In March of 2024 Brevard County Commissioners renamed Coconut Point Park Val M. Steele Park in…read morerecognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and community improvement. Steele served a total of four years as Melbourne Beach Council Member, town commissioner, and later as the mayor of Melbourne Beach. Some if his accomplishments included moving the main county courthouse to Viera, the building of the Spessard Holland Golf Course, and the creation of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. He volunteered on the St. Johns Water Management District Board during which he was instrumental in protecting and restoring hundreds of thousands of acres of marshland. He contributed to the economic growth of Brevard as a director of the Bank of Brevard, Atlantic Bank, American Bank of the South, American Mortgage Corporation and Holmes Regional Hospital. Steele passed away on October 12, 2020, at the age of 79. Val M. Steele Park is a 36.9 acre beach park located within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge complex. I love that the parking is free. It is a popular spot for surfing, beachcombing, and fishing. Park amenities include a picnic shelter, restrooms, and outside showers. One of the two dune crossovers is wheelchair accessible. If you are looing for a beach day, it doesn't get much better than this. This beach park is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The primary habitats here are beach dune and coastal strand. Shorebirds on the beach include Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red Knots, Northern Gannets, Bonaparte's Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in fall and winter. From late summer through winter look for Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers. In the surf are Common Loons and Lesser Scaup. In addition to the birds this beach area is also an important sea turtle nesting site preserve from spring to fall.

Great covered bbq area with tables. Little beach area so bring a chair and relax for a while too.read more

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Despite its association to NASA and the space program in general, the Space Coast is also known for its stretch of beaches, too. From the popularity of Paradise Beach, the iconic locale of Playalinda, and the history of Cocoa Beach, it is safe to say the Space Coast is known for that sandy stretch of land where the land meets the ocean. However, there is one beach that locales truly know about, one that is also historic as it is the official location Juan Ponce de Leon landed. If you ever get the chance to, you should definitely spend some time at Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach. Though an address is provided, Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach - which I will simply call Ponce de Leon for the remainder of this review - seems to be located equisdistant from many major tourist areas. In short, it seems to be in between Sebastian Inlet and Historic Melbourne Beach. It should also be noted there is quite a distance between Strawbridge and Wabasso Bridge, ergo one of my criticisms is how long it might take to get to this beach, especially if you live directly across the river. Ponce de Leon is not hard to miss. Driving either way on A1A a.k.a. Jimmy Buffett Memorial Hwy., the entrance features a statue of Juan Ponce de Leon. There is an art gazebo which also has the public restrooms and showers, along with four piers leading to the beach. The beach is very beautiful with mostly-untouched white sand and the well-known Atlantic salty green ocean water. It doesn't seem much, but for us locales, the best part of Ponce de Leon is that despite its historic lore, it is not bombarded by tourists. This is one of those beaches the locals have to themselves. So if you want your peace and quiet mixed with having the waves to yourself for bodyboarding and surfing, this is the beach for you. Ultimately, I am going to give Ponce de Leon four stars out of five for this review. It is a simple, yet beautiful beach with a decent number of anemeties, and some individuality (the statue for example) to mark it as its own. You can't go wrong going to one of the beaches known as a hidden jewels amongst the locals.

On our way back from Sebastian Inlet State Park we stopped at Ponce de Leon Landing Historical Park…read morealong the A1A Route along the Atlantic Ocean in Florida! There is a statue, bathrooms, free parking for Beach Access! It's a very nice location!

I love this place but recently an employee decided to take the closed at sunset very seriously…read more Don't be a minute late from the time Google says the sun will set or she will lock you in the park. Ask me how I know...lol. You have been warned.

This huge preserve is 35 square miles. Admission is free. The preserve was created when the state…read moreof Florida bought up large tracts of land in 1995 to preserve the watershed to the St. Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon. In addition to protecting the water the land also protects rare and endangered species of plants and animals. The preserve is made up of grassy forests and the long leaf pine that was common before the development of Florida. Here you will find the biological communities of cypress dome, scrubby flat woods, sand hills, and strand swamp. The preserve contains one of Florida's largest populations of scrub jays, a species listed as vulnerable. Many native plants and animals make their home here including over 50 protected species. Animals that can be found here include the red-cockaded woodpecker, Bachman's sparrow, Eastern indigo snakes, bald eagles, wild turkeys, river otters, bobcats, and tortoises. This preserve is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Travel in the preserve is along unpaved roads. There is a buffer road that runs along the C-54 canal. In November through March you can find manatees in the canal. There is a platform to view them at the end of the buffer road. The preserve is divided into quadrants by the Fellsmere Canal and by I-95. Each quadrant has long hiking trails. There are over 60 miles of hiking trails through 22,000 acres of wilderness. There is a visitor's center at the entrance that is staffed Friday through Sunday. You can hike, bike, or horseback ride the preserve. From this preserve you can canoe, boat, and fish the St. John's River. There are six primitive camp sites which can only be reached by hiking. Hiking trails include red, yellow, and blue and can be rough because they are also used by horses. Along some of the trails you can see the remains of homesteads from when the land was used for growing citrus, ranching, turpentining, and logging. The preserve contains a portion of the rails to trails path, a hiking and biking trail along the abandoned Trans Florida Central Rail incorporated in 1924. The surface of the trail hasn't been decided on yet and there are few signs marking it. As a sign in the park says this is the real Florida. Photographers, nature lovers, hikers, and equestrians will love exploring this vast open wilderness. Come see Florida the way Mother Nature intended.

