Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center — Attraction in Titusville

For those of you that would like a short description : easy to access from the main road, admission is $10 per vehicle however I came on a fee-free day, I'm assuming because it was raining. The path through the park is pleasant, and easy to navigate. There is a short(1/4 mile) walking path to be able to enjoy a bit of scenery on foot as well. Restrooms about halfway through the self guided driving tour. This attraction is a bit off the beaten path, but is on the route to other attractions in the area. Overall if you are a nature lover this is a fantastic addition to any vacation or safe trip through the Space Coast Area. I would definitely recommend this attraction, a fully immersed experience of nature within the comfort of your own vehicle.

When you arrive at the entrance to this expansive wetland preserve, there is an informational covered display area with plenty of leaflets provided to ensure you are able to know how to best enjoy this beautiful area. The well-maintained gravel path that meanders through this large area of wetlands enables pretty much any vehicle to find it easy to get around. The total trip through the National Wildlife Refuge can take as little as 30-40 minutes. Drivers are encouraged to maintain a slow speed and respectful of the various fauna that may cross the gravel path. You are free to stop along the way as often as you would like among the 12 different stops along the self-guided tour. There are also plenty of other scenic detours and extras to enjoy in addition to these stops. There are also many informational placards scattered throughout the park to provide a more detailed snapshot of what you would commonly experience in this beautiful Bastion of nature. It is very accessible and the stops are spaced out enough so you can enjoy the scenery while progressing through the Park. Also the availability of brochures at the entrance to the Nature Preserve was quite refreshing as there is a variety a flora and fauna to experience. There is a hiking trail about a third of the way through the Nature Preserve that allows the bird Aficionado to enjoy spectacles rarely seen outside such a pristine Sanctuary for nature to spread its wings, if you will. there are a set of brick-and-mortar individual restrooms accessible for the end of the self-guided tour. As well as a couple of porta-potties in case attendance is heavy on any particular day. This is a must-see for any nature lover as you really are fully immersed in the scenery and wander that abounds in this Wetlands Preserve. There are few opportunities of this magnitude that are available to experience the typical flora and fauna that are...

We stopped on our way home from vacation and wished we had more time. The way we took to get there was Route 1 to Titusville then across the A. Max Brewer Bridge. Stop by the visitor center first to grab a map and chat with the park staff and rangers. Use google maps in addition to the map from the center because it is not to scale.

Because we had limited time, we decided to visit Playalinda Beach and the Manatees. It does cost $20 to go to Playalinda Beach, but it is good for the entire week, plus allows you to access other things in the wildlife refuge. The beaches are quiet, just the dunes, ocean, and people. No hotels or vendors, not commercialized at all. There are several parking lots leading to the beach. The Parking lot #1 beach is the one to go to if you are interested in seeing a launch. The other parts of the beach also have a view but are not as close. If you venture down towards Parking lot #12, you will run into a nude beach. The info says it's at parking lot #13, but they are also frequenting Lot #12. We drove past to see what all the hullabaloo was about and got quite an eyeful, so if that may offend you, do not go down that far.

After walking on the beach, we headed over to the Manatee Observation deck. What an unexpected treat. There were quite a few in that area - so much fun to watch.

We then decided to do the Black Point Wildlife Drive on the way out. This was a much longer drive than expected, so we were only able to do half. We saw some interesting birds and, yes, alligators. Most were in the water, but we were lucky to find a fairly large one sunning itself on the road side of the bank. He did not seem interested in the cars or people at all - I'm sure he is very used to the tourists, but Alligators still can be a dangerous wild reptile, so be respectful and super careful. The one thing we did not see anywhere were warnings or even what to expect from the Merritt Island Alligators. I would have been interested to know how far away from water they venture if I had decided to walk one of the trails.

The refuge is also a great place to go if you are a...

A great gateway to the Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge This is a wonderful starting point for an understanding of not only this national wildlife refuge but where the other ones are and what a refuge is all about. It is a beautiful Visitor's Center with wonderfully helpful and friendly staff. This is located right off the south side of the Max Brewer Memorial highway and has good signage. This is a 1 story building on the south side of the road near the south-end entrance of the Canaveral national seashore. It is definitely a great place to stop. It has a running movie that explains the seashore and the wildlife contained there. There is a small paved parking lot with an overflow gravel parking lot right next to it. The rangers were especially helpful in explaining the options to the park. There is a fee to drive specific parts of the park but, I think, it is well worth it for the pleasant drive and wildlife you will see. Behind the building is a walkway around one side of the lake and through the forest/wetlands. It also has a gift shop, restrooms, and some interactive displays to explain parts of the park. During this most recent visit, the gift shop and part of the walkway around the lake were closed. Even with these restrictions, I highly recommend this as a first stop...