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Chain of Lakes: Snowy Egret Drive, Titusville. Open 7 a.m. until dark. 92.14-acre regional park features a bird-watching tower, wetlands and lakes with walking bridges connected to paved walking trails, 321-264-5105.
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary: State Road 405, half-mile west of U.S. 1, Titusville. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Hiking trails wind through five major ecosystems, tours available, 321-264-5185.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: SR 402, Titusville, 321-861-0667. Visitor information center hours: Open November through March, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; open April through October 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.Closed on major federal holidays. Shuttle launches could affect hours of operation as the refuge closes three days before launches. The four main trails include:
Black Point Wildlife Drive, a six-mile, self-guided auto tour. An area to see wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl. A description leaflet is available.
Cruickshank Trail, a five-mile walking trail along Black Point Wildlife Drive that circles a shallow water marsh and is an excellent place to watch birds from a marsh observation tower. Walking time: two to three hours.
Oak Hammock Trail, a half-mile foot trail routed through a subtropical forest. Interpretive signs explain the ecology of the hammock plant community. Walking time: 30 minutes.
Manatee Observation Deck offers the best chance to view manatees in refuge, northeast side of Haulover Canal.
North Brevard Walking Trail: 1505 Holder Road, Titusville. Open 7 a.m. until dark, except for scheduled use. Wildlife: songbirds, woodpeckers. Half-mile walking trail, 321-264-5105.
Wuesthoff Park: 2000 Wuesthoff St., off Barna Avenue, Titusville. Sandy nature trail, towering trees, native plant and animal life, natural Florida forest offering three distinct woodland habitats: a wetland area, hardwood hammock and upland pine forest. A short boardwalk leads across the wetland to the half-mile trail. A picnic area with grill is in an open grassy area with the scenic wetlands nearby. Wildlife: native songbirds, migratory songbirds (fall, winter), hawk, woodpecker, gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake. Park connects to Titusville's multi-use trail, 321-264-5105.
CENTRAL BREVARD
Brevard Museum Nature Preserve: Brevard Museum, 2201 Michigan Ave., Cocoa. Half-mile to two-mile trails wind through 22 acres. Guided tours available, 321-632-1830 , www.brevardmuseum.org
F. Burton Smith Regional Park: 7575 King St. (West SR 520), Cocoa. Botanical nature trail, woodland nature walk, tent camping and nature trails. Wildlife: migratory songbirds, hawk, osprey, alligator, armadillo, feral hog, raccoon, snake, turtle, whitetail deer, 321-633-1874.
Lori Wilson Park: 1500 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Open after 7 a.m. until dark, except for scheduled use. Boardwalk through maritime hammock, two outdoor showers, 321-455-1380.
Manatee Cove: 4905 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, west of North Tropical Trail and half-mile south of Porcher Road on the Indian River. Dirt road and natural trail. Wildlife: waterfowl, manatees, bottlenose dolphin. Launch site for canoes, 321-455-1380.
Riverwalk Nature Center: 5355 U.S. 1, Rockledge. Features educational displays, hands-on activities, children's classes and group programs. The 915-foot boardwalk trail winds through the hammock until it reaches the Indian River Lagoon. Wildlife: songbirds, hawk, woodpecker, snakes, raccoon, dolphin, manatee, 321-433-4490.
Rotary Park: 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island. 38-acre park includes quarter-mile loop trail, nature center, boardwalk nature trail. Reservations for 10 or more, 321-455-1385.
Travis Park: 2003 Michigan Ave., adjacent to north perimeter of Brevard Community College, Cocoa campus. Features one-mile paved nature trail around Clear Lake, extends from Travis Park and its community center facilities to the Brevard Museum. Community center with a gymnasium, special-interest activities, computer lab, beach volleyball court, basketball and day camp, 321-633-1871.
Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary: 805 Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island. Canals for canoes and kayak paddlers, seven-mile loop walking trail, bird-watching tower and easy access to the waterways for sports fisherman, 321-455-1380.
