Melbourne Beach
There are 33 miles of beach along the Atlantic Ocean coastline in Melbourne, making for a variety of fishing, swimming and surfing opportunities. The beach is open all day, every day and most sections are open at night as well. When it comes to surfing, Spessard Holland Park in central Melbourne Beach is best at high tide, and the southern point of Melbourne Beach is the place to be at low tide.
The Melbourne Beach Pier carries strollers out onto the Indian River Lagoon, and it is open for fishing as well. The pier has been around since the late 1800s is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Ocean Avenue & Riverside Drive
Melbourne, FL
Andretti Thrill Park
The Andretti Thrill Park offers sporty fun in the sun with five go-kart tracks, miniature golf course, paddle boats, batting cages and laser tag. Thrill seekers can take on the Andretti Challenge, a go-kart run patterned after European road race courses where speeds can hit up to 40 miles per hour. The newest addition to the park is the Andretti Edge, an outdoor rock climbing wall that soars 30 feet into the sky.
Andretti's is open daily until 10 p.m. most weeknights and midnight on the weekends, but the hours can vary, so call ahead or check their website. The park has several ticket options depending on length of the visit.
Andretti Thrill Park
3960 South Babcock Street
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321) 956-6706
andrettithrillpark.com
Barrier Island Sanctuary and Trail
The Barrier Island Sanctuary and Trail is part of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and offers a variety of educational and outdoor adventures. Daily guided walking tours and a 1-mile loop for hiking are available. There is also a launch for kayaking and several fishing areas.
During the summer, the refuge shelters hundreds of newborn loggerhead sea turtles and is the biggest sea turtle nesting site in the western hemisphere. Turtle walks allow guests to observe threatened loggerheads and endangered leatherback sea turtles. Turtle activities fill up fast, so reservations are required several months in advance.
The sanctuary is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. They are closed every Monday and on major holidays.
Barrier Island Sanctuary and Trail
8385 S. Highway A1A
Melbourne, FL 32951
(321) 723-3556
barrierislandcenter.com
