Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore

Based on a recommendation from our friend, Bruce Neale, we decided to make a day in the nature preserves surrounding Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.  We left the Daytona Super 8 around 8 am and drove south on the A1A along the ocean to the northern entrance to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  Our first stop was at the manatee viewing area on one of the canals across the island.  Unfortunately, there were no manatees there when we were looking.  We drove on to the visitor center where we paid for a day pass to the nature trails in Merritt Island and Canaveral National Seashore. 

The staff at the visitor center was very helpful and gave up tips on places to look for interesting birds, mammals and alligators.  Since it was Thursday, a number of birders were in the area and the park service took a van load of visitors out to spot some of the many resident and migratory birds in the area.  A number of people were admiring the beautiful painted buntings that were common around the visitor center.  We also learned that a huge group of birders will flock to Merritt Island in late January for viewings and a number of events for birders. 

We took the seven mile drive around the Black Point Wildlife Drive on a well maintained gravel road where we saw more numbers and varieties of birds than we could imagine.  We saw several species of egrets and herons, ospreys, kingfishers, scrub jays, bald eagles, coots, gallinules, white and glossy ibis, rosette spoonbills, turkey and black vultures, and any number of duck species.  We also saw a number of alligators and turtles basking in the sun and even a few armadillos scurrying along the road.  Just to know what we were looking at, we picked up a simple guide to Central Florida birds at the gift shop.  The guide helped us to know which birds were which.

We ran into Titusville to get lunch from El Leoncito Cuban and Mexican Restaurant.  Mary had the Ropa Vieja which is roasted and shredded beef.  Her meal included fried sweet plantains, rice and black beans on the side.  I had a Cuban sandwich which was excellent.  We swapped some of each other’s meals and had a very good lunch.  We found El Leoncito on Trip Advisor and we agreed with the good ratings. 

After lunch, we crossed back over to Merritt Island but drove to the Playalinda area of Canaveral National Seashore.  This end of the park is mostly public beach although there are a number of wildlife areas as well.  From many of the beaches you can see the launch pads over at Cape Canaveral.  We learned that many people come to the beaches to watch launches at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.  

There are 14 parking areas with a boardwalk over the dunes leading to the beach.  Visitors are not permitted to walk on the ecologically fragile dunes to protect them from erosion.  According to my pal, Bruce, beach 13 is commonly a “clothing optional” beach.  However, with air temperatures in the mid 60s today, it is highly doubtful that anyone would be prancing nude along the beach today.

To access the northern, Apollo area, of Canaveral National Seashore we had to get back on US 1 and drive to New Smyrna Beach and cross over to the barrier island.  A light rain started as we drove which caused the temperature to drop to the low 60s.  We stopped at Turtle Mound which is a huge midden made of cast off oyster shells that the Timucuan people dumped over the course of time from around 1000 BC to around 1400 AD.  The mound was huge and contains over 35,000 cubic yards of shells.  Since homes and other structures were built on the mound, it was spared from destruction when roads were built in the area and many mounds were torn apart to use the oyster shells to lay the base for roads.  We drove around the grounds of the Apollo area of Canaveral National Seashore until around 5 pm then started back toward our motel in Daytona Beach.  We stopped at a Super America and purchased gas for 1.99 per gallon.  I haven’t filled up for less than $20 in many years. 

After a brief stop at Publix to restock on fruit, we came back to the motel then went back out for dinner.  Since we really liked the nearby Bay Street Seafood where we ate on Monday night we decided to go back this evening.  Like a lot of places here, the restaurant closes at 7 pm so we headed there quickly.  Mary had a salad and I had a fish sandwich made with local grouper that was blackened with their good homemade onion rings on the side.  On seeing my Marshall sweatshirt, the cook came out and talked to us about the We are Marshall movie.  We came back to the room to plan for our day on Friday.

View Larger Map