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    Vern Jansen Park

    5.0 (1 review)

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    9 years ago

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    Chain of Lakes Park

    Chain of Lakes Park

    4.9
    (9 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    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.

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    Chain of Lakes Park
    Chain of Lakes Park
    Chain of Lakes Park

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    Fox Lake Park

    Fox Lake Park

    5.0
    (7 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    Titusville is known as the "Gateway to Nature and Space," and after visiting Fox Lake Park, it's…read moreeasy to see where the "nature" part of that nickname comes from. I happened to stop nearby for some fast food and decided eat at the park. I'm so glad I did, because this beautiful park was a delight to visit. The area has a prehistoric history. Between 5,000 and 450 years ago, Native American groups lived here, harvesting freshwater snails and mussels. The discarded shells eventually formed large mounds, some of which were later used as burial sites by communities living along the Indian River's dune ridge. Today, Fox Lake Park is an expansive 31-acre park on the shores of Fox Lake, a small natural freshwater lake. A paved loop road winds through the park for walking and biking. The park has picnic shelters, grills, sand volleyball courts, a fishing dock, a canoe and kayak launch for personal watercraft, and a boat ramp with access to South Lake with a network of scenic waterways to explore. There are eight rental pavilions of various sizes, including the massive Main Pavilion, which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and features both a kitchen and stage. Throughout the year, the park hosts numerous community events. Fox Lake Park offers boating, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking all in a peaceful natural setting. I especially appreciated the quiet lakeside views with the chance to view wildlife. Fox Lake Park is also a designated stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of more than 500 premier wildlife-viewing locations throughout the state. Birdwatchers can spot wading birds such as American Coots, Snowy Egrets, Green Herons, and Anhingas. During the winter months, ducks including Buffleheads, Northern Pintails, and Northern Shovelers are frequent visitors. Migrating songbirds such as Red-eyed Vireos, Prairie Warblers, and American Redstarts can often be found among the oaks and forest edges. Other species to watch for include Common Ground-Doves, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Loggerhead Shrikes, Swamp Sparrows, and, if you're lucky, Wood Storks, Swallow-tailed Kites, Limpkins, Tree Swallows (in winter), and even the occasional Roseate Spoonbill if you are able to explore Fox Lake and South Lake by kayak. Fox Lake Park is a place to discover history, recreation, and Florida's natural beauty. A simple stop for lunch ended up showing me an amazing place to experience the area's quieter, more scenic side.

    Fox Lake Park is a wonderful park located in Titusville, Florida. I pulled in here to take a…read morebusiness call and get some walking in while taking the call. The park itself had a nice paved path, a children's playground, several pavilions, a boat ramp, and more. While there was some flooded area from the recent Hurricane Milton it was not too bad. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend a visit to Fox Lake Park.

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    Fox Lake Park
    Fox Lake Park
    Fox Lake Park

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    Canaveral National Seashore Park

    Canaveral National Seashore Park

    4.6
    (61 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    This was a very nice and relaxing trial to walk. It was very quiet maybe saw one other group while…read moreI was wrapping up my walk. I saw some small animals on the trial. There was a very nice breeze walking by the ocean. There was parking right next to the entrance of the trial.

    While exploring the space coast, we found this national coastline. The gate guard was amazing! He…read morewas friendly & helpful. We had a disabled veteran traveling with us & he informed us that we get in free & that he gets a free park pass that gets him & his party in free to any national park & half off fees when applicable. That was so helpful! The welcome center is very clean with the best bathrooms in the park. There's a small gift shop with passports & patches, if you collect them. The parking lots have compost toilets which can vary in cleanliness. They have sanitizing stations, but no water or showers. The beach is very nice & was not heavily populated while we were there. There is a nude beach as well, but we stayed away. Ha! The sand is not your average sand. It is shells. It is very sticky & takes a sticky brush to remove. BUT!! This makes it an awesome beach for shelling! We found tons of whole conch shells! There is a lot of wildlife including manatees in the summer. We saw a ton of armadillos & some dolphins. It's just a fun time! We have been back twice & both times were great. We're going back again soon. *The beaches have handicap access. They have viewing areas without going into the sand. There are a lot of places to fish & kayak. Take a cooler & spend the day! No glass or pets allowed.*

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    Canaveral National Seashore Park
    Canaveral National Seashore Park
    Canaveral National Seashore Park

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    Epic Paddle Adventures

    Epic Paddle Adventures

    4.7
    (46 reviews)
    33.5 mi

    We did the 10 p.m. bioluminescence clear kayak tour, and OMG... I loved it so much! The first time…read moreI ever saw bioluminescence was in Puerto Rico back in 2018, and it's still one of the most beautiful nighttime experiences I've ever had--right up there with seeing the Northern Lights. There's just something so magical about watching the water glow around you. We drove about 50 minutes from Orlando to Merritt Island for the tour, where we launched from the Indian River Lagoon, and it was absolutely worth it. This is one of those experiences that's really hit or miss, so keep in mind that the amount of bioluminescence you see isn't something the tour company can control. We got lucky because there was so much activity that night! We actually didn't kayak very far since the bioluminescence was so active right near the shoreline. We spent most of our time enjoying it from that area because there was no need to go much farther. Also, don't expect your phone camera to do it justice. It's incredibly hard to capture on camera, and it's so much more breathtaking in person. I highly recommend this experience to everyone, and I already can't wait to do it again!

    I saw the picture that showed one of their other locations so I was disappointed with this paddling…read moretrip. It wasn't very epic and would hardly count as an adventure. The person who helped us was friendly and the prices were reasonable. We had a good time. The scenery was OK.

    Photos
    Paddle boarding
    Paddle boarding
    Epic Paddle Adventures
    The Lake

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    The Lake
    Sams House at Pine Island

    Sams House at Pine Island

    4.8
    (4 reviews)
    11.2 mi

    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.

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    Sams House at Pine Island
    Saw this little guy while walking
    Saw this little guy while walking
    Remnants from citrus trees

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    Remnants from citrus trees

    Vern Jansen Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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