Palm Bay is a city located in Brevard County, Florida, USA. The city is a popular coastal location, within driving distance of Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Kissimmee and the theme parks of Orlando. Palm Bay is surrounded by canals, conservation areas and has an abundance of wildlife.
One of the most popular visitor locations in Palm Bay is Turkey Creek Sanctuary. This small nature reserve has 3 kilometres of boardwalk paths and over 2 kilometres of jogging trails. It is the ideal place to see turtles, manatees, alligators, and is on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The sanctuary around Indian River Lagoon offers beautiful ocean views, the chance to be at one with nature, and a multitude of watersports and fishing. Brevard Zoo is a fun, family day out with adventure packages to suit all. Indulge in a paddle boat excursion through the wilderness and see the animals in their habitats, walk the treetop trek, or kayak through the swamps. Visitors interested in American history will find the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum interesting. Discover major timelines in American history, explore pre-revolutionary artefacts and even see a replica of the famous Liberty Bell itself. One of the most revered attractions on this coastline is that of the Kennedy Space Centre. Since 1968 it has been NASA’s launch centre for human spaceflight. The visitor complex offers a variety of exhibits and attractions which map the history and future of human and robotic spaceflight. The area surrounding Palm Bay is home to a multitude of beaches, ideal for surfing and kite surfing. Cocoa Beach is worth a visit with kilometres of white sand, restaurants, diners and entertainment. Historic downtown Cocoa Village is peppered with unique specialty shops, boutiques and galleries.
The easiest way to access Palm Bay is via car. The U.S 1 serves the north-eastern sector of the city, and Interstate 95 is the main East Coast freeway of the United States. It takes just over an hour to drive to central Orlando. The city has a public shuttle bus service to transport visitors around the city. There are also bus trips available to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Kissimmee and Port Canaveral.
The first people to frequent the area of Palm Bay were the Timucua, attracted to Turkey Creek for its fish, oysters, wildlife and freshwater springs. European settlers arrived in the 1850s, and when the railroad came in 1894, growth began to increase rapidly. Today many visitors pass through en route to cities in the north and south of Florida or stay here to explore the beautiful beaches, historic towns and nearby conservation parks.