Day 40 The Ultimate USA Road Trip Ocala Cocoa Beach
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RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 17-12-2022
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from Ocala to Cocoa Beach on the coast. We drive around Orlando, but you can also choose to visit Orlando and one of its theme parks.
This part consists of two days, the first is a relaxed ride of over 370 km through beautiful Florida with a number of interesting stops. On the second day we visit the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, these attractions together cover a full day if you really want to see everything. I rate this route with 5 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
11h 34m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
370.55 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review We drive south to the town of Iverness to visit the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. The museum is housed in the Historic Citrus County Courthouse, which was built in 1912. Over the years, the building's fame and majesty declined. But because of its unique architectural features, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 and began an 8-year restoration process. In 2000 it opened as a museum with books, stories, photographs, oral history narrations and artifacts from the county's history.
We continue to Bushnell for lunch before continuing to nearby Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, established in 1921 to preserve and commemorate the site of Dade's Battle of 1835, a momentous event that spawned the longest and most expensive American Indian War in American History.
Each January, approximately 2,000 visitors attend the park's iconic battle reconstruction, and families from far and wide enjoy the beautiful grounds, lodges, and outdoor pavilions to celebrate weddings, reunions, and other occasions. Picnicking, hiking and nature photography are favorite pastimes in this park. History comes alive as you walk through the park. Visit the Visitor Center, which contains a small museum with artifacts and exhibits related to Florida's Seminole Wars, as well as an award-winning 12-minute video of the "This Land, These Men" battle and there are cakes and gifts for sale.
The next stop is at the Citrus Park, where you can enjoy a relaxing ride in a 4x4 Monster Truck, the largest vehicle of its kind in the world. With a height of 5 meters and a length of 12 meters, the gigantic trucks are an attraction in themselves. But get on board and experience an amazing ride through the woods, Groveland and Florida swamps. It's actually like being on safari!
On the one-hour tour, you'll get up close to a huge array of wildlife, including zebra, buffalo, and snakes. You'll also learn a lot about the animals and landscape here as your expert guide reveals everything you've always wanted to know. Contrary to the nickname “The Monster Truck”, your ride will not be terrifying at all, but instead a relaxed ride full of sights, scenery and natural wonders.
After this stop we drive past the Kennedy Space Center to Cocoa Beach. Don't worry we won't visit the Space Center, this is scheduled for the 2nd day along with the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Both sights have a lot to offer and you should definitely plan a whole day for this. We spend the night in one of the many hotels or resorts in Cocoa Beach. This beach town has a sunny coastline with activities such as parasailing, casino cruises and the Brevard Zoo. Relax for tomorrow's visits to the Kennedy Space Station and Cape Canaveral.
Day 2 we head first to Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, it is an iconic destination that symbolizes the advanced space exploration programs of the US.
The Kennedy Space Center is one of NASA's 10 centers and is the main launch center for human spaceflight. It is also the only place in the United States from which the public can watch rocket and space shuttle launches. The Center's Visitor Complex has several attractions worth visiting, such as the Rocket Garden, US Astronaut Hall of Fame, ICON Park, Apollo/Saturn V Center, Space Shuttle Atlantis, and much more.
From space equipment to rocks from space, you can discover everything about space here. The visitor center is not accessible by public transport, so you must use your own transport or a taxi. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm and on some dates until 7pm. A 6-hour stay at the Kennedy Space Center is the best way to explore all the attractions at your leisure. A visit to Kennedy Space Center is an educational, entertaining, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The second part of the day we head to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, home of the 45th Space Wing of the United States Air Force. Many of today's rocket launches take place here, but it is also the launch site of the first US Earth satellite, the first US astronaut and the first US astronaut to orbit the Earth, and many more launches. Most of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is closed to the public.
Canaveral Tours offers guided tours of the grounds and of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The tour takes you past current and historic launch complexes, memorials to the Mercury and early Apollo missions, historic burial sites of early settlers, wildlife on the extensive Cape Canaveral area, operational hangars and launch complexes. Museum and gift shop are also located on site.
Standard tours are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and most Saturdays. Tailor-made group tours and private tours are available, but check the website for the possibilities (see links in this review). Foreign visitors must book 4 days in advance, so be on time. Personal identification must be provided in order to obtain security clearance prior to the tour.
Pickup and parking is at Port Canaveral Exploration Tower. Free access to the tower is included in the ticket. The tower is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Duration of the tour is approximately 3 1/2 hours.
After this busy day we go back to Cocoa Beach to enjoy the sun, sea and beautiful beaches.
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Florida
About this region
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba; it is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Spanning 65,758 square miles, Florida ranks 22nd in area among the 50 states, and with a population of over 21 million, is the third-most populous. The state capital is Tallahassee and the most populous city is Jacksonville. The Miami metropolitan area, with a population of almost 6.2 million, is the most populous urban area in Florida and the seventh-most populous in the United States; other urban conurbations with over one million people are Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
Various Native American groups have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the first known European to make landfall, calling the region La Florida ([la floˈɾiða] for its lush greenery and the Easter season (Pascua Florida in Spanish). Florida subsequently became the first area in the continental U.S. to be permanently settled by Europeans, with the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, founded in 1565, being the oldest continuously inhabited city. Florida was repeatedly contested by Spain and Great Britain, before being ceded to the U.S. in 1819; it was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Florida was the principal location of the Seminole Wars (1816–1858), the longest and most extensive of the Indian Wars in U.S. history. The state seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven original Confederate States. After the Civil War, Florida was restored to the Union on June 25, 1868.
