No matter if you are coming to Cape Canaveral for a cruise, or to enjoy the beach and have some relaxation. Below are 4 of our favorite places to take the kids and have some fun.

Kennedy Space Center

No matter if you are here enjoying this beautiful beach and perfect water by yourself, with your significant other, or with the whole family you will want to check out the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is an experience that you will not forget and neither will the kids.  If you have never been here before I highly suggest checking out the space center, it is worth its money.

There are tons of rockets and interactive exhibits to keep all members of the family happy and entertained. Not to mention my favorite part of the tour was checking out the Mars rovers. Also the plans to make out way to Mars and set up camp there.

There is an amazing mock control room that has a playback of the first-time man walked on the moon. It is really something to experience and will make you feel moved with emotion and excitement.  Be sure to check out the gift shop. We purchased some authentic meteorite fragments from around the world in a really nice display.

We have these on display in our living room. My wife takes them to school with her every year for her class to check out. Well worth the money for it. Be sure to check out the Kennedy Space Center if you have never been before. Or if it has been awhile since you have been. 

RV parking is available in the lot if you are not pulling a dingy. There was plenty of Class B and Class C when we visited. If you are lucky you will can even watch rockets shoot off into space. They have plenty of seating at observation decks that are far enough away that you are safe. Close enough to feel the ground shake as the rocket takes off. We have not been able to experience this yet. In two of our visits to Cape Canaveral, it seems like we are always just a week away or just a week after a launch. One day we will get to see this for ourselves, maybe even when the first astronauts are launched to Mars?

Valiant Air Command Inc Warbird Museum

Want to check out a exhibit that is both different, educational, and exciting for the family? If you answered yes, go check out this war plane museum called Valiant Air Command Inc Warbird Museum.   Kaitlin’s dad spent his younger years in the Navy. This museum has the plane he worked on in a hanger for display. So, we decided to load up the boys and headed out to check this place out.  This is a good 20-25-minute drive to the museum but it is a beautiful drive. Take the doors off the Jeep and enjoy the views.

Walking into the Valiant Air Command Inc Warbird Museum is a jump back in time! On display is a load of WWII rifles, pistols, ammunition, flight simulators, gear, and of course Warbirds from different era. We got lucky enough to come across a guide that was a well of knowledge. He was more than happy to explain everything to us. He would tell us stories tied to all the airplanes on display. Also he was fantastic with the boys that wanted to touch everything and run all over the place.

By the end of the day our guide was walking around holding the boy’s hand as they lead him all over the hangers. Asking him to explain every plane, jeep, and display.

They have a few attractions the children can get into and play around with, flipping the switches and living out their dream to fly a jet. If you swing by make sure you get with a guide, these guys know their stuff. I was asking questions for equipment on the planes and the functions and there was not a single question I asked that these guides did not have a answer for.

 We highly recommend heading out and checking this museum out. We spent a easy 2-3 hours in this museum checking out everything. I am a Jeep lover and really enjoyed seeing the early war jeeps. I enjoyed the Vietnam section and of course all the planes on display. It was really enjoyable being able to get up close and personal with the jets in the hangers.

I also LOVE the movie Top Gun! They have a fighter from the Actual Top Gun school (not the movie) on display. Many of these planes are functional and some of them are even for sale. So if you have a couple extra dollars in your pocket. Come by the Valiant Air Command Inc Warbird Museum and buy yourself a real souvenir. If you can’t pony up enough for a real plane. Just swing by the gift shop and there are plenty of more reasonable priced gifts that the kids will enjoy!

Dinosaur Store

If you are looking for an affordable experience that the entire family can enjoy. I would recommend the Dinosaur Store in Cocoa Beach Florida. It is a easy 5-10 minute drive from Jetty Park Campground. This place is very enjoyable for the kids as well as for adults. Its a must stop while visiting Cape Canaveral.

Make sure when you walk in you have a firm hold on the kid’s hands because upon entering the store. There is huge number of authentic fossils, and bones that are not cheap but are available for purchase.

I recommend getting the “option 3” plan where you can experience the dinosaur museum. The ancient cultures museum, and the activity zone for the kids. This is going to get you the best bang for the buck. I know, I know young kids in the museums sounds like a terrible time. Well I can tell you not only did my kids have a blast. I seen a ton of kids having a blast. There is a good amount of balance in here for the kids and for the parents. Plenty of fun facts to read, as well as authentic displays. They also have automated dinosaurs the kids can control as well as other interactive displays for the children.

Dinosaur store has a lot of hands on displays and touchable fossils, touchable rocks, etc. This made the entire experience very enjoyable for the entire family. When you are finished with the museum head on to the main level. Let the kids have a blast in the activity zone. This area is a entire room full of arcade games that are free to play (after purchasing the ticket to get into the activity zone). They have a lot of fun games including basketball, skeet ball, air hickey, Nascar driver, just to name a few.

Once you are in the arcade there is a small back room the kids have to go and experience that is full of live animals. They have a ton of snakes, frogs, and even live alligators. We spent hours in the activity zone. We had to pry the kids out of it so we could get some food.  On your way out of the store, make sure you purchase a fossilized dinosaur poop for the road. The kids will love it!!!!

Ron Jon Surf Shop and Beach Wave Beachwear

If you have been reading about our trip to Cape Canaveral Florida you know we experienced quite a bit of red flag days. Great ocean activity for some boogie boards, surfing, or if you are like my wife you would prefer to sit on the sand and just listen to the waves crash.

If you are on the more adventurous side, I suggest going down to Cocoa Beach and checking out Ron Jon Surf Shop. Ron Jon is a superb shop featuring everything beach you will need. Sunglasses, sun shirts, shorts, bikini, surf boards, sun screen, boogie boards, if you can think of it they will have it.

I do need to mention though that everything in here is expensive. That is because it is all built with high quality materials and is name brand. BUT if you can afford it and are willing to spend the money. This is the place to get the best of the best.

My sons found plenty of stuff they just could not live without. Me being the mean ole daddy I am, I would not let them buy the boogie boards they wanted. I also could not find any board shorts that would fit me, I am a fluffy kind of guy. I wear 42 in pant size and nothing in Ron Jon Surf Shop would fit my sexy figure.

So, what we ended up doing was going to a Beach Wave Beachwear store located up the road. We found everything we needed. Some nice board shorts for me and some boogie boards for the boys that was at a price where I did not care if they destroyed them in 5 minutes like they do most things.

Let me tell you those boogie boards are worth every penny. The boys loved them and on the red flag days. Killian really enjoyed riding the waves as well as staying on top of the water instead of fighting the waves. Jameson on the other had enjoyed running around on the beach with the board attached to his wrist dragging it around like a wagon. Perfect beach toy for the boys.

Make sure you check out our other post about Cape Canaveral. We have some recommendations on fantastic food right out of the ocean. We also have a post about a perfect campsite located on the beach! Cape Canaveral is my personal favorite place in Florida. I think you will enjoy it as well.

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