This natural area was a delightful discovery next to the Palm Bay Library. The sanctuary sits on a…read moresmall section of what was once an ancient Atlantic Ocean dune which was part of a series of dunes formed by wind and wave action when the ocean extended across Florida. Through many years the sand was enriched so that a forest grew where only sea oats previously survived. The land that makes up Turkey Creek Sanctuary was donated to the Florida Audubon Society and the City of Palm Bay in 1978. Fundraising to conserve the area began in 1981 by a citizen support group which is still in existence today as the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society, Inc., a registered non profit. The purpose of the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society is to raise funds to support the improvement and upkeep of Turkey Creek Sanctuary and to educate the community on the vital importance and the many benefits of Florida wildlife and its natural environment. By 1994, 113 acres were protected by the voluntary management committee. Today Turkey Creek Sanctuary is part of the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program which added acres to the sanctuary in 2004. It is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Some of the birds you might see here include ospreys and owls in the old pine canopy and woodpeckers and the rare purple martin. There are also alligators, manatees, gar fish, and turtles in Turkey Creek which can be accessed by canoe or kayak. Turkey Creek Sanctuary has more than three miles of marked trails through 130 acres of sand pines, saw palmettos, and live oaks. There is a 1.85 mile boardwalk that passes through a hydric hammock, mesic hammock, and sand pine scrub community. Also in the sanctuary there are 1.5 miles of jogging trails through native forest and a 1 mile mountain bike trail that connects to an additional 8 miles. The Margaret Hames Nature Center was opened in 1992 and offers interpretive exhibits, a restroom, and environmental education programs that include nature day camps, tours, nature library, and a gift store. I loved my hike at Turkey Creek Sanctuary. I started off by visiting the Margaret Hames Nature Center where you can see exhibits, use the restroom. and purchase a drink. Near the entrance to the boardwalk I spotted a gopher tortoise wandering around. The boardwalk area was mainly shaded with lots of interpretive signs. My favorite spots were the tree house and the Oli Johnson Canoe Deck where you can look for alligators and turtles. This is such a beautiful spot. If I lived closer I would be a regular visitor.

This place is a true sanctuary. Amazing place to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity that…read morecomes along with it. There is plenty of parking. The boardwalk and whole area is well maintained and clean. We enjoyed the nature and wildlife. Everyone on the trails was friendly as well. Great experience.

OMG in the years of my travels I've never seen such an incredible bike park there were many ramps,…read morecliffs, loops, hills and bike board walkways that looked extreme. This place is for the fearless. You can also hike there were lemon, orange and grapefruit trees. We saw an alligator and butterflies. There is plenty of parking and even a Porto potty. Definitely a must for bike enthusiasts

Maritime Hammock Sanctuary is along the Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park. Trails connect the…read moretwo parks. This preserve protects 150 acres of natural coastal hammock, marshlands, and mangroves along the Indian River Lagoon. It is the largest intact maritime hammock in Brevard County. There is a 3.5 mile loop trail from the North Trail Head to the South Trailhead and back. The trail crosses two bridges, a boardwalk over wetland areas, and there is an observation deck over a marsh pond which is an excellent spot for bird watching. At the north trailhead you will find several grassy parking spaces. There used to be a plant nursery here but the non native plants have been removed. Along the hiking trail you will see wild coffee and marlberry in the understory along with white stopper, gumbo limbo, and oak trees covered in resurrection ferns. Animals that make their home here include raccoons, alligator, black racer, golden orb weaver spider, great egret, and osprey. Throughout the preserve are middens, a kind of ancient garbage dump left by the prehistoric Ais who used to live here. The midden are hilly areas marked by shells. Due to the extreme heat I could not make it through the entire hike but I enjoyed what I was able to complete. Most of the trail I was on was shaded. Note that during the rainy season, parts of the trail may be flooded. I recommend coming on a cool day and bringing water and bug spray.

