Make friends with a manatee
The only zoo in the U.S. where you can kayak around animal exhibits, Melbourne’s Brevard Zoo offers a one-of-a-kind paddling adventure at the bargain price of just $6 per person (ages 5 and up; zoo admission is additional). Beyond the attraction gates, adventurers ages 8 and up can experience yet another memorable journey: the opportunity to view manatees and other endangered creatures on a naturalist-guided Outdoor Adventure Tour.
On kayak excursions to Manatee Cove on Merritt Island and the Sebastian River in Sebastian, Indian River County, you’ll stand a good chance of sighting manatees, bottlenose dolphin, sea turtles and a variety of birds. Call 321-254-9453, ext. 219 for reservations and a current schedule of tours.
Alternatively, you can see manatees as you paddle your way around the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with A Day Away Kayak Tours, or explore the Indian River Lagoon with Calypso Kayaking. Both outfitters offer traditional as well as bioluminescent nighttime kayak tours.
Tandem Jump at the Sky Dive Space Center. Credit SkyDive Space Center.
Jump from the sky
What’s even better than dropping 15,000 to 18,000 feet from the sky? Taking the leap with an experienced jumpmaster, while soaring over the nation’s birthplace of space exploration.
At Skydive Space Center, home of the world’s highest tandem jump, your adrenaline will soar when you freefall at a pulsating speed of 120 mph. Tandem jumps feature views of the Atlantic Ocean, along with the launch pads, landing strip and the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building at nearby Kennedy Space Center. Thrill-seekers experience 70 to 90 seconds of freefall, combined with a four to seven minute parachute ride. Choose either the 15,000 foot (Florida’s highest) tandem jump, appropriate for first-timers, or else the 18,000 foot (World’s highest) tandem jump. Still photos are complimentary and video packages are available.
