The Melbourne Beach Pier is steeped in history. Located in Ryckman Park, the pier was built between…read more1888 and 1889 by the Indian River and Atlantic Railway Company. It was constructed from wood planks and pilings as was common in the late 1800's. The pier is the oldest known example of such piers on the Indian River. After the pier was built it served as a crucial transportation link moving tourists, residents, freight, and mail between the mainland and the barrier island. A railroad was laid from the ferry landing on the dock and across the barrier island 7/10 of a mile to the ocean beach. This provided access to the Atlantic Ocean by a pushcart and later by a motorized car. A ferry service was operated by the Beaujean family between 1889 and 1923. The railroad provided access to the island and excursion boats from the mainland communities brought winter tourists to dock at the pier. The community's first post office was located at the east end of the pier and provided the daily mail service in 1894. The building of the toll bridge between Melbourne and Indialantic in 1921 ended the pier's importance for island access. On April 12, 1984, the pier was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1985 a restoration project supported by local citizens and state programs helped to preserve this iconic Melbourne Beach structure. Today the pier offers a panoramic view of the Indian River and is ideal for fishing, relaxation, and sunset strolls. I enjoyed my walk back in time down this historic pier, and best of all unlike many piers there is no charge to enjoy it.

Located in a really beautiful community, really clean, sunrise and sunset are beautiful and Ocean…read moreAvenue is right at opposite end of the street to surf or just go to the beach. Parking is free all around until 8:00 AM, but plenty of spaces and pay stations where you can pay with card. If you're taking a kid or anyone fishing for the first time and you want to GUARANTEE a bite, go to Black Dog Bait and Tackle like 5 minutes away, get one or two dozen live shrimp with a bubbler bucket and cast off any corner of this pier. I will say that the only thing that bit was catfish NONSTOP. They put up a fun fight and they come in all sizes and they rarely swallow the hook, but once you catch a couple, I suggest going to the beach or finishing up your bait at Geiger Point at Kiwani's Park. You'll have a better shot of catching some little snappers and drums (which you can't keep any size in this area). Super beautiful spot though for a kid's first time out.

Melbourne Riverview Park Is located on 15.4 acres of the Indian River Lagoon. The city of Melbourne…read moreassumed ownership of Riverview Park from Brevard County in June 2012. Locals and visitors will find amenities for both active recreation as well as relaxation. There are picnic pavilions with tables, grills, restrooms, Scurrah's Landing canoe and kayak launch, and a playground. For 18 years Melbourne Riverview Park has been the site of the Melbourne Farmers Market. It is open 10-2 Every Saturday October - May and the 1st & 3rd Saturday June - Sept. You can fid fresh foods, plants, artisans and more. Whether you are coming for an event or recreation, this park provides a peaceful respite from the busy downtown area. I enjoyed stretching my legs and bird watching over the river. If you have children, the recently renovated playground looks particularly inviting.

This place is meant for the fishing enthusiasts. There's not much of a park other than a swing, a…read morefew benches and and plenty of parking spots. It was a nice little outing for a stroll and that was about it for my family.

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.

This is Spessard Holland North Beach Park. Two miles away is Spessard Holland South Beach Park…read more Both beach parks and the Spessard Holland Golf course were named in honor of Spessard Lindsey Holland, a prominent Florida politician and lawyer. He served as the 28th Governor of Florida and later as a U.S. Senator from 1946 to 1971. The beach park and golf course are among a number of places named in his honor across the state. Beyond the beach and park in Melbourne, his name is attached to various locations, including the Spessard Holland Expressway in Orlando and the Spessard Holland Elementary School in his hometown of Bartow. This 6.5-acre community beach park is a lovely spot to enjoy the ocean In Melbourne Beach. The beach is monitored by seasonal lifeguards. This park is popular with beachgoers and those who enjoy surf fishing and surfing. The park has a 100 foot dune boardwalk and two small pavilions. Other amenities include restrooms, drinking fountain, and outdoor showers. I always appreciate a beach with free parking like this one.

Spessard Holland Beach is a pleasant enough beach and it was a great place to chill for a bit…read more Parking was free and it was well-maintained. I would definitely recommend heading here if you want to chill and be around the water.

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.

Oh god the amount of dead fish washed up on the beach is horrendous. There is glass in the sand out…read morein the water, I cut both feet. It also seems to be a homeless hangout.

Quiet, quaint little park. Very small toddler-sized playground. It only has 1 swing, 1 baby swing,…read moreand a "boat-like" play area with a very small slide. Again, the playground is VERY small, but it's cute for little ones. There's a pavilion with lots of shade and 8 picnic benches. Bathrooms. Water fountain. There is water access at the end of the road with a boat ramp. Very small, but a little off the beaten path, so it's nice and quiet and private. Surrounded by trees (and train tracks behind them) on one side and a small road with houses on the other side. A peaceful, relaxing spot for a quiet picnic lunch.

A decent park during the day. Wells Park, located next to…read morethe Melbourne Auditorium and close to the public library, is a quiet, low-key spot that serves as a simple outdoor escape. It's not flashy or heavily updated--in fact, parts of it feel a bit run down--but it still has a certain charm, especially if you're looking for a peaceful place to walk, sit, or enjoy some time outside during the daylight hours. In the recent past I have seen lots of homeless there and would not feel safe there after dark. They recently posted signs I believe to counteract this problem and on this recent visit I did not see any on the south side of the park. The park features two small lakes that are home to a good number of geese and ducks. The times I have visited recently, they are almost always wandering around or lounging near the water. Kids and adults seem to love feeding them, though they can be a little bold when they're expecting food. In fact several of them came to visit as soon as I parked and stepped out of my car. There are a few picnic tables and shaded areas, though some of the infrastructure--like benches and walkways--could use a refresh. There is a fenced in playground that seemed decent with swings and slides and kids using them. Overall, during the day, Wells Park doesn't have fancy amenities, but it does offer space to stretch your legs, read a book, or enjoy a quiet moment by the water. Its proximity to the library and auditorium makes it a convenient spot for a quick break. It's not a destination park, but if you're in the area, it's a decent place to stop and relax during the day.

Wells Park in Melbourne is named in honor of William Twining Wells and his wife Nora who donated a…read more30 acre tract of land for the park in the 1920's. Mr. and Mrs. Wells were formerly from New Jersey and New York where Mr. Wells owned the Wells Rustless Iron Company. When they came to the Melbourne area Mr. Wells purchased a pineapple plantation on the beach. He built the couples Queen Anne house Green Gables in 1866 on the Indian River as their winter residence for the health of Nora who tended to get pneumonia every year in the harsh northern winters. It was the first home built in the area to have indoor plumbing and an indoor bathroom. On May 18, 2016, the home was added to the U.S. Register of National Historic Places. The Wells were very philanthropic and instrumental in the early foundation of Melbourne. The couple built the first library and donated the land for the building. They built a high school, also donating land and personally paying the teachers' salaries. In 1897 they donated the property for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Mr. Wells built the roads in Melbourne and brought the Florida East Coast Railway to town. The park is located behind the Melbourne Library. Walking/jogging paths in the park wind around picturesque ponds, one of which had a fountain in the middle of it. Park amenities include a pavilion, picnic areas with tables, and a playground. My favorite part of the park was the birds. It was filled with friendly geese, ducks, ibis, and endangered wood storks. I am especially fond of the adorable Pekin ducks. I absolutely loved seeing the wildlife here. A big thank you to the Wells for having the foresight to preserve this peaceful oasis of nature for the future generations of Melbourne.

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.