SOUTH BREVARD
Florida Tech Botanical Gardens: Florida Tech campus. One-mile paved trail winds through some 300 species of palms, ferns and tropical foliage. Hours dawn to dusk, 321-674-8125.
Erna Nixon Park: 1200 Evans Road, West Melbourne. Nature center and boardwalk, half-mile, self-guided elevated boardwalk trail through three different ecosystems with native plant species and small animals. Wildlife: gopher tortoise, indigo snake. For tours, 321-952-4525.
Long Point Park: 700 Long Point Road, Melbourne Beach, off SR A1A, one mile north of Sebastian Inlet. One mile of natural trails on Scout Island, riverfront camping on Indian River, adjacent to main park lies primitive camping site at Scout Island for youth groups, 321-952-4532.
Samson's Island: Satellite Beach. Accessible only by boat. Public transportation available at 1 p.m. Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis from Satellite Beach Fire Department. Pavilion, restrooms, picnic areas, grills, nature trails, camping and fishing. Permits required for visitors during dusk to daylight hours. Permits available from the Satellite Beach Recreation Office, 321-773-6458.
Sebastian Inlet State Park: 9700 SR A1A, Melbourne Beach. Bird-watching along coastal areas and inlet, camping, fishing, surfing, swimming, snorkeling and diving, 321-984-4852.
Turkey Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, Margaret Hames Nature Center: 1502 Port Malabar Blvd. N.E., Palm Bay; 11/4-mile boardwalk loop, and 11/2-mile jogging trail. Ranger-staffed nature center features hands-on exhibits, environmental literature and library with videos. Educational programs for schools, church groups and youth groups. Group tours by appointment. Saturdays and Sundays there is a 11/2- to 2-hour public tour, 321-676-6690.
Wickham Park: 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne. Half-mile foot trail, trails for horses, and a 30,000-square-foot fenced, off-leash dog park, 321-255-4307.
OUTSIDE BREVARD
Florida Eco-Safaris: A 45-minute drive west of southern Brevard County, Florida offers guided tours at its 4,700-acre wildlife preserve and working cattle ranch. Horseback safaris are avilable by reservation. Forever Eco-safaris leave at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily, Call 866-854-3837, www.floridaecosafaris.com
NATURE EXCURSIONS
Cocoa Beach Manatee Watch: Reservations required for the 21/2-hour tour departing from Ramp Road Park at 10 a.m. aboard the vessel Wildside. Refreshments provided. Wildlife: manatees, dolphins and alligators. Cost: $30 adults, $15 children younger than 10. Custom tours also available, 321-799-5495 or 800-695-1770.
Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands: South Banana River Marina, 1357 S. Banana River Drive. Daily eco-tours along the Cocoa Beach Islands canals. Wildlife: manatees, dolphins and a variety of birds. Call Island Boat Lines for reservations, 321-454-7414 or 321-302-0544.
Indian River cruises: Cocoa Village Marina, 90 Delannoy Ave. Lunch, afternoon and sunset cruises departing daily on a 47-foot luxury catamaran. Sunset sail adjusted seasonally to two hours prior to sunset. The cost is $45 plus tax. For reservations and hours, call 321-223-6825.
Paddlewheel Adventure: Cocoa Village Marina, 96 Willard St. Two-hour Indian River cruise. This is a Friday night buffet-style dinner cruise that includes a cash-bar and live music. Private charters available. Cost: $40. Reservations required, 321-454-7414.
Space Coast river tours: Daily two-hour tours leave from Kelly Park on the Banana River. Cost: $29 plus tax, $25 plus tax for children 12 and under. Shuttle and rocket launch tours: $35 plus tax. Summer and fall bioluminescence and sunset and star-gazing tours available. Reservations required, call 321-652-1052.
Astronaut Trail Shell Club of Brevard: 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesdays at the Satellite Beach Civic Center, 565 Cassia Blvd., 321-452-5736.
Brevard Nature Alliance and Space Coast Birding: Quarterly board meetings, annual meeting is in September, Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in January, 321-268-5224 for locations, e-mail neta@natureandspace.com, www.natureandspace.com
Friends of the Scrub: 7:30 p.m. fourth Thursdays of October and April at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 2030 N. SR A1A, Indialantic, 321-777-0839.