Since the mid-20th century, Florida has experienced rapid demographic and economic growth. Its $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth-largest of any U.S. state and the 16th-largest in the world; the main sectors are tourism, hospitality, agriculture, real estate, and transportation. Florida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation; attractions such as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, and Miami Beach draw tens of millions of visitors annually. Florida is a popular destination for retirees, seasonal vacationers, and both domestic and international migrants; it hosts nine out of the ten fastest-growing communities in the U.S. The state's close proximity to the ocean has shaped its culture, identity, and daily life; its colonial history and successive waves of migration are reflected in African, European, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian influences. Florida has attracted or inspired writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes, particularly in golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.
About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, spanning approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), not including its many barrier islands. Florida has 4,510 islands that are ten acres (4 ha) or larger in area, the second highest number after Alaska. Much of the state is at or near sea level, and is characterized by sedimentary soil. Florida is the flattest state in the country, with the lowest high point of any U.S. state, at just 345 feet (105 meters). Lake Okeechobee is its largest freshwater lake, and the second-largest located entirely within the contiguous 48 states. Several beaches in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters.
Florida's climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. It is the only state besides Hawaii to have a tropical climate, and is the only continental state with both a tropical climate (at the lower tip of the peninsula) and a coral reef. Consequently, Florida has several unique ecosystems, most notably Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S. and among the largest in the Americas. Unique wildlife include the American alligator, American crocodile, American flamingo, Roseate spoonbill, Florida panther, bottlenose dolphin, and manatee. The Florida Reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef).
Florida's large population and economy give it considerable influence in national politics; since the late 20th century the state has been a major battleground in presidential elections, most notably in 2000. Miami, along with Orlando and Tampa, is recognized as a global city.
Read more on Wikipedia
Various Native American groups have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the first known European to make landfall, calling the region La Florida ([la floˈɾiða] for its lush greenery and the Easter season (Pascua Florida in Spanish). Florida subsequently became the first area in the continental U.S. to be permanently settled by Europeans, with the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, founded in 1565, being the oldest continuously inhabited city. Florida was repeatedly contested by Spain and Great Britain, before being ceded to the U.S. in 1819; it was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Florida was the principal location of the Seminole Wars (1816–1858), the longest and most extensive of the Indian Wars in U.S. history. The state seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven original Confederate States. After the Civil War, Florida was restored to the Union on June 25, 1868.
Since the mid-20th century, Florida has experienced rapid demographic and economic growth. Its $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth-largest of any U.S. state and the 16th-largest in the world; the main sectors are tourism, hospitality, agriculture, real estate, and transportation. Florida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation; attractions such as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, and Miami Beach draw tens of millions of visitors annually. Florida is a popular destination for retirees, seasonal vacationers, and both domestic and international migrants; it hosts nine out of the ten fastest-growing communities in the U.S. The state's close proximity to the ocean has shaped its culture, identity, and daily life; its colonial history and successive waves of migration are reflected in African, European, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian influences. Florida has attracted or inspired writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes, particularly in golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.
About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, spanning approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), not including its many barrier islands. Florida has 4,510 islands that are ten acres (4 ha) or larger in area, the second highest number after Alaska. Much of the state is at or near sea level, and is characterized by sedimentary soil. Florida is the flattest state in the country, with the lowest high point of any U.S. state, at just 345 feet (105 meters). Lake Okeechobee is its largest freshwater lake, and the second-largest located entirely within the contiguous 48 states. Several beaches in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters.
Florida's climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. It is the only state besides Hawaii to have a tropical climate, and is the only continental state with both a tropical climate (at the lower tip of the peninsula) and a coral reef. Consequently, Florida has several unique ecosystems, most notably Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S. and among the largest in the Americas. Unique wildlife include the American alligator, American crocodile, American flamingo, Roseate spoonbill, Florida panther, bottlenose dolphin, and manatee. The Florida Reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef).
Florida's large population and economy give it considerable influence in national politics; since the late 20th century the state has been a major battleground in presidential elections, most notably in 2000. Miami, along with Orlando and Tampa, is recognized as a global city.
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Route Collections in this region Coast to Coast Across the USA
14 Days across the USA
Start the trip at Daytona Pier on the Atlantic Coast.
Through 14 days you will visit New Orleans, Memphis, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. See the sights of Monument and Death Valley, the Hoover Dam. Ride across 12 US States for 4267 miles of adventure before ending the trip on Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast
Start the trip at Daytona Pier on the Atlantic Coast.
Through 14 days you will visit New Orleans, Memphis, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. See the sights of Monument and Death Valley, the Hoover Dam. Ride across 12 US States for 4267 miles of adventure before ending the trip on Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast
View Route Collection
Ultimate USA road trip part 04
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the fourth collection that takes you from Waco in ten days through Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama to Cocao Beach in Florida.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the fourth collection that takes you from Waco in ten days through Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama to Cocao Beach in Florida.
View Route Collection