Osprey Acres Stormwater Park and Nature Preserve is an 83.7 acre park created in 2019 at a cost of…read more$7.4 million dollars. It serves the primary function of removing nitrogen and phosphorous from Osprey Marsh next door and from area canals. Since 2015 Osprey March has been removing dissolved nutrients from canal water and from the South County Water Treatment Plant's reverse osmosis brine discharge. Osprey Acres was going to be a 400 home development but was saved from development when Indian River County purchased the land to create a stormwater treatment facility to clean the water before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. While the main purpose of the park is to clean the reclaimed water, a welcome byproduct is that it attracts a lot of wildlife. Wetland parks are some of my favorite kind of parks because they attract a variety of wildlife including wading birds, migrating birds, lizards, turtles, and alligators. Osprey Acres preserved over 60 acres of native upland habitat and created 17 acres of aquatic habitat for fish and waterfowl. Some of the animals you might see here are gopher tortoises, osprey, southern black racer, alligator, river otter, coral snake, marsh rabbit, bobcat, water moccasin, great horned owl, racoon, and eastern indigo snake. Natural earth walking trails traverse through Florida ecosystems that include uphill pine, mesic oak hammock, a small scrub area, and manmade wetlands. There are five hiking trails totaling about 3.8 miles: a 1.8 mile main trail, two .6 mile trails called Marsh Rabbit Run and Bobcat Run, and two .4 mile trails called Woodpecker Way and Gopher Tortoise Trail. Osprey Acres brings together much needed stormwater treatment with recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities making them accessible to the community. Osprey Acres is open every day except Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that there are no restrooms and dogs are not allowed.

I love a stormwater park. They help the environment by capturing and retaining stormwater runoff…read morepreventing flooding in the surrounding areas. The pond plants removes pollutants from the water leaving it clean. This particular Stormwater Treatment Area removes an estimated 80% of the total nitrogen and 56% of total phosphorous, along with 79% of sediments and suspended solids. Left untreated stormwater leads to algal blooms, muck deposits, fish kills, and other environmental problems. This retention area protects the Indian River Lagoon. These ponds also attract a variety of wildlife including Florida's beautiful wading birds. There are two parking areas on the south side of Englar Drive, located between Barber Street and Schumann Drive. The first parking lot has a path through the woods before emerging at the stormwater retention ponds. If you choose to go through the woods you will go through oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, scrub and herbaceous wetlands. This area of the park is a refuge to three threatened species. In this area of the park I encountered the largest pileated woodpecker I have ever seen taking out huge pieces of a tree. The other parking lot leads right to the pond for those who would prefer not to go through the woods. Here you will find a natural earth trail that goes over a bridge and winds around the retention ponds. Expect to see herons, egrets, and ibis. This is a very beautiful place to walk around. I saw a lot of people enjoying the trails with their leashed dogs. This was such a wonderful discovery. Shout out to my friend Jim B. who is an amazing photographer and who added it to Yelp so I could find it.

Interesting park in Sebastian…read more The nature trails have many different types of habitats. Look for water birds in the wetlands. Saw several egrets and a few cranes. The park also has oak trees and pines as well. Great an unexpected find in Sebastian.

This trail was suggested as a place to ride a bike or walk from the Disney Vero Beach property. I…read morewas staying there with friends and decided to rent a bike for an afternoon and get some riding in. The rental window gave me a map and directed me to the Jungle Trail. It was easy to get to and to find from the hotel property. Lovely flora, lovely fauna along the way. And it takes you to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, for more nature and exploring. I wish I hadn't waited until my last day in the area to explore the trail and the refuge, because I would have gone back another time....or more times! It was a lovely nature escape among golf courses and developed neighborhoods. Definitely worth a ride or a drive through if you are close by!

The Jungle Trail is a 7.8 mile sand, scenic public road that acts as a buffer between the housing…read moredevelopments and the refuge waters of Pelican Island. The road traverses through the hammock habitat of Florida's barrier islands north of Vero Beach as it passes between gated communities and the shores of the Indian River Lagoon. The trail was created in the 1920's so citrus growers could haul their crop through the barrier islands. The people who lived along the trail were pioneers. They traveled by foot, horse, and the occasional buggy. Today you can drive the road but it is used mainly by hikers and bike riders. At it's north end the trail begins at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was created to protect the birds that were being wiped out by hunters who were killing the birds for hat plumes at the turn of the century. Today you can see the descendants of those birds all along the trail. During the 1980's developers wanted water front lots but the local citizens rallied and were able to save the road. The road is now a designated Florida Greenway and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places through the efforts of Dr. Ryan Wheeler and county historian, Ruth Stanbridge.

Queen's Island Preserve is a 400 acre coastal property managed by St. Lucie County. This natural…read morearea is located on the north side of Hutchinson Island. Queen's Island Preserve is an ancient archaeological site that once was the site of a Native American fishing camp. A midden was discovered here. Middens are a kind of ancient garbage dump that can tell you a lot about the ancient people who used to live here. Shells, bones, and tools, are often found in middens. The preserve is ideal for launching a canoe or kayak that can take you around the small islands in the Indian River Lagoon. The county has worked to remove invasive plants and restore the old-growth maritime hammocks with large gumbo limbos and other native trees. The preserve has a nature trail and three miles of impoundment levees, from which you can fish.

