We visited Exploration Tower twice. Last year we went to the observation Deck. It was free admission. We saw the views all around and they had tons of information all over for you to read about everything. The views are amazing here's since this is also where the port is. This last time we went on July 2. We came for the fireworks. It was very spacious, and nice to see the glow of the observation tower at night. Great stop to see. Currently, the tower is not open according to their website. It is closed for projects. Glad we got to go in the tower when we did. During the fireworks, they had a VIP ticket up there for $35 yikes. read more

See all

I really wanted to see the Nasa launch pads so I figured I would check this place out. I visited right when they opened on a Saturday morning, so there weren't many other people around. I headed up to the observation deck on the 7th floor and had a great view of the entire area. It was really awesome to have such a great view. The grounds are really beautiful, and it is very serene. I was on a time crunch so I wasn't able to stay long but I will definitely come back to visit again. read more

See all

It's a fun viewing observatory. It has 7 levels. We spent about 1 hour here. It has nice views of the cruise ships and port on level 7. Each floor has information or interactive exhibits. We played the boat game 3-4 times. Level 4 is for private events. It would be a great wedding reception or Christmas party location. read more

Exploration Tower - Exploration Tower - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

See all

Such a nice Area with ample parking. This is a great place to view launches from the top deck . It says closed until further notice but two groups of friends were let in for the launch viewing . How to get similiar tickets while it's closed? Looks like a cool place! read more

Exploration Tower - Key - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

Very well done attraction, yes attraction here in Florida we don't have many places that are built for public use without a charge for admission. I've always thought if it's built for the arts or education and is not privately funded maybe just maybe it could be open to the public free of charge so everyone can enjoy it and I think this would be one of those places. I understand that there is a cost for operating and maintaining these facilities, so maybe kids under the age of 12 and senior citizens could be free which could actually increase the number of visitors and revenue from the paid admission of the adults. Putting this aside it is a beautiful structure and is filled with educational exhibits of everything from the space program to the navigation of the shipping lanes and there are also a few interesting interactive exhibits that let you pilot a boat into a harbor, create waves and move sand from the ocean to the beaches. It's very similar to some science centers I've visited. The observation deck is located on the 7th floor and provides an exquisite view of the cruise ships, the port and a 360 degree view of the area. EXPLORATION TOWER HOURS Monday - Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Closed for major holidays EXPLORATION TOWER ADMISSION General Admission Adult $6.50 (plus tax) Adult Annual Pass $22.50 (plus tax) Child Annual Pass $15.00 (plus tax) Brevard Residents Adult $4.00 (plus tax) Child (3-10) $2.50 (plus tax) Adult Annual Pass $19.50 (plus tax) Child Annual Pass $13.50 (plus tax) Military Discount Admisssion $4.00 (plus tax) Senior Rates Admission $4.00 (plus tax) read more

See all

This is a fun little stop if you need to kill an hour or two and you're curious about the history of the Cape Canaveral/Port Canaveral/Cocoa/Cocoa Beach area. There are seven floors of things to do and read about and the tickets are less than $10. The views from the 7th floor are really amazing, especially when there are cruise ships in port. You can see for miles around you and you can even see some of the buildings at the Kennedy Space Center. I give the Exploration Tower three stars because out of the three or four interactive exhibits that are there, several were broken and had signs up stating such. It was kind of disappointing. Additionally, the movie on the 3rd floor was very light on any kind of facts or history information and was more of a marketing video than anything. I would have liked to have seen more factual information. It's a fun place to visit once, but just once. I don't think there's a lot of value in repeating the visit unless you just want a really great view from the 7th floor. read more

Pleasantly surprised with this visit. For $6 this was a steal. We began our visit in the auditorium enjoying a movie on the history of the area going back from early settlers to present time. From there we enjoyed the outdoor roof top views an then worked our way through the 6 separate floors of exhibits. The floor on space exploration of course was our favorite. read more

Exploration Tower - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

See all

My job rented out the entire building for our 2019 annual sales conference this is a gorgeous building with a lot of history inside and gorgeous views. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and it was the perfect location for an awesome conference read more

Exploration Tower - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

See all

Cape Canaveral's newest gem is right here. Five stories if I remember correctly of interesting exhibits and a great gift shop with the most spectacular views. They actually allow you to see rocket launches if there's no private event going on for a fee and I can't think of a better spot to watch a rocket launch. The admission fee is modest and there's a discount for senior citizens!! read more

See all

When here after visiting the tall ship, Galeon Andalucia at Port Canaveral. We receive complimentary tickets to visit the exploration tower when we were visiting the tall ship. What a pleasant surprise. The exhibition tower is seven stories high, and you can see the entire Port Canaveral and the city of cocoa and Cocoa Beach from the seventh floor deck. There is a really neat auditorium on the third floor. You walk into an auditorium with seats, facing the harbor. there is no obvious screen. At the scheduled time, shades come down to block off light coming in, then a video screen comes down from the ceiling. A 15 minute presentation on the history of Port Canaveral and surrounding areas is presented. it takes you from the very beginning in the 1500s and it's association with St. Augustine. Then goes right into the beginning of the port in the 1950s along with the space program, then takes you to the mega port that it is today. There is a lovely souvenir shop when you first come in, and a café to the one side of the first floor. I found everything very fairly priced, no price gouging here. Our trip to the exploration tower made for a very lovely afternoon, and we were able to do it at our own pace. read more

