I loved my visit to this wonderful natural area where I had a delightful hike. Erna Nixon Park is a…read more53.93-acre community park named in honor of Melbourne Village naturalist, Erna Nixon who championed the preservation of the natural area, which in the early 1970s was zoned for warehouses near Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Erna Nixon Park has 3,000 feet of elevated boardwalk that takes you through a natural Florida hammock and nature preserve containing plants and animals such as red blanket lichen, evergreen shrubs, wild coffee, wild Boston fern, red maple, marlberry, strop ferns, Simpson's stopper, shoestring fern, golden foot fern, cypress trees, live oaks with hanging Spanish moss, and small animals like the gopher tortoise, indigo snakes, and pileated woodpeckers. Erna Nixon Park is a stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. I was lucky enough to see a gopher tortoise near the boardwalk on my visit. This park is a popular destination for nature walks, wildlife watching, and I even saw someone sketching. Some of the community events held here include a Moonlight Stroll that takes place after dark with live music and food vendors. Erna Nixon Park also has a butterfly garden and a small nature center with exhibits for viewing and which offers classes and youth programming. There is also a pavilion with picnic tables and restrooms. Come for a picnic, a nature walk, or a program. This is Florida at its best and most natural. Thank you Erna Nixon for saving this ecologically important land.

this is a short walking path it's really nice there's a nature center and butterfly gardens.. it's…read morea really good nice place if you want to go see nature but don't have a lot of time or you want to have a picnic underneath a covered pavilion. Well I was there there was a field trip and the pavilion was taken up and nature center was being used for this field trip. The past does go into a circle so you will start out where you left off and you can continue to keep going if you'd like. There are bathrooms on the premises which were actually decently clean.

This natural area was a delightful discovery next to the Palm Bay Library. The sanctuary sits on a…read moresmall section of what was once an ancient Atlantic Ocean dune which was part of a series of dunes formed by wind and wave action when the ocean extended across Florida. Through many years the sand was enriched so that a forest grew where only sea oats previously survived. The land that makes up Turkey Creek Sanctuary was donated to the Florida Audubon Society and the City of Palm Bay in 1978. Fundraising to conserve the area began in 1981 by a citizen support group which is still in existence today as the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society, Inc., a registered non profit. The purpose of the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society is to raise funds to support the improvement and upkeep of Turkey Creek Sanctuary and to educate the community on the vital importance and the many benefits of Florida wildlife and its natural environment. By 1994, 113 acres were protected by the voluntary management committee. Today Turkey Creek Sanctuary is part of the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program which added acres to the sanctuary in 2004. It is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Some of the birds you might see here include ospreys and owls in the old pine canopy and woodpeckers and the rare purple martin. There are also alligators, manatees, gar fish, and turtles in Turkey Creek which can be accessed by canoe or kayak. Turkey Creek Sanctuary has more than three miles of marked trails through 130 acres of sand pines, saw palmettos, and live oaks. There is a 1.85 mile boardwalk that passes through a hydric hammock, mesic hammock, and sand pine scrub community. Also in the sanctuary there are 1.5 miles of jogging trails through native forest and a 1 mile mountain bike trail that connects to an additional 8 miles. The Margaret Hames Nature Center was opened in 1992 and offers interpretive exhibits, a restroom, and environmental education programs that include nature day camps, tours, nature library, and a gift store. I loved my hike at Turkey Creek Sanctuary. I started off by visiting the Margaret Hames Nature Center where you can see exhibits, use the restroom. and purchase a drink. Near the entrance to the boardwalk I spotted a gopher tortoise wandering around. The boardwalk area was mainly shaded with lots of interpretive signs. My favorite spots were the tree house and the Oli Johnson Canoe Deck where you can look for alligators and turtles. This is such a beautiful spot. If I lived closer I would be a regular visitor.

