Founded in the 1870s and named after pioneer Casper Neil Mims, Mims is an unincorporated community…read morein Brevard County that grew into a thriving citrus and timber center following the arrival of the Florida East Coast Railway in the 1880s. The community also holds a significant place in American history as the home of pioneering NAACP activists Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore. The Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park & Museum opened on April 9, 2004, to honor the lives and legacy of educators and civil rights activists Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore on the very land where they were murdered. Both were teachers in Brevard County schools. Harry served as a principal, while Harriette taught sixth grade before later becoming an insurance broker. Harry was eventually dismissed by the school board because of his activism and his efforts to organize for equal pay for Black educators. In 1937, with assistance from Thurgood Marshall, he filed the first lawsuit in the South seeking equal salaries for Black and white teachers. After losing his teaching position, Moore devoted himself full-time to the civil rights movement through the NAACP. He organized the Progressive Voters League of Florida, leading voter registration drives that helped register 31 percent of Florida's eligible Black voters by 1950. In 1934, he founded the first Brevard County branch of the NAACP and served as its president for five years. From 1941 to 1946, he was president of the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches before becoming its executive director, a position he held until his death. On Christmas night in 1951 which also happened to be the Moores' 25th wedding anniversary, a bomb planted beneath their bedroom by members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded, fatally injuring both Harry and Harriette. Harry died that night, while Harriette succumbed to her injuries nine days later. Their murders were the first assassinations of civil rights activists during the modern Civil Rights Movement and remain the only known instance in which a husband and wife were both killed because of their civil rights work. Five separate criminal investigations later uncovered evidence implicating four suspects in the bombing, but no one was ever arrested or prosecuted. In 1999, the Moore homesite was designated a Florida Heritage Landmark. Five years later, Brevard County dedicated the 11.93-acre Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Interpretive Center, preserving the site where visitors can learn about the couple's activism and enduring legacy. Highlights include a full-scale recreation of the Moores' home, restored to appear as it did on that fateful Christmas night, a museum chronicling their mission, and the Walk of Freedom, featuring reflecting pools and a fountain for reflection. Today, the park also serves as a gathering place for the community, hosting weddings, concerts, educational programs, and annual events, including this weekend's car show. A visit to the Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park & Museum is a moving reminder of the Moores' lasting impact on the struggle for civil rights. Designated as an official landmark on the United States Civil Rights Trail, the site preserves their story while highlighting the pursuit of justice and equality.

We had a sombre, informative, and ultimately hopeful visit to the museum back in August. What we…read moredidn't know was how much we didn't know. There's nothing like standing in the kitchen where this pioneering couple lived, cooked their meals and did their laundry, or the place where the bomb that martyred them exploded, to let the pain of this travesty sink in a little. I can only imagine what visiting around Christmas time would be like, seeing they were murdered on Christmas eve. There's a tree in the house with presents still under it that will never be opened. We've come a long way since then, or have we? What's certain is that we still have a ways to go.

I found this beautiful little park while driving along the river east of Oak Hill, when I say small…read moreI mean small, the entire park is on the east side of the road on a very narrow strip of land. There are a number of parking spaces that barely allows the back of your vehicle to clear the traffic and once you exit you're only a few feet from the water's edge. There are a few benches next to the shore line and a small covered pavilion with a few picnic tables providing some shelter from the weather. Fortunately I meet a new friend (Steve) who seems to come here often just to relax and enjoy the view and occasionally wet a line - he did tell me it's fairly easy to snag a few fish using live bait which he catches with his cast-net. This is definitely a place I plan to return and probably a great place to get in my daily steps. Note - There are no restrooms or fresh water, it's very primitive but a real gem...

If you are very local then this is worth while visit. However... if you have to drive more that 35…read moreminutes you may want to find another place to hike. The trails here are very short and if there has been any rain they are located in a flood plane so there is a good chance they will be flooded. I went in the winter so bugs were not an issue, but in the warmer months i would expect them to be rampant. Although there are some very nice views from the observation tower and the "scenic overlook" the overall hiking and trails were nothing special when compared to other central Florida trails I have been to. There are also no restrooms, so make sure you go before you get there. The parking is some what limited but I doubt it would ever fill up.

Eagles trains and…read moreshells The Lake Harney Wilderness Area is about 300 acres of hiking trails and swamp flood plain that leads down to the St. John's River. The path is very easy, wide and flat but has great views of palms, oaks and other hardwoods. The main trail follows the old path of the historic Florida East Coast Railroad and ends with a observation platform overlooking the St. John' s River. Great views are in every direction. This was also where the old trestle went over the river and if you look carefully you can see the metal remains. The area also has numbers of shell middens left over from the local Native American tribes. The land is a protected eagle habitat and we saw several eagles flying around or sitting in tress. A very cool and historic hike for someone that likes an easy hike with great views and some very cool history.