See all

Wonderful place to watch a space launch from. You can watch from the outside tower or stay in the air conditioning still with great views. Suggestions include having public WiFi and using the TVs to stream NASA YouTube. Unfortunately the electric car charger is ancient and not working but I hope they will replace it with something current in keeping with the solar trees they have tied to the grid read more

Sorry to do this because it is probably because of low-quality and untrained help. We got there at about 4 PM on a Saturday. The woman at the front desk was nice enough and even gave us a $1 discount because the ship simulator wasn't working. She explained that they close at 5 PM -- got it and we paced our tour accordingly. At about 4:45 PM, a woman came around saying that they were closing and to make our way down to the first level which we were doing but at our pace to finish by 5. At about 4:50, another woman came around saying that they were closed and to make our way out. At 4:55, we were on the 1st level browsing through the gift shop and the woman that last spoke rudely said "WE ARE CLOSED!" There is no excuse for such rudeness especially since we paid money to be there and were following the rules laid out for us when we walked in. All that aside, the place is a nice history of Port Canaveral and the surrounding area and not too overpriced at $6.50/person. However, the admission price really should be free for what you see with maybe an extra charge for the ship simulator (when it is working.) (If you do go, the film starts 5 minutes after they say it is supposed to start.) I would not recommend spending part of a vacation visiting Exploration Tower. Just look up the history on the Internet and save your money and vacation time. We didn't let the rude staff ruin our day, but I could see that happening to someone else on a wrong day. The staff really should take hospitality training. read more

Truly fun experience. Great view and exciting things to see and learn from. Would definitely recommend it if your in the area. read more

Exploration Tower - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

See all

Nice place to catch a breeze and enjoy the view. Bring the kids and educate them about different ships and our wonderful Cape Canaveral Port. Watch out for special events for special price breaks. Daily admission fee is $15. read more

See all

I was actually really surprised at how much fun was packed into the Exploration Tower. We came as a group and started on the 7th floor. It was so beautiful and a lot of fun to watch the ships pass by. Inside, all of the floors had really interesting displays. I liked how they were designed for all ages and included a lot of interactive things to do. The building itself is absolutely gorgeous. I wish we could come watch a rocket launch from here! Maybe one day! I think that this is a must stop if you are in the area! read more

See all

Really neat place to visit while in Port Canaveral. 7 levels of really interesting information and exhibits, plus a small theater that shows a video about the area. It's also a great place to take photos of the cruise ships and NASA launch pads from the top observation level. This would be a really neat place to hold a wedding or event. Only $6.50 admission. They also offer a small cafe and gift shop. Well worth it! read more

Exploration Tower - Views from the top level of the Tower - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

See all

Kids and I went here the day before Thanksgiving, not crowded at all and we had a discount coupon from the visitors center! Great views from the top floor, also enjoyed the informative movie. Lots to learn and great to spend an hour or two. Would have been nice to have hot foods at the snack bar, but only cold sandwiches and ice cream available. Very nice workers who are kind and helpful. read more

An affordable area attraction with seven floors including observation deck perfect for rocket launches or cruise ship sail aways. Smallish learning center with floors focusing on Port Canaveral and the Space Coast. Neat virtual reality piloting experience. There's a movie too, gift shop, coffee shop, and you can even rent space here for whatever. It's an ultra modern contemporary building with awe inspiring bathrooms perfect for photo ops. read more

This place legit sucks. No disrespect, but like it's as if a bunch of people got together and tried the absolute minimum to try and scrape by with enough content to even constitute anything deemed remotely interesting. Looks nice, but you'd have to pay me to put myself through it again. read more

This place is incredible, it has been open for a few months now and the greater Cove area plan is going to get better when the whole area comes together. This tower is the architectural focal point and an absolute must if new to the area!!! Take the tour it is very affordable and you can lear a lot about the local area, the state, space program and much more. The views are incredible from two outdoor balconies and watching a rocket launch is memorable!!! read more

Exploration Tower - This place is Great and only going to get bigger and better!!!! My beautiful 5 year old daughter took this picture!!! - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

I would give it three stars due to inoperable equipment and the binoculars were cracked which impaired viewing from the seventh floor. I'm giving four stars because of the entry price, cost of souvenirs and customer service. Please take time to fix the history information - honest dictation of history is greatly appreciated over disingenuous perceptions of the truth. Other than that, a very clean and organized place. read more

I have been a resident of Brevard County for decades. I had admired what we locals call the "fingernail" building but didn't know what it had to offer until yesterday, even though I live just 10 minutes away. Elyse/Ellie, the Events Coordinator, met with me to explore wedding rehearsal dinner possibilities. She was wonderful, had so much knowledge of the site (she's been working there from when it opened 5 years ago!) and expressed sincere interest in what I needed or wanted for the occasion. I was amazed at the prime location, with spectacular views of the Port and cruise ships, KSC and VAB, the historical and current launch site 39 A and the beach. Every floor has floor to ceiling banks of windows, just beautiful. Each of 6 floors has a focus/theme, very well planned and executed. I highly recommend visiting the Tower, regardless of the nature of the occasion. read more

An unexpected delight. Relaxed museum type atmosphere with indoor and outdoor activities. Fun for all ages. Took the kids and my parents. Highly recommend if you're looking for a break from the amusement parks and the beach. read more

Exploration Tower - View from the lobby. - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

Kinda boring in general, but the launch (from Cape Canaveral) we went to see was great. A bit over priced ($30).