This place is a true sanctuary. Amazing place to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity that…read morecomes along with it. There is plenty of parking. The boardwalk and whole area is well maintained and clean. We enjoyed the nature and wildlife. Everyone on the trails was friendly as well. Great experience.

Searching for True Love & Forgiveness? Talk to GOD and get a…read moreDOG! #ReflectDogs Love & Forgiveness Well if you're into agility items, cute buildings, shaded seating areas and interesting structures this dog park was made for you!! They even have the mandatory fire hydrant. There is a nice big double-gated entry with a huge tree and nice bench in it. Put dog park has a couple poop bag dispensers as well as trash cans and a water feature. You can park right next to the dog park. The ground covering is mostly sand and grass. But beware there seem to be quite a few biological landmines?

Terrific lakeside park with play areas for children, large and small dogs. I think dogs on the…read morenature trail require a leash. It's currently undergoing construction via a large donation from a local humanitarian and through the work of volunteers and help from a construction team. Unleash Day, the opening ceremony is December 12, 2021. Bathrooms are on a time lock and currently closed until the bathroom floor resurfacing dries. The nature trail is suitable for seniors with walkers, people requiring a wheelchair, and Mom's with strollers. The large loop is about 3 miles, smaller loop about 1/2 mile and goes around a lake. The roadside trail has older oak trees. Both loops go around a trail. The trail is posted no trespassing in neighborhood or nature preserve so stay on the trail. Beware of golf carts on the trail. It's good for bikes and skates, too. The play areas feature bridges, mini hills and culverts. A swing set is near the lake. Their are covered benches. We spotted a kingfisher, Mallard ducks, a Snowy Egret, an Osprey with a fish, and palm warblers.

Awesome park. Clean. Multiple play sets for kids, swings, slides, baseball and football fields.read more

Ais Trail Park is a great place for all ages and abilities to hike. This 18 acre parcel was the…read morelast undeveloped property along Turkey Creek in Palm Bay when it was purchased from the Sterner family in order to preserve it in its natural state. The park gives you access to the Ais Trail, a .6 mile loop, natural earth trail. The park and trail are named for the Ais people, a group of Native Americans that lived in eastern Florida. Their territory included coastal areas and islands from Cape Canaveral to the Indian River. The best account we have of these people comes from the journal of Jonathan Dickinson which recorded their appearance, diet, and customs. Dickinson and his party spent several weeks with them when they were shipwrecked in 1696. By 1760 the Ais were extinct as a result of enslavement, war, and disease. I really enjoyed my hike on the Ais Trail that traverses through scrubby flatwoods, sand scrub, hardwood hammock, mangrove shoreline, and a brackish creek ecosystem. Plants you will encounter will include Hickory and Loblolly Bay trees, American Beauty Berry, ferns, hog plums, wild olives, native rosemary, cabbage palms, saw palmettoes, slash and longleaf pines. The trail was mostly shaded and part of it was on a boardwalk where I met several large Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers. If you want a longer hike you can connect from the Ais Trail to Dewar Park via a boardwalk. In addition to the trail, the park also has a fishing pier on Turkey Creek, canoe and kayak launch, pavilion, and restroom. The park is open daily, 7am until sunset.

This is a small primitive park, but a nice walking path. Also a short boardwalk…read more I was told by a frequent visitor that he has seen a few bobcats.

So much to do.. and its so beautiful there! Perfect place for families especially the children..I…read moregive it a 10

Great Park! Family oriented! A lot of things to do as far as activities for the kids and Family.read more

Beach is clean and large enough for the people there. Bathrooms and showers are undergoing…read morerenovations and are not available. If they were a solid 4 stars.

Best to visit during the week as there is often no parking on the weekends. There are volleyball…read morecourts, clean bathrooms, pavillons you can rent and a really nice playground.