A really nice walk located on south A1A. About 1 to 2 miles depending on chosen route. Some ponds…read morewith gators and birds. Nice vegetation including wild orchids at times, wild coffee and gumbo limbo trees. Pretty well marked. You shouldn't get lost. No dogs or bikes allowed.

Coconut Point Sanctuary is a 62 acre preserve protecting natural coastal strand, oak scrub, coastal…read moreoak forest, and and mangrove forest habitats on Melbourne Beach. The sanctuary is located across from Juan Ponce de Leon Park which is where you need to park before crossing the street to enter the preserve. The one mile loop trail through this preserve takes you from the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way you will traverse through saw palmetto and wildflowers. Located in the preserve is the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute which operates a marine mammal ecology and animal health lab. This sanctuary is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. An observation platform over the Indian River Lagoon is the ideal spot to view shorebirds, juvenile sea turtles, osprey, manatees, and pods of dolphins. Note that there is no shade on the trail and in this brutal heat I didn't make it that far. I recommend visiting during the cooler winter months. This area contains ancient sand dunes that were once the home of the prehistoric Ais who were hunters and gatherers. Prior to contact with European colonizers, the Ais population had grown to several hundred thousand and may have flourished for over 10,000 years. This area is also believe by some to be the landing point of Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513.

Coconut Point Sanctuary boasts a one mile hike through natural Florida protected land. It is called…read morethe ocean to lagoon hike because it connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River Lagoon. The hike is considered easy to moderate. My three year old grandson maneuvered through it with easy and had a blast. The path has lots of beautiful flowers and is loaded with natural beauty.

Ais Trail Park is a great place for all ages and abilities to hike. This 18 acre parcel was the…read morelast undeveloped property along Turkey Creek in Palm Bay when it was purchased from the Sterner family in order to preserve it in its natural state. The park gives you access to the Ais Trail, a .6 mile loop, natural earth trail. The park and trail are named for the Ais people, a group of Native Americans that lived in eastern Florida. Their territory included coastal areas and islands from Cape Canaveral to the Indian River. The best account we have of these people comes from the journal of Jonathan Dickinson which recorded their appearance, diet, and customs. Dickinson and his party spent several weeks with them when they were shipwrecked in 1696. By 1760 the Ais were extinct as a result of enslavement, war, and disease. I really enjoyed my hike on the Ais Trail that traverses through scrubby flatwoods, sand scrub, hardwood hammock, mangrove shoreline, and a brackish creek ecosystem. Plants you will encounter will include Hickory and Loblolly Bay trees, American Beauty Berry, ferns, hog plums, wild olives, native rosemary, cabbage palms, saw palmettoes, slash and longleaf pines. The trail was mostly shaded and part of it was on a boardwalk where I met several large Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers. If you want a longer hike you can connect from the Ais Trail to Dewar Park via a boardwalk. In addition to the trail, the park also has a fishing pier on Turkey Creek, canoe and kayak launch, pavilion, and restroom. The park is open daily, 7am until sunset.

This is a small primitive park, but a nice walking path. Also a short boardwalk…read more I was told by a frequent visitor that he has seen a few bobcats.

BASS Pro Shops is BASS Pro Shops. Like all the other ones. We moved from Cali so we have our fair…read moreshare there. We were most please with Troy's service in the fishing section. The tip of my hubs fishing reel broke off recently during a trip. He said he might be able to cut it and "repair" it for him. We purchased the kit and Troy did his magic. My hubs is definitely pleased. Seems to be a lot of employees walking around but none seem to be engaging with the customers. I walked around the apparel section many times. Saw employees. They were talking amongst each other. But no one to say hello or asked if i needed anything. Ended up finding my own sizes and going to ask for price checks on my own. A few clothing items were misplaces even though that SAME selectin was all on one arm with the sign displaying, but the cashier wouldnt honor it even though I showed her the picture. I wasn't going to fuss with her, I ended up not purchasing it. Do better! This location we may not frequent but might try another location and hope to have better service and luck.

