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.

A small but beautiful park on mosquito lagoon built around a large shell indian mound and home of…read morethe family who saved it. There's a short walk circumnavigating the park and small gift shop with interactive learning display and interesting movie. Wonderful vistas of the lagoon with birds and butterflies about. Might could spot a dolphin or manatee. Makes for a peaceful respite and is also a great place for pictures. Fun Florida on a tankful sort of thing to do. Our indigenous people wintered here for thousands of years before their decimation as evidenced by the large Indian mounds or middens they left behind. The mounds are dumps of the accumulation of years and years of harvesting efforts from along the shore. Shells, broken bits and baubles, tools, etc. Most of them have been plundered for road and rail construction but this one remains, saved by the pioneer family who built their home atop it.

A whole bunch…read moreof clams The Seminole Rest Trail is an archaeological site that consist of several huge mounds of shells left over by the Timucuan and Ais tribes. The dates vary but the site was used and was occupied from at least 2,000 BC until about 1550, when the Europeans brought diseases and other bad stuff that decimated the tribes. The largest mound is call Snyder's Mound and was probably a clam processing place where the clams were shelled and dried and then moved to other places for consumption. They reasonable ask people to stay off the mounds but two very cool buildings from the last century sit on top of the mounds and help protect them. They is a roughly one half mile trail that goes around the park and gives not only cool views of the mounds and buildings but also the unfortunately named Mosquito Lagoon with it's huge aquatic birds and lovely wild flowers. The park is complete with a paved parking lot, clean bathrooms and most of the trail is wheelchair accessible. Sure, it's not the most exciting place in the world but gives a quiet glimpse of the past. A cool place for anyone interested in history, archeology of just wants a short walk in a very pleasant place.

I entered at the Jones East Trailhead, which has plenty of parking and also has restrooms at the…read moreentrance to the trailhead. Walking the trailhead was relatively simple and relaxing. I did encounter a few other people (they were either walking like myself or on a bicycle). The path itself is somewhat narrow, but it was enough for us to pass each other with no real inconvenience. Little Big Econ State Forest is a pretty cool place to check out. Walking the path, it was easy to forget that you were just outside of a major United States city in the twenty-first century. I seek out these spots where I can walk through the trees and forget the troubles of living in a modern city in today's modern world. Little Big Econ State Forest is a cool place to seek out if you are looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

This state forest is about a 25 minute drive from downtown Orlando. We highly recommend it. They…read moreoffer maps at the start of the trail. So lush and peaceful. The stream along side most of the trail is beautiful. There are many benches along the path that offer a nice view of the scenery with shade. We took our pups and hiked for about 2 miles. The hikes range from 3 - 10 miles. I saw they do offer camping as well. Make sure to pack some water. It was nice to see many tamiles and couples enjoying the outdoors. We loved the variety of scenery and that it has lots of natural shade throughout the hike.

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!

Wow! What a breath of fresh air this nature preserve can be when you are sick of the craziness of…read moreeveryday life. This park includes a visitor's center, multiple hiking trails, and a cute garden area with a gopher tortoise and salcutta tortoise living their best lives. Make sure to check out the Osprey Overlook as there is a boardwalk that overlooks a large lake with plenty of opportunity to see wildlife including otters, gators, and turtles. Honestly, I feel like this is the one park in Orlando where you can actually go hiking. All of the trails here are on mossy/swampy forest floor with no paved walkways. This is good to keep in mind if you are trying to rollerblade or bike ride as there are multiple tree roots on the trails, so probably best to leave these items at home and witch to trail shoes. This also means that some of the trails may be washed out when you visit, especially if going in the summer months. Actually, I would recommend skipping a visit if it has rained less than 24 hours before going as you will not be able to see as much as you would like. Overall, there is easy parking, great hiking, and excellent photo opportunities. Worth a trip if you are in the Orlando area!

You better think twice before you wear your favorite hiking shoes cause things might get a little…read moremuddy! During rainy season some of the trails even close down due to flooding. But for the most of the year this preserve is about three miles of nice, flat hiking. We even spotted some osprey and a tortoise sunbathing in the middle of the trail on the way out.

What a great place to see the native wildlife and plant species. During my walk along the trail, I…read moresaw so many birds, turtles, and alligators - it's definitely a place to take photos. Besides hiking, the park also offers biking, bird watching, and horseback riding, plus guided tours. Check out the visitor center, you'll see live fishes and baby alligators, as well as taxidermy displays of the local wildlife. You'll also learn how this wetland functions as an advanced treatment for Orlando's reclaimed water. I thought it was super informative!

