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Merritt Island is a large peninsula on Florida's Space Coast in Brevard County, lying between the Indian River and the Banana River. Its southern half is a residential community of about 35,000 people with marinas, canals and shopping, while the northern half is home to the Kennedy Space Center and the vast Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
NASA's launch pads and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sit on the north end of the island, and rocket launches can be seen from many spots along its shores. Around the space center, the wildlife refuge protects marshes, scrub and lagoons rich in herons, roseate spoonbills, alligators and manatees, with easy walking trails through scrub and shady hammocks.
The island's quiet parks along Sykes Creek and the Banana River are good for fishing, paddling and summer bioluminescence tours. Cocoa Village, Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral are all a short drive across the causeways.
A flat one-mile loop through coastal oak scrub in the wildlife refuge on north Merritt Island, one of the best places to see the Florida scrub-jay, a bird found only in Florida. Wildflowers and gopher tortoises are common too. Walk it early on a cool morning, stay on the path and do not feed the birds.
A short, shaded loop trail near the wildlife refuge visitor center on north Merritt Island, winding through a hammock of live oaks, cabbage palms and ferns with interpretive signs. Songbirds are common in spring and fall migration. It is an easy walk for all ages; bring insect repellent, especially in summer.
A county sanctuary on Sykes Creek in central Merritt Island with trails and dikes through mangroves and impoundments. It is a peaceful place to spot wading birds, ospreys and the occasional manatee in the creek. Paths are flat and unpaved; go early in the day and bring water and bug spray.
A Brevard County conservation area on north Merritt Island along Sykes Creek, with hiking trails through oak hammocks, pine flatwoods and marsh. It protects habitat for wading birds and other wildlife. Trails are sunny, so bring a hat, and check the county site for hours and trail conditions.
On warm summer nights, tiny comb jellies and plankton make the Banana River Lagoon around Merritt Island glow with every paddle stroke. Local outfitters run guided evening kayak tours, mainly from June to October. Book ahead, choose a dark night near the new moon, and wear clothes that can get wet.
A large county park on Sykes Creek with sports fields, picnic shelters, a boat launch and docks on the water. It is popular with local families and anglers, and the shoreline is good for spotting birds and the occasional manatee. A relaxed place for a picnic between Space Coast sights.
A county waterfront park on the Banana River near the SR 528 causeway, with boat ramps, fishing spots and shaded picnic areas. It is a handy launch for paddling and boating on the lagoon, and launches from Cape Canaveral can sometimes be seen from here. Arrive early on weekends when ramps are busy.
The island's main indoor shopping mall on SR 520, with department stores, a movie theater, restaurants and smaller shops. It is a convenient air-conditioned break from the heat or rain and a good place to pick up supplies before a day at the refuge. Plenty of free parking is available.
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Photo: Michael Rivera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: pokemonprime, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
