The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville, Florida, is a 470-acre nature preserve. It is a…read moreflagship Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) property and offers visitors an opportunity to experience one of Florida's most diverse natural landscapes. In 1911, Edgar W. Ellis, J. H. Beckwith, and a consortium of developers established the Titusville Fruit and Farm Lands Company after acquiring 22,500 acres of marshland within the historic Delespine Grant. Their ambitious goal was to drain the wetlands and convert them into productive farmland. What they failed to appreciate was the massive coquina rock ridge hidden beneath the landscape. Excavation equipment proved incapable of cutting through the rock, preventing completion of the project's main canal. Without adequate drainage, the venture collapsed financially. Ironically, this failed engineering project was the very thing that helped preserve the land in its natural state. Nearly a century later in he 1990s, the property was designated for conservation, becoming the very first acquisition under Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program. On August 27, 1999, the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary officially opened to the public. Today, visitors can explore a unique ecosystem where northern temperate and southern subtropical habitats overlap. The sanctuary contains five distinct habitat types, oak scrub, mesic hammock, hydric hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwoods that support abundant native wildlife. You may see gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, bobcats, Florida scrub lizards, and even the rare Eastern indigo snake. More than 4.5 miles of well-maintained hiking trails starting at the visitors center wind through the preserve, making it excellent for hiking, wildlife observation, birdwatching, and nature photography. The Management & Education Center features interactive exhibits that explain the sanctuary's natural history and diverse habitats. You may want to stop in here first because the center also offers trail maps, restrooms, and a water fountain for visitors. On weekends, the sanctuary offers free naturalist-led guided hikes lasting approximately 45 minutes and covering about one mile of the trail system. These walks typically include portions of the Coquina, Biodiversity, Mesic, Tomoka, and Tortoise Trails while introducing visitors to Florida's endangered upland ecosystems and the plants and animals that call them home. One of the preserve's most distinctive historical features is the network of overgrown canals, remnants of the failed agricultural project from more than a century ago. Now recognized as a Florida Heritage Site, these canals stand as a lasting reminder of an ambitious engineering vision that nature ultimately reclaimed. Enchanted Forest Sanctuary is one of Titusville's true natural gems. It's a beautiful place where history and nature exist side by side. Unfortunately when I came when the weather was pushing a 105 degrees. They were also doing a prescribed burn on some of the trails so they were closed and the air was smokey. For the most enjoyment I recommend visiting during the cooler months of the year.

This is such a great spot for walking/running. There is a parking lot out front, hardly ever a…read morecrowd when I come. Typically visit in the morning. There is no fee to enter. You do need to sign in at the front desk. Sometimes there is someone at the desk to greet you. There are accessible restrooms inside the main building. There are a few different trials, in which all are marked. Throughout the trials, there are clear signs and markings as you navigate your way through the sanctuary. I love the coquina trial. There are pretty views and I have seen on occasion turtles on my walks.

I came here with my homeschooling co-op, they did a free mini class event for us. Very nice of the…read moreteacher to take the time to teach the kiddos all about navigation and she made it really fun for them as well as broke it down for them to understand in game form. I think it lasted about 25 mins or so. Only wish I would have walked more into their trail to see the water view if there is one I didn't get to see it. In all a cool spot to get a bit of history and sight seeing.

Wow! What a cool place. My husband and I have been choosing a different nature sanctuary in…read moreBrevard county to explore and walk, today we chose Sams house and Pine Island sanctuary. We decided to park at the Pine Island end of the trail, there are a couple of rustic areas to park. The trail head for the Pine Island loop which is about 3/4 of a mile is near the manatee viewing area and kayak launch. The walk from parking area to the start of the garnet trail which takes you to Sam's house is a wide open green area that is used for walking or horseback riding, there is no shade but if you're lucky there is a beautiful breeze along the lake. The trail to Sam's house is very rustic with some boardwalks and lots of root covered ground. The path is clear but some areas a a little soft due to the surrounding canals. Sam's house is one of the original homes in Merritt Island. There are areas with explanations and examples of what was grown and sold in the area. Apparently there were prehistoric animal remains found in the area as well as the burial mound of Indigenous people. This is a definite place to revisit and explore the other trails and bits of history.

I loved it, the trail was a comfortable walk. Not much sightseeing or anything major but its…read moreperfect for a nice walk, very relaxing to me.

