Discover 15 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Melbourne (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Brevard Zoo, Henegar Center, and Andretti's Thrill Park. Also, be sure to include Wickham Park in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Melbourne (Florida).
Table of Contents
Brevard Zoo
Zoo in Brevard County, Florida. Brevard Zoo is a 75-acre nonprofit facility located in Melbourne, Florida, United States, that is home to more than 900 animals representing more than 195 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The zoo features animal feedings, kayak tours, behind-the-scenes tours, and a train ride, along with the attraction Treetop Trek. The zoo has also featured a dinosaur exhibit several times in its past; its most recent exhibit "Dinosaurs are Back" ran from November 2017 to April 2018. Brevard Zoo is a nonprofit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo is divided into four loops: Expedition Africa, Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond, Wild Florida, and Rainforest Revealed. These loops are accessed off of the main loop that encircles the flamingo pond.[1]
Address: 8225 N Wickham Rd, 32940-7924 Melbourne
Henegar Center
The Henegar Center is a historic U.S. building located at 625 East New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. Built in 1919, it is one of Brevard County’s oldest public buildings. On March 12, 1963, the building received its name in honor of Ruth Henegar, a long-time teacher and principal at the school that used the building at the time. The building now serves as The Henegar Center for the Arts.[2]
Address: 625 E New Haven Ave, 32901-5468 Melbourne
Andretti's Thrill Park
Theme park, Arcade, Racetrack, Amusement park
Address: 3960 S Babcock St, 32901-8212 Melbourne
Wickham Park
Park in Melbourne, Florida. Wickham Park is a public county park located at 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, Florida. It contains diverse recreational facilities and amenities, including campgrounds, disc golf course, equestrian facilities, archery range, off-leash dog park, bicycle/jogging roadway, nature trails, exercise trails, ball fields, an event pavilion, picnic pavilions, playground, and swimming lakes. It has the Wickham Park Community Center at 2815 Leisure Way.[3]
King Center for the Performing Arts
Theater in Melbourne, Florida. The King Center or the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts venue located at 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, Florida. The main theater of the 126,000 square feet facility contains 2,016 seats. There is also a 250-seat venue named the Studio Theatre or the Black Box in the facility.[4]
Address: 3865 N Wickham Rd, 32935-2310 Melbourne
Erna Nixon Park
Park in West Melbourne, Florida. Erna Nixon Park is a public park located on 1200 Evans Road, Melbourne, Florida. It contains a 3,000-foot elevated boardwalk through a natural Florida hammock. The park contains ferns and old live oaks with hanging Spanish moss. It provides a natural habitat for several species of birds and small animals, such as the gopher tortoise and indigo snake. The park also hosts frequent events, such as the semi-annual Moonlight Stroll that takes place in the evening and includes live music. The park is named after Melbourne Village naturalist Erna Nixon.
The Erna Nixon Park Nature Center features exhibits of animal mounts and live small animals.[5]
Address: 1200 Evans Rd, 32904-2313 Melbourne
Melbourne Causeway
Bridge in Brevard County, Florida. The Melbourne Causeway is located entirely within Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is composed of three bridges and connects the municipalities of Melbourne and Indialantic across the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County. The causeway is part of U.S. 192, whose eastern terminus is located approximately 2 miles east of the bridge, at SR A1A. East of the bridge, the road is known locally as Fifth Avenue. On the western side, the road continues through downtown Melbourne as Strawbridge Avenue. Each July 4 the bridge is closed for a fireworks show.
There are two bridges in Melbourne, the Melbourne Causeway and the Eau Gallie Causeway (SR 518) With the latter being named for the old city of Eau Gallie, which merged with Melbourne in 1969.[6]
Foosaner Art Museum
Museum in Melbourne, Florida. The Foosaner Art Museum, formerly the Brevard Art Museum, was located along the Indian River in the Eau Gallie Arts District, 1463 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. Since opening in 1978 the Foosaner Art Museum amassed over 5,000 objects, spanning 20 centuries. These items formed the Museum's Permanent Collection, reflecting not only the Museum's interests and specialties, but also the lives of the people who lived in the community.
