Living in Brevard is full of beautiful scenery, beaches and nature but coming to Merritt Island…read moreNational Wildlife Refuge you really feel like you are in a different country. It is so beautiful and remote and full of wildlife. The best part... it's free! This is a beautiful driving trail designed just for soaking up wildlife. Our favorite part of coming here is rolling down the windows and counting the various birds and alligators. At one time we counted 13 alligators in one drive. It's fun to see who can spot the most. The drive takes less than 40 minutes but if you really take your time and stop in the sections reserved for pulling over and parking you can spend hours here. There are various spots with viewing towers to overlook the reserve. There are also interpretive signs explaining the bird species in the area. I would highly suggest taking a detour next time you go to the Kennedy space center and taking a drive here. Also some advice is to bring drinks and snacks for the car because you may grow hungry on the remote drive.

I loved my experience at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. While attending a conference…read morerecently, I needed a little bit of an escape and decided to head toward to coast to get my nature fix. I ultimately only chose to come here because it was the closest place with manatee viewing. I made the drive from Orlando, and made my first stop at the Visitor Center. If you have your America the Beautiful pass, you're all set, but I didn't get a new one this year, so I paid $10 for my visitor pass. Cin at the volunteer desk was super helpful and showed me where I should go. I ultimately decided on the Black Point Wildlife Drive - a 7-ish mile drive that provided some great opportunities to see various birdlife. If you're a birder - which apparently I've become - you'll enjoy this. I saw a variety of species almost immediately, and I bet there are even better times to come through this area to see larger flocks during migration. I took my time on the drive and enjoy the quiet and relative remoteness of the place. After that I headed east and then north to check out the Manatee Observation Deck by the Haulover Canal. I stayed here for a short amount of time, but didn't see anything. So on Cin's advice, I went back toward the Bairs Cove boat launch. And boy was this a treat. There were no people when I first arrived, but there were definitely manatees. After a while, a few other people showed up just for watching manatees - not to put boats in. One lady put her feet in the water and manatees came up and booped their noses on her feet. It was incredible to see these creatures in the wild - some of them mothers with little ones twirling around by their sides. The skies started to turn black, and while I personally missed the rainstorm, it was time to pack up and head out back to Orlando. I'm so glad I made the decision to come here, and I highly recommend it for any of those who are nature-lovers!

Cool park with a walking path, pond , and some statues. We didn't see any manatees, but they are…read morethere. The parking lot was large and the park is very open, great for walking.

A very nice park well kept where, if you are lucky, you can view some manatees…read more Manatee Sanctuary Park in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is a well-maintained park in the area for all to enjoy. It is located right along the Banana River between Port Canaveral and Ron Jon's. The entire property is well-kept and manicured. It features a nice paved walking and jogging path for a workout or a peaceful stroll. Between the walking path and the river there is a covered walkway with pavilions that stretch along the water's edge. While manatee sightings can be hit or miss, the general peace and the chance to spot other creatures like dolphins and wading birds make a trip to this location worthwhile. Right off the parking lot, a fun detail that adds character to the park is the very nice statue of turtles. Taller than an average person. The park provides a good size parking lot that can comfortably fit about 25 cars, which is a huge plus, ensuring easy access even during slightly busier times. While the park does have bathrooms, they were unfortunately not the cleanest on the day of my visit. OVerall, Manatee Sanctuary Park is a nice place for visitors looking for beautiful scenery, and excellent paths for exercise. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quiet, relaxing outdoor escape.