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.

We stopped here to breakup our drive to a state park in central Florida, it's a beautiful area! We…read morewalked around a bit, got our feet in the ocean, and noted all of the turtle nests! Want to come back here one day soon for a beach day! The water was gorgeous that day as well! Check out this area/park/beach if you are in the area! They have a board walk as well!

If you're looking to soak up the sun, catch some waves, and maybe beat your own record for the…read morenumber of snacks eaten under an umbrella--Jaycee Park is your new happy place. The beach? Pristine. The water? Perfectly blue with just the right amount of wave action to feel like a surfer (even if you're just boogie boarding like a champ). The park area behind the beach is ideal for taking a break from the heat--plenty of shaded pavilions, a volleyball court, and a playground for the little ones who still somehow have more energy than a triple espresso. What really makes Jaycee Park shine is how family-friendly and chill the vibes are. You've got locals grilling, kids building sandcastles that'll be gone in one tide, and beachgoers just vibing to the sound of waves. Plus, the accessibility and parking make it a no-stress zone from the moment you pull up. So grab your sunscreen, flip-flops, and your most extra beach floatie--Jaycee Park is where it's at!

Coconut Point Sanctuary is a 62 acre preserve protecting natural coastal strand, oak scrub, coastal…read moreoak forest, and and mangrove forest habitats on Melbourne Beach. The sanctuary is located across from Juan Ponce de Leon Park which is where you need to park before crossing the street to enter the preserve. The one mile loop trail through this preserve takes you from the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way you will traverse through saw palmetto and wildflowers. Located in the preserve is the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute which operates a marine mammal ecology and animal health lab. This sanctuary is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. An observation platform over the Indian River Lagoon is the ideal spot to view shorebirds, juvenile sea turtles, osprey, manatees, and pods of dolphins. Note that there is no shade on the trail and in this brutal heat I didn't make it that far. I recommend visiting during the cooler winter months. This area contains ancient sand dunes that were once the home of the prehistoric Ais who were hunters and gatherers. Prior to contact with European colonizers, the Ais population had grown to several hundred thousand and may have flourished for over 10,000 years. This area is also believe by some to be the landing point of Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513.

Coconut Point Sanctuary boasts a one mile hike through natural Florida protected land. It is called…read morethe ocean to lagoon hike because it connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River Lagoon. The hike is considered easy to moderate. My three year old grandson maneuvered through it with easy and had a blast. The path has lots of beautiful flowers and is loaded with natural beauty.

James A Nance is a 5.45 acre park that is part of a string of ocean front parks in Indialantic and…read moreMelbourne Beach. Thus park was named in honor of James A. Nance who was a Melbourne based attorney. He played an integral role in a landmark tobacco lawsuit filed by the state of Florida against major tobacco companies. Between 1997 and 2012 he donated more than $1 million to local charities and organizations including local law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and youth sports leagues. One of his favorite charities was The Haven for Children, which helps neglected, abused and abandoned children. In 1923, the Indialantic Casino was built on the site of what is now the southeast corner of James A. Nance Park. For years it was the epicenter of events in Indialantic. Today James A Nance Park has a lot of great amenities for a family day at the beach. These include beach access, restrooms, exterior showers, pavilions, two sand volleyball courts, and boardwalk There is also an adaptive playground built by community volunteers in honor of Mikey Goodwin who passed away at only 19 from a tumor on his brain stem. His family does a lot of charitable work in his memory. The beach is a great place to catch a rocket launch or sea turtles nesting from March through October. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society is located just a short walk away, so this area is heavily monitored for sea turtle nests. If you are local, annual parking passes for the beach can be purchased at town hall for $50.This pass allows you to park at Wave Crest Avenue, Watson Drive, Tampa Avenue, Sixth Avenue and here at Nance Park. If you are coming for the day you have to pay hourly. If I remember correctly I believe it was $3.50 an hour. Just make sure you pay because the lot was being patrolled to make sure people paid.

Shout out to indiAtlantic for allowing a permit to still have bonfires on the beach. Thanks Long…read moreDoggers for picking up everyone's Christmas trees and for picking up the permit.

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.