CITY SPOTLIGHT:

Your Guide to Melbourne

dock in Melbourne

Know Before You Go: About Melbourne

You'll come home from Melbourne with a true Sunshine State experience. Find out what you need to know before your next trip.

You can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean every morning in Melbourne, Florida. While here, visit one of Florida's most exciting animal attractions, take a short drive to Kennedy Space Center or lie out on the beach, relax and do nothing at all. Whether you want to live it up with loved ones or just drift away, you'll find Melbourne to be more than accommodating.

Warm and Warmer

This is Florida we're talking about, so you know it's going to be warm. Light breezes, typically out of the east, might make it feel a little cooler, but high winds are rare. Days in the 80s and 90s are par for the course in summer, while 60s and 70s are typical during the winter months. Bring sunglasses and lots of sunscreen. An umbrella is also good to have if you visit during the summer rainy season—August and September in particular come with a pretty good chance of rain. Summer often brings high humidity as well.

Lots to See and Do

Melbourne offers a beautiful view of the Atlantic, and the beach is the main attraction for many. Hit the surf or soak up some sun at Sebastian Inlet State Park, and try your luck at the park's fishing pier while you're there. If you're in the mood to indulge your wild side, the Brevard Zoo is another great attraction, offering a much more hands-on experience than your average zoo. View the animals from a kayak as you paddle through the zoo's rich wetlands area, or try your hand at feeding the giraffes. Melbourne also provides a lot of fun spots for kids, including the Andretti Thrill Park and Galaxy Skateway. And this is the Space Coast after all, so a visit to Kennedy Space Center is just 45 minutes away.

A Thriving City

Understandably, tourism is a major part of Melbourne's economy, and a lot of local folks also work in retail, entertainment and recreation services. But there's a lot more going on in the Melbourne area, including several large employers in the areas of health care and education. The Florida Institute of Technology is just one of the major universities located here. If you arrive in Melbourne by plane, you'll probably notice the enormous business and industrial park at the airport, which serves as the base of operation for several Fortune 500 companies and high-tech industries.

Get There Quick

Whether you arrive by plane, train, bus or your own trusty car, Melbourne is easy to reach and get around in. Melbourne International Airport, less than 10 minutes from downtown, receives flights around the clock from Delta and American Airlines, among others. Dozens of bus and taxi services are available to take you from the airport to anywhere you need to go. A Greyhound station is located near the airport as well. If you prefer to drive to Melbourne, you'll find it just off I-95.

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Things to Do in Melbourne

Feed giraffes at the Brevard Zoo or try a little surf fishing at the Spessard Holland North Beach Park. And that’s just day one—discover more!