Throughout the year, visitors could experience a changing selection of exhibitions. Rotating exhibitions of nationally and internationally recognized artists showcased contemporary trends and historical art movements as do the variety of exhibitions created from the Museum's permanent collection. The Foosaner Art Museum's permanent collection was composed primarily of Modern and Contemporary Art and included the Enrique Conill Mendoza Collection of American Industrial Design and the world's largest collection of works by Ernst Oppler (German, 1897–1929).[7]
Address: 1463 Highland Ave, 32935-6562 Melbourne
Ballard Park
Park in Melbourne, Florida. Ballard Park is a public park located at 924 Thomas Barbour Drive, Melbourne, Florida and is situated on the Indian River Lagoon and the Eau Gallie River in what was historically Eau Gallie, FL. It contains diverse recreational facilities and amenities, including boat ramps, lighted tennis courts and a pavilion. The park also contains a memorial to naturalist and author Thomas Barbour, who frequented the shell mounds on the park grounds as a boy.
Two archeologists have speculated that the park is on the site of the former Ais Indian town of Pentoaya, where they spent their summers.
The Melbourne High School rowing team bases their training here.[8]
Liberty Bell Memorial Museum
Museum in Melbourne, Florida. The Liberty Bell Memorial Museum is located at 1601 Oak Street, Melbourne, Florida in Wells Park and is located adjacent to Melbourne Military Memorial Park. The museum is free to enter, and is divided into two main components: The Rotunda of American History and Freedom Hall.[9]
Address: 1601 Oak St, 32901-4516 Melbourne
Airport Museum
Museum in Melbourne, Florida. The Airport Museum is located inside the Melbourne International Airport, One Air Terminal Parkway, Melbourne, Florida. It houses displays of the history of the Naval Air Station Melbourne and the Melbourne International Airport. It also contains a Link Trainer and aviation artwork.[10]
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Building. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, founded in 1884 and now located at 50 West Strawbridge Avenue in Melbourne, Florida, in the United States, is a historic parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Holy Trinity is the oldest church organization in Melbourne. Its original church building, now the chapel, is a historic Carpenter Gothic church built in 1886.[11]
Address: 50 W Strawbridge Ave, 32901-4491 Melbourne
Eau Gallie Public Library
Public library in Melbourne, Florida. The Eau Gallie Public Library was founded in 1898, making it the second oldest library in the Brevard County Library System, Florida, United States. The founders initially established the library in the Eau Gallie Post Office. The library was moved to several different locations over the years, including the city hall, the civic center and a restaurant In 1962, the library was moved to its current location at 1521 Pineapple Avenue in Eau Gallie, where a new building was constructed in 1998.[12]
Address: 1521 Pineapple Ave, 32935 Melbourne
Historic Rossetter House Museum
Museum in Melbourne, Florida. The Historic Rossetter House Museum is located at 1320 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida in the historic section of Eau Gallie. The museum consists of the James Wadsworth Rossetter House and Gardens, the William P. Roesch House, and the Houston Family Memorial Cemetery. The museum is owned by The Rossetter House Foundation, Inc. and managed by the Florida Historical Society. The museum includes antiques and exhibits that explore local history.[13]
Address: 1320 Highland Ave, 32935-7005 Melbourne
Melbourne Cemetery
Cemetery. The Melbourne Cemetery or City of Melbourne Cemetery is a cemetery in Melbourne, Florida, United States. It is located on Hibiscus Boulevard at the intersection with Lake Street. The cemetery includes graves of original settlers of Melbourne, to include Cornthwaite John Hector who founded the city. Although formally organized as a cemetery in 1891, native Americans purportedly used the site as a burial grounds for many years before.[14]