Blaine O'Neal Park is a small park that from the street looks like just a baseball field, but if…read moreyou walk beyond it, there is a small lake with a walking path around it. They also have a small children's play area located next to the parking area. All in all, Blane O'Neal Park is a decent enough park, though I would not go out of my way to head here.

Great place to take your dog for a walk with a nice path around the small lake.read more

Nice boat launch, plenty of parking& areas to fish off dock. Beautiful views of the water.And…read moreyou'll probably see some dolphins and or manatees swimming by.

Love this little park! Just the right amount of parking spaces. Restrooms nearby. Boat launch…read more There is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers too. They have a dock overlooking the water that you can also fish off of. Playground for the kiddos. Plenty of beach area for swimming and for launching kayaks. The boat ramp was pretty active with decent sized boats coming in or launching so we felt more comfortable using the beach. Out in the water we saw jellyfish, dolphins, crabs, hermit crabs, oysters, and lots of fish. There are a lot of sandbars and oyster beds out here so it's a good idea to have water shoes so you don't slice your foot open on an oyster shell. You can manage without them if you're really careful, but I don't recommend it. We had to get out a couple times and carry our kayak over a sand bar. We saw some in a small boat have to do the same. If you are kayaking be mindful of the motorboats and stay by the shore. Bug spray! We forgot to bring it. it wasn't terrible but I think we were fortunate. Fishing. We didn't go fishing but fish were literally jumping out of the water all over the place. If I owned fishing gear I would absolutely fish in this area. We did see a few out fishing. Even heard someone exclaim "another one!!!" With great excitement from across the bay. Haha. If you enjoy bird watching, you'll enjoy going through the nearby mangroves.

We really enjoyed this area! It cost $10.26 in cash to enter the park. Parking is difficult,…read morethere's limited parking, it's close to the lighthouse, and a park. You can bring your dog onto a beach area but they must stay on leash. Bring water and a bowl for them! There's also areas to swim and fish, overall it was a good experience!

While driving through Mims, a rural community in northern Brevard County, I spotted Cuyler Park…read moreacross from a historical landmark I was visiting. Originally named for early pioneer settlers, Mims grew rapidly in the late 1800s with the arrival of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway. The railroad transformed the area into a thriving shipping center for citrus, vegetables, and lumber before economic hardship during the Great Depression slowed its growth. Mims also holds an important place in Florida's civil rights history. In 1951 the home of NAACP leader Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette V. Moore was bombed bringing national attention to racial violence in the South. Located next to Cuyler Elementary School, Cuyler Park is a well-maintained 13.31-acre neighborhood park offering a wide range of recreational amenities for visitors. The park features lighted softball and multi-use fields, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, lighted basketball courts, a 10-station fitness trail, a shaded playground, restrooms, benches, and three rentable pavilions. The park and community center are named in honor of Bentley Cuyler Sr., whose vision was, "All children of color will have an opportunity to be educated." A respected citrus grower and community leader, Cuyler donated land for a school to help expand educational opportunities in North Brevard. He also founded and served as the first superintendent of Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church, the historic church located directly across the street from the park. The 13,300-square-foot Cuyler Park Community Center includes a gymnasium, learning center, civic room, and restrooms. A 4,810-square-foot annex, added in 1995, provides additional space with a kitchen and stage for community events, performances, and neighborhood gatherings. Cuyler park has been a community gathering place since 1913. Today it continues to reflect the legacy of Bentley Cuyler Sr. and the history of Mims.

Place is very clean expect for the bathrooms! Also you can not see the entrance at all from the…read moreroad. So it was more difficult to be able to find we drove past it twice

Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve…read more.. Follow this address for more accurate location to the East Trailhead.. https://maps.app.goo.gl/2UPZ7UksnXXcfTFe9 Driving into this parking lot, the first thing you'll notice are Disc Golfs situated everywhere. Plenty of parking space. There is a bike washing station and pavilions. This trail offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, playground, canoe launch, boardwalk and an observation tower.  East end of trails are easy trails, mainly flat, which are open to biking, hiking and horseback riding (just follow the signs accordingly). The trails are mainly blue rated West end trails are more advanced, rooty sections. All in all...this is a hidden gem of a trail most mountain bikers are not familiar with. It is well maintained and the locals here are super friendly.

Outstanding area to hike - could have used some maps so you knew where you were when you started…read morebut was very enjoyable - also no restrooms so you have to go in the woods