Project Backyard Brevard: Environmental organization founded to protect local wildlife, 321-259-6585, e-mail backyarder1@earthlink.net, www.backyardbrevard.com
Sea Turtle Preservation Society: 7:30 p.m. first Thursdays at Melbourne Beach Community Center, 507 Ocean Ave., next to Town Hall, 321-676-1701, www.seaturtlespacecoast.org
Sierra Club, Turtle Coast Group: 6:30 p.m. for social hour and meeting at 7 p.m. fourth Thursdays each January through June and September. During October and December, meeting location alternates between the United Universal Church on U.S. 1. In Melbourne and the Hester Wagner Community Center, Melbourne Village. Group also meets 6:30 p.m. first Tuesdays at the North Indian River County Library, 321-242-8311, 321-768-6629, www.turtlecoast.org
Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition: Meets quarterly at Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa. Industry and government partnership to promote alternative fuel technology, 321-638-1443, www.clean-cities.org
Space Coast Audubon Society: 7:30 p.m. third Fridays October through April, 6:30 p.m. September and May, at Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Drive, 321-449-9678, www.spacecoastaudubon.org
Surfrider Foundation, Sebastian Inlet chapter: 7 p.m. second Thursdays November through March, and 7:30 p.m. April through October, 321-426-4235, e-mail sebastianinlet@surfrider.org, www.surfrider.org/sebastianinlet
PLANTS
American Bamboo Society: Quarterly meetings, 321-725-1923, e-mail bamboojohn@hotmail.com
Brevard County Orchid Society: 7:30 p.m. second Tuesdays at the American Homestead Foundation Hall, 535 Hammock Road, Melbourne Village, 321-777-9837, www.thebcos.org.
Brevard Rare Fruit Council: 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesdays from January through October at the Front Street Civic Center, Melbourne. Emphasis on exotic fruits, tasting tables and lectures, 321-254-7090.
Central Florida African Violet Society: 10 a.m. third Wednesdays on a monthly basis. Discussion on the culture and growing of African violets, 866-269-3628 or e-mail eblakely001@cfl.rr.com
Florida Native Plant Society, Conradina chapter: 7 p.m. second Mondays from January through May and September and November at the Melbourne Public Library, 540 E. Fee Ave., 321-768-2472, www.fnps.org
Florida Native Plant Society, Sea Rocket chapter: 7 p.m. fourth Wednesdays from September through May at the Brevard County Extension Service, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, 321-269-0555, www.fnps.org
Platinum Coast Orchid Society: 7 p.m. second Wednesdays, 321-632-2847.
GARDENING
Beach Gardeners of Melbourne Beach: 7 p.m. third Tuesdays from October through May at the Melbourne Beach Community Center on Ocean Avenue, 321-729-9563.
Cocoa Beach Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. second Wednesdays at Cocoa Beach Community Church, 321-783-2229.
Cocoa-Rockledge Garden Club: Consists of three circles that meet once a month from September through May for gardening programs, usually at the Garden Center, 1493 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge, 321-631-4628, www.cocoarockledgegardenclub.org
Dirt Daubers Circle: 9:30 a.m. second Tuesdays, 321-632-6832.
Melbourne Garden Club: 10 a.m. first Fridays from September through May at Front Street Civic Center, 2205 Front Street, 321-727-2710.
Port Malabar Garden Club: 9 a.m. second Fridays at Peace Lutheran Church, 1801 Port Malabar Blvd. N.E., Palm Bay, 321-723-0930.
Spade and Trowel Circle: 9:30 a.m. third Wednesdays, 321-632-8225.
Straw Hat Circle: 9:30 a.m. second Wednesdays,321-636-4232.
Titusville Garden Club: Includes a morning group that meets first Wednesdays from September through May and an evening group that meets second Mondays at the Garden Club Center, 5275 Sisson Road, Titusville, 321-264-4266.
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