Called Friday to see if they would be open. Talked to the most polite lady on the phone asking if they would be open considering the corona virus. She said to check the website because it would be the first to notify the public if they where closed. Got there at 1000 and was told by the most UNFRIENDLY lady that they're not opening today. When I told her about what the lady told me Friday and she said " THERE NOT OPENING TODAY" and closed the door in our faces. We where will my son and several kids from his school. Will I try to come back???? At the time i am putting this in they still haven't updated there website. read more

Had a great time with my wife here today. There was a lot of informative stuff about this part of Florida and the port that we never knew about. Make sure you drive the boat simulator. The bathroom sinks are cool as heck. Finally get your $1.00 off admission in the coupon book at the entrance door. Have fun.. Kevin T. read more

The new Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral is a win. It has seven stories of museum exhibits explaining the history and region of the area. Visitors walk through gardens to a building that looks like a sailboat upon a pond. Cost is $6.50 for adults--we paid $4 each as seniors. The.movie shows every 20 minutes. Two toys are fun. One is a table where you can read about different places in the area and what happened for several era. The other is a computer simulation that allows visitors to guide a pilot boat out to a vessel to be docked. The upper floor is a lookout tower where you can see many of the cruise ships, military and civil vessels ie the coast guard. The orange industry, military battles and sunken ships and native life are some of the topics covered. The gift shop sells clothing, toys etc. And the cafe has muffins, drinks, chocolates and ice cream. read more

This place is amazing! My 5 year old daughter loved it! I especially love that we can see the cruise ships and was able to see NASA.

Okay, here's my review... It's a 7 story building and each level gets smaller. There's a gift shop, a video about the area and some timeline exhibits that include things from the area including NASA, citrus and cruise ships and such. It's a very modern building so there's a lot architecturally to look at and yes, we all thought the bathrooms were even cool. The observation deck was by far my favorite as we watched the storm roll in from the ocean. There's also a video game where you can steer the ships and boats through the port. I think you should allow two hours to check it out and expect to pay about $4 for kids and $6 for adults. It's a super easy adventure if you want to do something before going to eat at one of the restaurants to watch the cruise ships go out. The cruise ships go out on Saturdays and Sundays between four and five and Rusty's and Grills are my favorite picks to eat out there. read more

Exploration Tower - Exterior view of tower. - Observatories Near Me - Cape Canaveral, Florida

As a teacher and a local resident of Cape Canaveral, I have found this to be a great experience for kids and adults. Everyone will love the Port Canaveral movie and all of the hands-on actvities. You get a lot of bang for your buck as it's only $4.00 for adults and $2.50 for kids. If you time it right, at about 4:30, you can catch the cruise ships leaving the port. There are restaurants near by and of course, Jetty Park. Make a day of it! read more

Quest place to spend a couple of hours if the weather keeps you away from the beach. Learned some interesting things about the area, space program, etc. One of the taller building in the area so there is a great view of the port and ocean. Cheap admission for adults! read more

This is cool for about 30 minutes max. It was cheap to get in so you get your money's worth. The movie theater is lame, and the film is like a 20 minute cruise advertisement. The artifacts displayed from the moon landing are cool. The observation deck is too hot and bright to stand out there for long, and there's not much of a view. The gift shop doesn't have much in it. I did like the hanging art pieces made out of ocean trash. Beautiful, and brings awareness to waste and conservation. read more

The Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral is a beautiful building situated in a remarkable place. It's also a great place for a small to medium size wedding, birthday party, etc. The event staff is outstanding. I recently had the pleasure of working with Ellie and her manager. After my brief and distasteful meeting with Fish Lips Restaurant event coordinator to caterer our event at Explorer Tower (ET), I was ready to go look for a different location and caterer. Fish Lips is on the list of ET approved caterers but they were more interested in me having the event at their restaurant than at ET and that wasn't what I wanted. I called Ellie the event coordinator at ET and she suggested I look at the other caterers on the list. I choose Renaissance Catering and couldn't have been happier with the location or the caterer. Jessica at Renaissance Catering and Ellie at Explorer Tower made my event the best it could have been! Thank you. read more

We did not enjoy this. It took all of 30 minutes and to be honest found it pretty boring. The best part was the deck on top.

We've been to the port many times but this is the first time that we visited the tower and I'm so glad we did! Very reasonably priced and very informative. A few really neat interactive exhibits including a simulation of captaining a pilot boat under various conditions. The film was very interesting. Facility is very clean and well maintained. View at the top is worth the price alone! read more