This is a small Park in a small interesting area. I see a…read morelot of really negative reviews about this part as seems odd to me. This park has multiple launches for canoes and kayaks so you can go around the area. I didn't see quite a few of these boat launches were occupied which makes me happy to see you getting used. The main gimmick of this park is a lookout tower. I'm sorry the tower offers some pretty cool views. If you are in the area during a rocket launch this observation tower would be pretty cool.

When visiting this beautiful 32.43-acre oceanfront park it is to picture that this was once an…read moreunofficial city dump. Standing among the sea oats and beach, it's almost impossible to imagine that this land was neglected until the mid 1970s. The park owes its transformation to the vision and determination of Lori Wilson, an attorney, Florida State Senator, and passionate environmental advocate. After moving to Florida in 1960, Wilson served in the Florida Senate from 1973 to 1978, becoming only the third woman and the first Independent to hold the office. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and championed numerous environmental causes, working with organizations such as Save Our Waterways, the National Association of County Officials Environmental Steering Committee, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Senator Wilson was a visionary and she was determined to restore this stretch of coastline organized a massive community cleanup. Local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, spent weeks removing trash, planting native vegetation, and restoring it back to its natural condition. In appreciation for her leadership and dedication, the grateful community voted to name the restored park in her honor. Today, Lori Wilson Park is one of Cocoa Beach's most popular beach parks. The Mansfield Maritime Hammock which is stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, features a .6-mile interpretive boardwalk through a protected coastal canopy filled with native plants. It is an important stopover for migratory birds. Dog lovers will appreciate the spacious 32,000-square-foot fenced off-leash dog park, which opened in 2006 through a partnership between Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. More recent improvements include upgraded dune crossovers built with durable composite materials, a renovated dog park, and modernized restrooms and outdoor shower facilities. The park also is where you can find I Dream of Jeannie Lane named in 1996 in honor of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, a TV show about a genie in love with an astronaut that aired from 1965 to 1970 and was fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. The historical marker was added in 2012. I appreciated that the parking is free and there is easy beach access. I also enjoyed my time exploring the maritime Hammock. Thanks to Lori Wilson residents and visitors can enjoy ocean access, nature walks, and a place for off leash dog play. Lori Wilson Park is an inspiring example of what a community can accomplish when they pull together.

My favorite beach in Central Florida. Bathrooms and shower available. They do have a lot of events…read morehere so sometimes parking can be rough

In 1991, these 200 acres of wetlands between the Brevard Zoo and the St. Johns River floodplain…read morewere established by the Brevard County Government as a stormwater treatment system for the adjacent South Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility. The treatment wetlands are divided into four cells of approximately 35 acres each, surrounding a central lake. Each cell was designed to maintain a different water depth, creating a variety of wetland habitats. These stormwater treatment wetlands play an important role in protecting the environment by capturing and retaining stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding in surrounding areas. They also filter and store stormwater, helping recharge the aquifer. Wetland plants naturally remove pollutants from the water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. Without treatment, stormwater runoff can contribute to algal blooms, muck accumulation, fish kills, and other ecological problems. In addition to their environmental benefits, the wetlands provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including many of Florida's wading birds, while offering visitors an opportunity for wildlife viewing and recreation. In December 2007, the wetlands were renamed the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in honor of Ritch Grissom, a longtime Brevard County employee who worked at the adjacent South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. The memorial recognizes his 16 years of service and his love for wildlife and the nature. In 2008, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands were added to the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail. It was extremely hot on the day I visited, so I recommend planning your visit during the cooler months of the year for the most enjoyment. Even in the heat, I enjoyed exploring the trails. I spotted numerous ospreys, red-winged blackbirds, an alligator, and even a raccoon on the move that I followed for a while. Unfortunately, I didn't notice until I looked down that my legs were covered in mosquitoes, so be sure to bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and water. If you enjoy nature and wildlife off the beaten path you can easily spend hours here. The wetlands are open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Follow the wetlands' Facebook page for the latest updates and photos of recently spotted wildlife.

This is a rather large Park easy to get to from i-95. Just exit viera and head West to your dead…read moreend at the park. This is a large Park with lots of walking trails around different wetland areas. It seems like it's a man-made Park with Wells constantly feeling lakes and pumps pumping water from one lake to the next lake. There are areas we can ride your bike for bike riding/mountain bike trails and lots of walking trails as well as there's docks you can walk out and look out on benches you can sit on and a few towers you can go up to get a bird's eye view. For wildlife I saw lots of different species of birds and a lot of alligators. These alligators did not seem friendly like the ones at gatorland. I also saw a lot of bunny rabbits and the rabbits were used to people unless you're pretty close to that.

