If you suddenly crave a few hours on the water, want something different to do, or search for an activity to entertain out-of-town guests, the Space Coast has a lot of options. 

Kayaking

Get down to almost water level and join one of Brevard’s kayak tours. You don’t have to be a thrill-seeker to settle into a two-person kayak.

Everyone with a television set has probably seen a commercial for Brevard Zoo’s Treetop Trek. But did you know that the zoo also offers kayak tours? It’s the only zoo in the U.S. that has guided kayak tours that envelop animal exhibits. 

Another option for getting up close and nearly personal with the water is to try a Cocoa Beach Kayak tour. This definitely would be a more serene paddle than at the zoo, but of course you won’t see giraffes! 

Cocoa Beach Kayak Tours will take you out into the Indian River Lagoon, the most biodiverse estuary in North America. Your tour winds through the Thousand Islands and navigates narrow canals. Chances are you or your guide will spot Florida manatees, bottlenose dolphins and dozens of birds. 

Dolphin swimming along kayakers

Airboats

For a little more adventure on the water, zoom through the marshes and swamps on an airboat ride.

Head over to Airboat Rides of Melbourne or Twister Airboat Rides and discover parts of the Space Coast that just cannot be seen unless you’re on an airboat. Cruise through the headwaters of the St. Johns River while your captain shares his knowledge about the area’s alligators, migratory birds and local flora. 

River Tours

If something a little tamer is appealing, try one of Brevard’s old-fashioned river tours.

Good Natured River Tours next to Grills on US 1, or Dolfun Tours near the Eau Gallie Causeway are great options for those seeking a gentle day on the water.

You’ll cruise aboard a covered pontoon or tour boat as your guide heads over to Merritt Island’s Dragon Point and its million-dollar mansions. Slowly travel along the Indian and Banana River lagoons in search of dolphins, manatees and an assortment of wildlife.

The next time you long to be at sea but an ocean cruise is out of the question, the Space Coast has enough water activities to satisfy any bored landlubber. ◆