Bonsteel Park is a tranquil 2.34-acre beach park located two miles north of the Sebastian Inlet…read more The park is operated by Brevard County which purchased the land to preserve it in a natural state. The park was named in honor of Louis Bronsteel, a prominent figure in Melbourne Beach, Florida, with a long history of involvement in local government and community organizations. Bonsteel Park amenities include free parking, restroom facility, ADA accessible wooden beach crossover, and a boardwalk that goes from the park to the Barrier Island Ecosystem Sanctuary next door. On A1A at the entrance to the park there are hiking trails. Dolphins and sea turtles have been spotted here. This park is popular destination for swimming, surfing, and surf fishing. The Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center uses the beach in Bonsteel Park to release rehabilitated sea turtles. Interestingly Spanish coins have been found from Spanish ship wrecks from 1715 and 1733. Treasure hunters with metal detectors can be spotted combing the beach. While I didn't find any treasure I did have a nice visit on the boardwalk and while exploring a few of the hiking trails.

We live in south FL, so we've never been to this beach before. But we decided to make the 2 1/2…read morehour drive to visit with some friends. The husband LOVES to fish, and he had 3 rods set up on the beach. There were tons of fishermen, definitely a popular place to fish. But also a great place for shelling. My husband caught a Pompano, and I roasted it for dinner. So delicious!! Really nice beach, free parking.

Finding this state park was a very cool discovery. It is located about a mile north of the Fort…read morePierce Inlet. You go down a road and there is a small parking lot at the end. The cost to use the preserve is $2 cash on the honor system. From the parking lot you cross over a bridge that takes you over the Indian River lagoon on to the preserve. In the summer you can see manatees swimming but on the day I visited the waterway was being enjoyed by paddle boarders. This 1,342 acre preserve has been managed by the State of Florida since 1963. It has more than 4 miles of dirt and grass trails along mangrove lined canals. I saw so many mangrove crabs scuttling around. Little blue herons fly overhead and I also saw great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, wood storks, and ibises. Osprey and roseate spoonbills have also been noted in the preserve, There are two trails to the the observation tower. A one mile direct trail or a two mile perimeter trail. I opted for the direct route to avoid an impending rain storm. The tower has stairs that take you 30 feet above the lagoon. From the top you can see the bird rookeries on surrounding islands. As you hike the island you will see culverts that are part of a system for flushing mosquitoes from their breeding areas. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in mud along the island and water is released through the big metal pipes to flood the areas normally used by the mosquitoes for breeding from April to October. Two other islands make up the preserve, Kings and Queens but they have to be explored from the water. Jack Island is the only one that offers hiking trails. Since Jack Island is located on the lagoon it gets fewer visitors than other state parks on the beach. I had the whole preserve to myself. I saw so many birds, it really is a paradise for bird watchers and photographers. The hike is an easy one and I would have stayed longer if it wasn't for the lightning. The island is also popular with anglers who fish for mullet, snook, and sheepshead and runners. You can walk for miles and never encounter any one else. Jack Island is the perfect place to enjoy Florida the way Mother Nature intended it to be.

Good hiking spot, there's multiple length hikes to choose from. You can either take a direct one…read moremile (one way) walk to the observation tower or take the loop which is 2 miles either way. The tower provides a 360 lookout over the mangroves and the river. Saw herons, crabs, butterflies and large flying fish. Dogs are allowed on short leash. Path is sandy and currently muddy due to afternoon showers today. If you're coming from Ft Pierce Inlet SP or the Avalon State Park this is a 10 minute drive from either one and is worth a stop. We created a state parks map and this was not on it. We saw a state park sign (pictured) and whipped a U-ie to check it out. Glad we did. It is a $2 honor system admission fee payable at entrance. Entrance is where a residential street dead ends and you'll see a McMansion on your left. Park anywhere, pay the fee and walk toward the bridge. No amenities. No restrooms or water fountains. If you're an outdoor person consider getting the Florida state park pass. It's $120 per family and lasts 12 calendar months.

Very lovely park. Clean, peaceful, and love the water views. Saw a dolphin. Highly recommend.read more

This park is named for Anthony William Young (1866-1948). He was the first mayor of Vero Beach,…read moreFlorida, when the city was incorporated as Vero (the Beach was added to the name 6 years later) on June 12, 1919. He was also the fifth mayor from December 10, 1935 to December 15, 1937. Young also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives (1921 to 1925), and as a member of the Florida Senate (1929 to 1931). Young was an official in the Indian River Farms Co. that dug the canals to drain most of what is Vero Beach. He also authored the legislative act creating Indian River County from St. Lucie County. To get to the park you travel through the Vero Isles neighborhood which ends at the park on the Indian River. Pulling into the park there were little marsh rabbits hopping around everywhere. So adorable. Once you enter the park you are surrounded by the gorgeous views of the Indian River and the bridges that carry people over the river. Park amenities include picnic shelters and tables and it even has a restroom. This is a popular spot for fishing, picnicking, or just taking in the vista of the Indian River.

Charles Park is named in honor of Charles Parks. I love that his last name was Parks! Mr. Parks…read morebecame the city's director of recreation after moving to Vero Beach in 1958. He retired from the post in 1982. This neighborhood park was named in his honor after his successor, Vero Beach-Indian River County Recreation Department Director Pat Callahan approached then-City Manager John Little five years later with a proposal to name a new park after her mentor. The city decided to drop the s from Parks name and the park was called Charles Park. The amenities at Charles Park include a popular walking trail through a nature area, restrooms, picnic pavilion, tennis courts and volleyball court. The playground area is currently closed but there are plans to build a new playground this year. The wooden fitness equipment is in really terrible condition too. I enjoyed the fitness trail which is the best part of the park while it is under construction. Once this park receives upgrades it should be really nice.

It's hidden but the playground is big for the little ones to burn off steam. I enjoyed watching the…read moresquirrels burry things and they have small trails for runny and fitness. So if you want a free activity for your young one I'd say check it out.