I really like the store. Cheap, they are not, but they do have a great selection of guns and a…read morefairly knowledgeable staff. I've purchased a few pistols from them and never had any problems. They offer a lot of "perks" for club members. The only real complaint is the QRG system for checking out with a purchase. My advice is to go there on Monday mornings.

This was the best event during my vacation in Vero Beach.Theowner Chris took his time getting me…read moreset up to paddle board.I never expected such service,fun from the paddle board to the amazing boat rental.my captain Bob showed my family a fun tour of the river,many awesome sites.Thanks guys for taking my family on the best part of my trip to Vero Beach.

Trey and Paddles by the sea made our time on vero beach great. Great tips on local eateries…read more Comfortable chairs and nice sturdy umbrellas. We will be back ro use there other services soon.

We came here while visiting the area and really enjoyed the learning center!…read more We only stayed for a few hours but there was definitely a lot more to see and do here. We got to see a lot of fish and native Florida wildlife! There were a lot of walking trails, kayak/canoe launches, and tons of information posted around about native Florida habitats! There was also a play area for kids as well. We spent a lot of the time in the aquarium room (and yes it's a room not a super huge space) since it was air conditioned and our daughter really enjoys seeing the fish. They have a touch tank that's open for a few hours throughout the day, but we noticed that if the tank isn't open, there was no staff in the space. The facilities seemed a bit older but overall well maintained. There were summer camps going on while we were there, and felt like they sort of overtook some of the spaces we were in from time to time. Not a super huge deal as we were able to go explore other parts but it did feel somewhat chaotic as a large group of 8 year olds ran into the area. You do have to pay admission, there is a pass available as well if you plan to visit more than once. Parking was not plentiful so be mindful when planing, to come early or during a more "off" time. Overall this was a neat place to go to if you enjoy learning about Florida wildlife and nature.

Stopped into the Environmental Learning Center on a whim after driving past it many times, and now…read moreI'm wondering why I waited so long. This place is one of those hidden little Treasure Coast gems that almost hides in plain sight. The boardwalk trails through the mangroves were peaceful, scenic, and surprisingly immersive. Every turn felt like a mini nature documentary. Within a short walk I spotted a ribbon snake cruising through the water, an orb-weaver spider that looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie, and plenty of birds and wildlife along the way. Bring a camera because you'll use it. Bonus points for the rare opportunity to admire a spider web without immediately walking face first into it. The grounds are well maintained, educational without feeling overly touristy, and just plain relaxing. There's a nice balance between nature preserve, learning experience, and quiet escape from the everyday rush. Also appreciated that you can spend 30 minutes here or easily lose a couple of hours wandering the trails and slowing your brain down a notch. We didn't try the kayak rental this time but made a mental note for the future. If you live in or visit Vero Beach and enjoy nature, photography, kayaking, wildlife, or just finding peaceful spots that don't involve crowds and traffic, this place is absolutely worth a stop.

Great experience having my beloved bicycle repaired with a brake adjustment and the installation of…read morea new bottom bracket. I am a long time customer, and a local here, and appreciate the great staff that made all this happen, Mark, Theresa, Shea, and, of course, the excellent mechanic, RJ. I highly recommend.

I am so glad we opted to go with this shop for our adventures! On the first day we rented some…read morebikes and they explained about all the bike paths and gave us a map! At first I thought we wouldn't follow the map However it really gives you a super nice, easy ride. We biked to Jetty park and stopped at a few places along the way. The second day we rented kayaks and joined a guided tour with Randy. I can't say enough good things about how lovely our experience was. Any stress just melted away! We saw some dolphins too! I highly recommend A1A Outdoors for your adventuring. They are so friendly and welcoming and took the time to help us out in a caring and thoughtful way! 10/10 recommend When we stopped by the shop parking was super easy!