What an absolutely beautiful sanctuary for appreciating nature and wildlife photography. There are…read moreno shortage of birds here, especially the Florida scrub Jay There's a short trail that winds through the vegetation, which is super easy to navigate and hike throat. It's only about 1.07 miles so it's super short, but super convenient and filled with amazing wildlife.

This natural area in Rockledge is named in honor of noted ornithologist, Allan Dudley Cruickshank…read moreand his wife Helen. He was known as "a modern Audubon with a camera". Helen and Allan first came to Florida in 1937 for their honeymoon and they were astounded by the beauty of the plants and the birds found here. After they moved to Cocoa in 1952, they led the Christmas bird count for more than two decades. Mr. Cruickshank was also a lecturer and teacher. He was on the staff of the National Audubon Society for 37 years and he wrote and illustrated many magazine articles and a number of books on ornithology, some with the help of his wife, Helen. Helen was an American nature writer and photographer of birds. She won the 1949 John Burroughs Medal for her 1948 book, Flight into Sunshine: Bird Experiences in Florida. Allan worked with officials at the rapidly growing rocket complexes at Cape Canaveral to ensure they would set aside prime habitat for the birds. This led to the creation of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which had a very high population of Florida scrub-jays at the time. The scrub forest with tiny trees is the perfect habitat for scrub-jays found only in Florida. Two million years ago they became a distinct species. They are listed as threatened by the Federal Endangered Species Act and Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. It is estimated that there are only 2,500-10,000 left in the wild. Scrub-jays are a long tailed songbird 10 to 12 inches long with blue head, wings, and tail and a pale gray back and belly. Florida scrub-jays live in family units, with one serving as the sentinel that will alert the others. The Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary is 140 acres bounded by commercial and residential establishments. The land was acquired in partnership with the State of Florida and is part of the sanctuary network established by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) This used to be a turpentine mine and farm. The sanctuary has a 1.1 mile loop trail through oak, sand pine scrub, and freshwater depression marshes. A scrub habitat like this one requires fire to regenerate. Otherwise it becomes overgrown and scrub-jays can't survive in it. Scrub-jays prefer for the scrub forest to be short. Besides the scrub-jays this is also the ideal habitat for threatened gopher tortoises. I have been to many natural areas that are scrub-jay habitats and have never seen one bird. I can't say I had high hopes for my visit here. Adding to that it was hot as heck out and there is no shade on the trail. I was heading back when a scrub-jay flew from behind me grazing my shoulder and landed on a tree right in front of me. I couldn't believe it. He was adorable! He stayed for a long time and let me take all the pictures I wanted. I had no idea they were so friendly. We sat there for quite awhile enjoying each others company and a pileated woodpecker joined us. Eventually he left to find his friends. This place is the real deal. I did not leave disappointed.

Really good area for kids camping and stuff like relaxing and parties or whatever quiet placeread more

Awesome little park with river front walk in. Gazebos for lunches/dinners, playground equipment,…read moreand a stage/party area as well. Lots of parking too.

Nice paved trail. Plenty of shade. No issue with bugs at 5pm since it was pretty hot. I took no…read morechances though & covered up with bug spray. Storm from other night flooded rest of trail. Saw no gators but heard them in the water!

Rock and Emily were great guides! We had a blast and learned a lot. This is a 10/10 experience. We…read morewent on the bioluminescent clear kayak tour at 8:15 pm on a Saturday. Everything was organized and went smoothly. I really wish it lasted longer but that's just me. The water is shallow so don't stress that it's 10 ft deep. Our paddle could touch the bottom. We did bring bug spray and wore long pants at shirts. Neither of us had any bites. Such a great experience and I'll definitely return for another tour.

Jungle Jay and Alex were our guides and they provided excellent services. We had a great time with…read morethe combo sunset and bioluminescent tour.

I wish they can add something new to the playground and I like the spider under the slideread more

So, we decided to go to this park as a family to hike. We spent 20 minutes looking for the trails,…read morebut we still couldn't find them. We even called the main office, but she said she couldn't contact the supervisor. So even she didn't know where the trails were. I do not recommend this place at all. Do not go here. The only thing you should come here for is frisbee golf, not hiking. Also, if you sit in the pavilion at the end of the road, you will be surrounded by squirrels. I attached some photos of the squirrels. My grandmother is terrified of squirrels. My sister says this park is stupid and that it sucks. I can't believe we even came here. Never go here. THIS PLACE US HORRIBLE, AND ITS A TRAP!!!