Going to College in Florida Has its Perks…
It’s Saturday morning and you have spent the week buried deep inside your textbook. It’s time to crawl out and see the light of day. The mind needs a breather, and the Space Coast offers some much deserved distractions. The most obvious is the beach. Thankfully, Florida Tech is located only 10 minutes away so students can catch a dawn patrol surf session before class. If you notice lots of wet hair on campus, you know there is a nice swell in the Atlantic. By the time you graduate, you’ll probably own at least 5 pairs of flip-flops and will continue to find sand throughout your belongings for years to come.
Besides the beach, there are plenty of activities to keep you out in the sunlight. Watersports abound on the Space Coast, so you can get your “ing” on no matter what your favorite flavor is. The Space Coast is the perfect place to go surfing, wake boarding, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, tubing, rowing, sailing, boating and floating. If your cat-like demeanor keeps you far from water, there are plenty of waterless sports to keep you busy, like golfing, tennis, skating, biking …..
Maybe you are less sports-oriented and more nature inspired. One of the perks of going to college in Florida is being surrounded by natural beauty. The Space Coast is home to the Canaveral National Seashore, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and miles and miles of sandy beaches. Some local residents include alligators, manatees, otters, dolphins, pelicans, cranes and sea turtles. If you don’t get a chance to catch one in the wild, you can always visit the Brevard Zoo to get an up close view of some native Florida species.
Of course, the Space Coast wouldn’t be the Space Coast without the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and neither would Florida Tech. Florida Tech is located about 45 minutes away from NASA’s launch headquarters. Florida Tech was actually created in 1958 during the space race with the help of a chief scientist at Cape Canaveral. Today, KSC is the busiest launch and landing facility in the U.S., giving Florida Tech students prime viewing and research opportunities. KSC offers daily tours, an IMAX theatre, the Shuttle Launch Experience and of course, lots of astronaut ice cream.
After all the day’s activities, it’s time to hit the local watering holes and shopping/hangout joints. Less than 5 minutes from campus is downtown Melbourne, home to shopping, dining, art galleries and nightlife. Across the bridge from downtown, there are plenty of beach shacks to feed your belly and unwind your mind. Most places also feature live music, so grab one of those tiny paper umbrellas, throw it in your glass and enjoy going to college in Florida and living the Florida lifestyle.