Conveniently located to downtown, this Indian River waterfront park is located next to the Eau…read moreGallie Public Library. The first settlement in Eau Gallie was established in 1859 when John C. Houston received an 80-acre homestead on the north shore of the Eau Gallie River. The park takes its name from the once thriving pineapple plantations that used to be in Eau Gallie in the late 1800's. At one point land was selling for $1,000 an acre until the freeze of 1894-95 which killed off the pineapple crops. One Eau Gallie family, John and Juliet Aspinwall, lost 150,000 pineapples and that was the last of the pineapple industry in the area. Come to Pineapple Park for a stunning view of the Indian River and the Eau Gallie Bridge. Steps from shopping and restaurants in the historic district, this small park has a fishing pier, gazebo, picnic tables, playground, and restrooms. Stately live oak trees in the park provide beauty and shade. This is the perfect place to take the kids to play, fish, picnic, or enjoy the sunset.

Small but overall pleasant enough park. It has a couple pavilions, a children's playground, a…read moredecent water view, a few picnic tables, and parking.

Castaway Point Park is a small park sitting on a peninsula between the Indian River Lagoon and the…read moremouth of Turkey Creek. While it may not be as big as some of the other area parks it has been recently renovated and the location makes this a standout spot for water based recreational activities. This park was also a favorite spot of the Native Americans and early settlers who once lived here. Recent improvements to the park include hardening of the shoreline with rocks, new north observation pier, a new boardwalk connecting the north and south pier, and new decking for the south observation pier. Other park amenities include a concrete walkway, fishing piers with fish cleaning stations, benches, pavilions which can be rented, picnic tables, grills, kayak/canoe launch, and restrooms. This park has one of the only natural beaches on the Indian River Lagoon. Many people visit this park to fish from the piers and beach. I loved it for the stunning river view and the diverse bird life it attracts. I saw anhinga, great blue herons, and egrets. If you are lucky you may even spot a manatee or dolphin. I recommend coming here for an amazing sunset view.

Castaway Point Park is a small park located at the end of a quiet street just off of a main street…read morein Palm Bay, Florida. It really is a cool park and provided a great spot to take a conference call and enjoy a peaceful water view. There were people wading in the water and others, like myself, were chilling and just enjoying the view. Again, it is not a large park, but Castaway Point Park seems to be a hidden gem in Palm Bay. This in itself is a good thing as it is always amazing to find these little known places in the course of my travels. They had a building housing rest rooms and the park itself was well maintained. I truly enjoyed my time here at Castaway Point Park and I will definitely return to this cool park when I am in the area. I would definitely recommend Castaway Point Park and I give it five stars.

Explore Jay Blanchard Park: The Heart of East Orlando…read moreLooking for the best things to do in East Orlando? Whether you're already living in East Orlando or are considering buying a home in East Orlando, Jay Blanchard Park is a local treasure you can't miss. Located at 2451 N Dean Rd, Orlando, FL 32817, it's the perfect outdoor escape near UCF. What makes Blanchard Park special? The Little Econ Trail: Over 7 miles of paved, shaded trails for easy riding, running, or walking. Family Fun: 2 large shaded playgrounds with oak canopies and sunshades to keep the kids cool. Active Lifestyle: 6 tennis courts, beach volleyball, basketball, and fields for soccer or lacrosse. The YMCA: Home to the Blanchard Park YMCA for all your indoor fitness needs. Pro-Tips for Your Visit: Cookouts: Use the individual picnic tables and charcoal grills for a perfect family BBQ. Events: Check the Orange County Parks calendar for free movie nights in the park! Stay Safe: We love our Florida wildlife! Be mindful near the water's edge as alligators are common in the area. Thinking about buying a home in East Orlando? The Orlando zip code 32817 offers an incredible lifestyle with easy access to nature and city amenities. www.TestonTeam.com for full video walkthrough under News & Tips - Things to Do in Orlando

Blanchard park is a great place to enjoy nature! The trail is great for jogging, biking and walking…read moreyour dogs. Plenty of open fields and space to enjoy the outdoors.