Taylor Park is a 3.06 acre neighborhood park in Rockledge, the oldest city in Brevard County. At…read morethe entrance to the park is an arched entranceway that reads "This park is presented to the city of Rockledge, Florida A.D. 1928 - by - Albert Armor Taylor and Grace Webster Crockett Taylor, his wife, in memory of their beloved parents, Frederick Fitch Taylor and Henrietta Powell Taylor of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Antoinette Millett Crockett of Portland, Maine" The park sits on a hill that slopes down to the entrance. There are parking spots along the perimeter of the park. Beautiful old oak trees provide shade. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic tables, benches, a playground, and 9 station exercise trail along a paved walkway. This park is the perfect neighborhood destination for play, picnics, and exercise. What I found most interesting about the park is that the Taylors are still here! There is a mausoleum in the back of Taylor Park. The Taylor's settled in the east central Florida area in 1895 and they had two sons: Albert Armer Taylor, Jr and Frederick Fitch. Sadly, both passed away as infants and they are laid to rest here with their parents. Albert and Grace Taylor were instrumental to the development of Brevard County. Albert Taylor was one of the founders of the Brevard County State Bank at Delannoy and Harrison streets in Cocoa in 1889. He was president of the bank until 1906 when he resigned and made a lot of money in citrus and real estate. He was the first president of the Cocoa Town Council and was elected mayor in 1898. Grace was one of New York City's first stenographers before her marriage and she was an accomplished poet. Their home was on the site of today's Cocoa Public Library between Delannoy and the Indian River. One of their favorite hobbies was studying the night sky with a telescope. Engraved on their tomb is the following: "We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." You can learn more about the Taylor's from a display just inside the entrance to the Brevard Museum in Cocoa. Grace in particular was interested in preserving the history and natural beauty of the area. She passed away on December 27, 1945 and upon her death she left a bequest specifically for the development of a museum to to preserve the history of pioneer life in Brevard County, In 1975, the Albert and Grace Taylor addition to the Brevard Museum was created with funds from the Grace Webster Taylor Testamentary Trust. Many of Grace Taylor's personal effects are on exhibit. The mausoleum is hidden by a sensory garden. The plants were chosen for their fragrance, tactile qualities, and beauty. If you didn't know the grave was here you wouldn't notice it. It is surrounded by a locked gate. I loved discovering this bit of interesting history in this park. The Taylor's are still keeping watch over the community they loved.

This is my favorite biking trail in the area. It is about three miles and upon exiting, there is a…read moregorgeous neighborhood that you can explore. I love the trees and relaxed feel of the path. There are plenty benches and cute spots to stop and take a break. I never feel as if it's too crowded, and always feel so relaxed and present when I go.

The Brevard Zoo Linear Park is literally what it sounds like. This is a park that shares some land…read morewith the Brevard Zoo, but is not part of the business. The park is public and free. It is truly linear in that it is a singular trail that's extends to the Pineda Causeway and back. The park trail has historical information along the way, as well as information about local wildlife. The trail takes you through classic Florida wetlands. It is quite popular and frequented by walkers, cyclists, and joggers. It is about 2.5 miles one-way, so about 5 miles round trip. Be prepared to have sun exposure. Also, it seems like a popular trail for dogs and their parents. There are benches interspersed throughout the trail and garbage cans for convenience. Today I walked the 5-mile journey and I will be back. It was a gorgeous escape from city life. The parking was convenient and it really is free. If you plan to do the full length of the trail, bring water. It can get hot because of the direct sunlight.

If I visit Cocoa I always make a point to visit this lovely park. When you need a place to take a…read morebreak from shopping and dining in downtown Cocoa Village, head over to Cocoa Riverfront Park. This is the perfect spot to relax on a bench and take in the beautiful view of the Indian River and the Hubert Humphrey Causeway. Cocoa Riverfront Park was once the home of the Porcher family. Their neoclassical mansion is still in the park. The families packinghouse was on the river bank behind the house. It was used to process produce delivered by boat the family's groves on Merritt Island. Today the park is a recreational destination for visitors to Cocoa Village. It has an open lawn area, playground, amphitheater, boardwalk, splash fountain, and covered pavilions. There are areas for fishing, water sports, and to launch a boat. The Porcher House can be rented for weddings. Cocoa Riverfront Park is a destination for concerts and community events like the July 4th celebration and fireworks. This park connects to Taylor Park and Lee Wenner Park providing 10 acres of recreational space along the Indian River for everyone to enjoy.

The venue and vibe are amazing. The upkeep on the bathrooms is not good. I understand during…read morecertain events and being crowded it's hard to keep the bathrooms clean, but not once during a recent concert was any of the permanent washrooms cleaned or even checked. Yes there were portapotties on site but you still need to maintain the brick and mortar ones.

