exploration Tower – A bit expensive ($6.50+tax) but interesting info about the port with games for kids and 360 degree view from the 7th floor. http://www.explorationtower.com/ 5. Helicopter and biplane rides - http://www.floridaairtours.com/ the chopper is right there behind terminal 2. (now near the 'tower') Step 2: So you want to explore further afield in private and not using a shore excursion? Rental Cars: Unless you just want a simple single visit somewhere in Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach, I think the best option is to rent a car for the day. Start price-shopping with Payless (within walking distance of terminals 3 & 4) but all offer port shuttles. To avoid boring waiting time with kids in tow, I suggest that one adult go early to get the car then come back to pick the family! Please know some of the popular rental car companies share shuttles and offices. See the map above for locations and pictures of their shuttles for easier identification. Shuttles: If you do not want to drive or use the public beach bus, then shuttle/taxi services are available. 888-taxi -http://cab888.com/ has a port contract with hail privileges whereas others have to pay port entry fees ($5 or more depending on vehicle size, I believe) which add to the costs. So while other companies may offer cheaper per mile or metered rates, it is best to compare them with 888-taxi before booking. They will all be busy so it is best if you call ahead. Here is a list of the shuttles I see most often in the area: Cocoa Beach Shuttle - http://www.cbshuttle.com, Beach Line -http://www.beachlineshuttle.net, Space Port - http://spaceporttransport.com/ , Hoo Ha taxi – (321) 749 3232, etc. Expect to pay around $20 for two people for a one-way trip to Ron Jon Surf shop for example. Kennedy Space Center: One of the most popular shore excursions. I always see a line of KSC buses waiting on each ship! So you can expect a crowded day at KSC. There are ways to manage your day in order to avoid lines at the top attractions – I am planning to write it up in a separate note. A private return shuttle to Kennedy Space Center averages between $80 and $120 roundtrip for 2 people (total) plus 20% tip. If you self-drive, the parking costs are $10. Beach: During winter months and if Port Canaveral is the first stop when sailing from NY for example, the beach is what a lot of people want! I totally understand and highly recommend to walk over to Jetty Park. The beach there is wide with some wave action and life guards are on duty. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and some beach toys (beach chair/umbrella rentals for 2 people are about $15 a day). The beach café is pretty good too! http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/ If you want to go to the beach near restaurants/bars, try the Cocoa Beach Pier area - http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/ or further down near Coconuts on the Beach. Cruise ship shore excursions go to Shepard beach (near Ron Jon) so do not go there if you want to avoid your fellow passengers! The SCAT public transport is cheap and easy (30 minutes) down to the Pier and Ron Jon areas. There are several areas (and companies) for learning how to surf, paddleboard, etc. I know the kids love the surfing lessons so please consider that but do be aware the water is cold in winter and I recommend you use a surf school that supply wetsuits. Activities (Orlando area): I understand the attraction but it is tough for me to recommend a whirlwind bus or private tour of any of the Orlando theme parks. It is almost impossible to experience the parks in a long day, so a half-day trip is pretty intense! Ride lines will be long, it may be very hot, the transfers take at least an hour each way and it is very expensive for what you can achieve on such a rushed excursion. It may be best to rent a car and visit just Downtown Disney {now Disney Springs} (a free Disney-like experience but be aware it is mostly restaurants and shops) and perhaps a lesser-known place like Gatorland. Activities (other than Orlando and Kennedy Space Center): The best activities around Port Canaveral are beach or nature-based but there are very good museums too. Manatees, gators, airboats, learn to surf, kayak, hike, etc. are on offer. Airboats are a lot of noisy fun! Pre-arrangements/bookings are crucial. Disclaimer - I do not endorse any of the companies/establishments listed and I have no relationship (personal or business) with them. My list is just a starting point of different activities so please do your own research! a) Sunward Tours - http://www.sunwardtours.com They can arrange just about any activity b) FunDay Tours - https://www.facebook.com/funday.tours Work primarily with pre-formed groups such as shore trips but check them out anyway c) Segway Tours - http://spacecoastsegwaytours.com/ will guide you around the port d) Airboat rides – There are several but most shore excursions go to Midway - http://www.airboatridesatmidway.com/ or Lone Cabbage - http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/ . To get away from the crowds, try Grasshopper -http://www.airboatecotours.com/ , Old Fashioned Airboat Rides - http://airboatrides.com or Switchgrass -http://switchgrassoutfitters.com e) Kayaking to see manatees and wildlife - Adventure Kayak - http://kayakcocoabeach.com/, Fin Expeditions -http://www.finexpeditions.com for Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands. Also Calypso - http://calypsokayaking.com at Manatee Cove not far from Kennedy Space Center. Note – from November to March the Manatees prefer warmer water in other areas and may not be seen regularly around Canaveral. f) Learn to Surf. Cocoa Beach Surf Company - http://cocoabeachsurf.com/surf_lessons_camp.html or Ron Jonhttp://www.ronjonsurfschool.com are solid representatives of the surf school