Truly a hidden gem! It's free to visi and they offer free tram rides on the weekends. It's sooo…read morevast and beautiful, there's so much wild life to see. On my hike we saw tons of alligators, birds, bunnies and turtles. Even got to see baby owls. There are miles of trails and a board walk. Went at 8am on a Saturday and there weren't too many people out but as we were leaving the groups were picking up. There are benches along some of the trails and picnic tables and bathrooms near the entrance.

Black Bear Wilderness Area is a beautiful piece of Old Florida that feels like home before all the…read moregrowth and development changed so much of the landscape. For anyone who loves the outdoors, this place is a true treasure. The trail is absolutely fabulous, offering an authentic Florida wilderness experience with towering trees, abundant wildlife, and peaceful scenery that makes you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's the kind of place that reminds you why preserving natural spaces is so important. If you're looking to experience the wild, untouched beauty of Florida, Black Bear Wilderness Area is well worth the visit.

This is a pretty nice trail. It's a 7 mile trail with plenty of things to see like the St John's…read moreRiver. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid the Florida heat. You'll definitely feel the mugginess in the afternoon. Though it is a popular place to hike. It was actually quiet and peaceful. It's an easy trail but I wanted to challenge myself so I did it with a weighted vest on my back. In fact, I passed a few other hikers with weights on too . so if you're training for something, this place is it.

This 92-acre Brevard County park, located behind the Eastern Florida State College gymnasium, is an…read moreexample of how environmental restoration and public recreation can coexist together. It was created through a unique partnership among Brevard County Natural Resources Watershed Management, Eastern Florida State College, the City of Titusville, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and Parrish Medical Center. Within the park is a series of interconnected lakes designed as a stormwater treatment system that cleans runoff from both Titusville and unincorporated Brevard County before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. Wetland vegetation naturally filters pollutants from the water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. Without this treatment, stormwater runoff can contribute to algal blooms, muck accumulation, fish kills, and other ecological problems that threaten the lagoon's health. Beyond its environmental benefits, the restored wetlands provide valuable habitat for wildlife, particularly Florida's wading birds, while offering visitors opportunities for nature observation and outdoor recreation. The park contains a variety of habitats, including artificial lakes, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, mangrove communities, and hardwood and sabal palm hammocks. Visitors can explore approximately three miles of paved trails, including a scenic 2.6-mile loop for walking, running, and cycling. Additional amenities include a five-story wildlife observation tower offering a stunning view of the wetlands, athletic fields, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and access to the surrounding trail network. The park is an official stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 premier wildlife-viewing sites. It is well known for its abundant wildlife, and visitors can expect to see Ospreys, herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators, one reason swimming is prohibited in the lakes. During my visit, I spotted Black Vultures, a Great Blue Heron, and a Great Egret. Other species frequently seen here include Wood Storks, Glossy Ibises, Cattle Egrets, Mottled Ducks, Laughing Gulls, and Forster's Terns. Roseate Spoonbills make occasional appearances, along with Bald Eagles while ospreys are common throughout the park. During migration along the hammock trails you may find songbirds such as Prairie Warblers in spring and fall, or Painted Buntings during the winter months. The park also hosts the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, one of the largest birding festivals in the country. Cyclists will appreciate that the park serves as a trailhead for both the Brevard Coast-to-Coast Trail and the East Coast Greenway, providing miles of additional scenic riding along the corridor that parallels US 1. Chain of Lakes Park demonstrates how wetlands can improve water quality, support wildlife, and help protect one of Florida's most valuable ecosystems while also making a great recreational space for wildlife photography, walking, cycling, and play in a beautiful natural setting.

Beautiful park with a nice playground. The park itself has all kinds of things like a soccer field…read moreand more. It's huge but we only went to the playground area. There's a few benches and picnic tables. It's clean with pretty surroundings.

Beware of the biting insects especially the yellow flies! my neighbor got a bite and her ankle…read moreswelled to three times normal. Wear protective clothing and insect repellents!!! They will chase you

Awesome quiet trail in the lake Nona area , dotted with small ponds and lakes and wildlife ! This…read moretrail has some seating along the way to get some respite from the heat and sun and water stations as well. We love it !

What an amazing oasis this place is. There's so many hiking trails. I wouldn't even know where to…read morebegin. My visit was brief, but beautiful. I would have to take a whole day to even begin to remotely explore this springs Park. I was hoping to see the fluorescent green water, but it wasn't that way this time of year. Either due to the weather or the time of year, I'm not sure. But I will be back. I will see that water yet!

Such a beautiful Florida hidden gem! Green Springs is a small, easy hike that's perfect when you…read morewant to get outside without committing to anything too long. The spot where the river and spring meet is pretty cool, and the water is the prettiest turquoise blue -- absolutely unreal. Definitely worth checking out!