Melbourne

The southern part of Brevard County around Melbourne is rich in natural lands and parks that invite exploration, including habitats that are the northernmost point for many tropical species.

Biking Indian River Drive

Cocoa [28.448769,-80.762690] 14.3 miles

Nearly 15 miles of Indian River Drive (CR 515) parallels US 1 through Cocoa and Rockledge along the Indian River Lagoon, providing a scenic and safe road bike ride.

Centennial Trail

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
Orchid Island [27.803342,-80.429350] 0.8 miles

Designed the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903, Pelican Island NWR celebrated its century mark by creating this short, scenic, accessible boardwalk for birding.

Cocoa Beach

Home of “I Dream of Jeannie” and the best surfing on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, Cocoa Beach is a top destination for beachgoers and folks who just love to play outdoors.

Coconut Point Sanctuary

Melbourne Beach [28.011165,-80.530555] 1.0 miles

Call it the Ocean-to-Lagoon Hike: this 1 mile loop through one of Brevard County’s most diverse natural lands connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne Beach

Erna Nixon Park

Melbourne [28.091333,-80.655617] 0.8 miles

Although Erna Nixon Park is just down the street from one of the busiest shopping malls on the Space Coast, it transports you out of suburbia and into the wilds.

Fall in the floodplain

January 13, 2012 by Sandra Friend Leave a Comment

For years, I’ve heard people fuss about the “lack of seasons” in Florida. Spend a little time in the woods, and you’ll tune in to Florida’s unique seasonality. Wildflowers do the best job of showing off what time of year it is, but our floodplain forests do, too. Depending on where you are in the […]