Visited this park for a triathlon. Naturally beautiful due to the view and location. Clean ground;…read morehowever, they could definitely upgrade the bathrooms and add a water fountain somewhere. I'd only be interested in the park for an event outing.

Taylor Park is a waterfront park located in historic Cocoa Village which dates back to the 1890's…read more Taylor Park connects to Cocoa Riverfront Park via a paved walkway along the Indian River. Taylor Park amenities include an amphitheater, picnic tables, war monuments, and a playground. I love the colorful benches painted by local artists. They make the perfect place to sit a spell and rest under one of the large trees that provide shade. The city uses the open areas to stage events. The park restrooms are handy if you are visiting the nearby shops and it is the perfect place for a picnic with food from one of the nearby businesses. Take the kids to play or just enjoy the views of the Indian River that brought the first settlers to Cocoa Beach.

This is a great area to launch for SUP (stand up paddleboard) or kayaks. There is a small parking…read morelot that will fit about 20 cars in the launch area. A company called Calypso Kayaking thar rents canoes out of here. The launch area can be a little difficult if you're not super agile or if your paddle board is heavy - the best way I can describe it is it's a sloped staircase made of wood planks and dirt (I think it was about 5-6 steps if I remember correctly). It wasn't difficult going down, however, I was using my friend's Bote SUP, which is pretty heavy and it was difficult for me to carry it up the steps especially after a difficult and physical paddle with windy conditions. If I was using a lighter board I don't think it would've have been too difficult for me. This park also has nice a cute little playground and clean restrooms that are open year round. There is a covered picnic area with grills. And the parking lot at both the launch area and near restrooms are paved. We were there at low tide and the water was very shallow in some areas - so shallow that we had to get off our SUPs at one point and pull them through the water a few feet so we didn't damage our fins. It was great having the shallow waters because we saw LOTS of stingrays, horseshoe crabs and fish! Also lots of water birds throughout our paddle! One of the islands that we stopped at had a nice beach area and beautiful dead tree that made for great photo ops! All in all, this is a great location to launch for SUP and kayak. We will definitely go back and hopefully see dolphins and/or manatees the next time!

This is a great location to paddleboard or kayak in Merritt Island /Brevard County if you want to…read moresee manatees up close there are places to launch your kayak and it's not crowded

It was really pretty and nice spot just no manatees yet! Giving 4 stars still because it was very…read moreclean and nice spot

This past summer 2022, after putting nearly 2000 miles on the truck driving all around Florida from…read morethe top to Key West, back up and all around, resound ourselves Leaving Titusville, bound for Savannah, Georgia. Despite our travels through many natural areas, no one in our family had yet seen a manatee... One of those silly bucket list things you include when you visit Florida... Especially when you are not from Florida. Not really knowing where to begin, we happen to be talking about it at our Cracker Barrel breakfast, when our 15 year old server overheard us and offered a few suggestions. Among them was the Manatee observation deck and the Merritt Island reserve. It seemed as good a place to try as Anny, considering the name, and not really having any better ideas, we typed it into ways, and started up the road. The Merritt Island reserve was actually one of the more beautiful places we visited on our trip. Lots of wildlife, large wading birds, birds of prey, gopher tortoises walking all over the place, and several furry creatures that ran across the road so quickly we could not quite identify them. After driving way out into the reserve, lost in the Paulmeadows in the wetlands, we saw a sign on a modest turn off for the manatee observation deck, and used every single bit of pavement with a 25 foot trailer behind my truck. The parking lot turned out to be a little smaller than I had anticipated, but we managed to find the long stretch of curb in the small lot for our truck and trailer, and walked out to the unassuming concrete deck with a small railing near the water. Imagine my family's delight to see dozens of manatees gently feeding in the shallows right beneath us. Large adults, smaller juveniles, and some sized in between... More manatees than I could count. Many of them have the telltale scars of boat props on their backs, but for the time being, they were quietly swimming around in the shallow murky water. A group of kayakers came up and kept their distance, enjoying the view from the water. I actually think our view was better, since we were a little bit above them, and could really see everything going on. Check off the box on our list next to "see a manatee". This place made it very easy, and the bonus was an absolutely breathtaking drive through some beautiful Florida natural area.