companies g) Air Force Space and Missile History Center – http://www.afspacemuseum.org/historycenter/ The history of the launch areas around Canaveral. Very informative. h) Warbird Museum – http://www.vacwarbirds.net/ If you love aviation then this is the place to go. Lovingly maintained by volunteers (mostly ex-armed forces). It is an amazing museum. i) Police Hall of Fame – http://www.aphf.org/museum.html More interesting than most expect. Various exhibits of the history of major crime as well as impressive though very sad memorial. j) Astronaut Hall of Fame - https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/t...l-of-fame.aspx is part of the Kennedy Space Center experience but in a different location. k) Brevard Zoo and Treetop Trek - https://brevardzoo.org/ l) Shopping - Dinosaur Store and Museum - http://dinosaurstore.com/ and Ron Jon Surf Shop -http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/ Fun for kids old and young! m) Wildlife Parks - Jungle Adventures – http://www.jungleadventures.com - An old-time Florida animal park. Not fancy but friendly and interesting. Larger than Expected. Shore excursions often combine the Jungle and a Midway Airboat ride in the same package. n) Boat rides on the Banana River to see wildlife including manatees (not many around during Nov and Apr). Start with Island Boat Lines - http://www.islandboatlines.com/ and also Wild Side Tours http://wildsidetours.com/ o) Forever Florida - http://foreverflorida.com a really adventurous safari with swamp buggy rides, ziplines, etc! A bit far unless you have car. p) Cocoa Beach Skatepark - http://cocoabeachskatepark.com/ Certainly unusual for cruisers but a seriously fun and safe skatepark for the cool kids in your family if they packed skate boards! Open at 4pm during school days so plan accordingly so they can skate for 2 hours or so before returning to your ship. q) Brewery – Florida Beer Company - https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBeerCompany a very good tour and tasting arrangement! Close to the Port. r) Sightseeing – Some cruisers prefer more leisurely excursions and most ships offer affordable hourly hop-on, hop-off bus trips to Cocoa Beach and Cocoa Village. Passengers can explore the areas on foot and return to the ship when they want. The beach buses stop between Ron Jon Surf Shop and Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach (for a typical East Coast Florida beach and surf experience). From there they offer constant bus shuttles to the north end of Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village (for a historic downtown experience). You can easily do the same in private using a rental car or taxis/shuttles (watch the costs though). SCAT buses (Route 9 and the 520 connector) will be cheapest but will take much longer. Edited November 1, 2016 by Capt_BJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxdude5 Posted November 1, 2016 #13 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thank you. Yes, I did read this info. I jumped on this old post because of the Canaveral National Seashore info. I think we will do the helicopter ride in the morning and then Jetty Park. Since we will be at terminal 6, we will need a taxi to both places, but I can't imagine it would cost too much since both are so close, but not accessible by foot. I know the fishing pier is still closed at Jetty Park, but I contacted them directly and they said still decent fishing there and we can rent the equipment and get the free fishing license there. A relatively inexpensive day(except for those doing the helicopter ride, but not everyone in our group is doing that). Fishing, beach, hopefully some sun. Thank you again for your help. These boards are an amazing resource. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Jersey Pat Posted November 1, 2016 #14 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thanks Capt_BJ for all the good info. Do you know the cost of a taxi from the port to the Kennedy Space Center? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhdhd Posted November 1, 2016 #15 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I know the fishing pier is still closed at Jetty Park, but I contacted them directly and they said still decent fishing there and we can rent the equipment and get the free fishing license there. A relatively inexpensive day(except for those doing the helicopter ride, but not everyone in our group is doing that). Fishing, beach, hopefully some sun. Thank you again for your help. These boards are an amazing resource. May I ask what you mean by "the free fishing license"? There is no such thing that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxdude5 Posted November 2, 2016 #16 Share Posted November 2, 2016 It is a free saltwater shoreline license. It is free except for a processing fee of something like $4. This is the email I received from Jetty Park: Actually you can obtain a free license at the fish store which is located directly across from Grills restaurant. Depending upon which terminal your cruise docks in that store is within walking distance. I am seeing a lot of people fishing from the rocks and catching just as much as from the pier. Hope this answers your questions. See you soon. Happy cruising Also, see their website for doing it in advance: http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/park_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhdhd Posted November 2, 2016 #17 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Just to be clear, those are offered only for Florida residents. See the Florida Fish and Wildlife website (a better source than the people who don't regulate the licenses): http://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/shoreline-faqs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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