Canaveral National Seashore and Playalinda Beach Field Trip

When you want to go to the beach in Brevard County, it's easy - if you are on Highway A1A, you're there. Look for a beachside park (we have lots of very nice, well-maintained ones) and pull into the parking lot. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

However, north of Cape Canaveral, and not accessible from A1A, is Playalinda, a beautiful beach that is a little harder to get to, but well worth the effort. Playalinda is located at the southern tip of the Canaveral National Seashore, a national park near the Kennedy Space Center. The Just the Facts section below gives detailed directions on how to get there.

Playalinda means "pretty beach" in Spanish. (We don't use the Spanish pronunciation of ply- . We call it play- with a long a.) As you're driving there, be prepared for stunning landscape and sparkling water, with the space shuttle launch pad as a backdrop. Drive slowly, and keep your eye out for the birds and critters that call this area home. There are plenty of “photo op” pullovers along the way. Canaveral National Seashore is an important nesting area for sea turtles and home to 13 federally-listed threatened and endangered animal species.

The road at Playalinda runs for four miles along the beach, and there are thirteen parking lots. Each lot has restroom facilities.

As you can tell by the length of this dune crossover, these are some big dunes. As you walk up the crossover, take a moment to admire the lush vegetation. About 2 miles in on the 4 mile beach road, between Parking Lots 7 and 8, you’ll see a sign for Eddy Creek (pronounced E-dee for some reason). There’s a parking area, fishing pier, and boat launch on one side of the road, and the covered Eddy Creek pavilion on the other side. The Pavilion's dune crossover and deck are wheelchair accessible.

Be warned that the beach area at the far end of the four-mile road has evolved through the years into a nude beach, in spite of local laws prohibiting nudity. But rest assured, there is plenty of room at Playalinda, so the nude beach thing is not a big problem.

You'll travel through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on your way to and fron Playalinda. After you leave Playalinda Beach, you’ll see signs for many other Florida things to see on your way back to US#1, including this sign to Scrub Ridge Trail. Friends Wayne and Julie hiked this trail the other day, and Wayne has provided his usual excellent "trip report" and photos that will be the topic of our next post.

I love this beach - when Margie and I last went there, it was nearly deserted (my idea of a perfect beach), but now that it is summer, I hear the parking lots are getting full. So you may have to share your stretch of sand with somebody, but that's part of the fun, too.

Playalinda Beach
Just the Facts

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: North Brevard, Barrier Island, Titusville

WHEN TO GO: March 11 - October 28, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., October 29-March 10, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., 365 days a year, EXCEPT: Because Playalinda Beach is so close to Kennedy Space Center, it is closed for three days prior to shuttle launches and on the day of a shuttle landing. If it's close to a launch or landing, call 321-867-0677 to verify the beach is open before you go.

HOW TO GET THERE: For starters, you need to be at US #1 and County Road 402 (Garden Street) in the north end of Titusville. Don’t look at a map and think you can take a shortcut through the Kennedy Space Center, because that road is not open to the public. Take a right and head east. After about 7 miles, you’ll come to a stoplight that is kind of in the middle of nowhere. Keep going straight across the railroad tracks and drive about 4 more miles until you reach Canaveral National Seashore. Watch out for the critters crossing the road. (Map courtesy of Space Coast Office of Tourism)

This is important. There are no stores and no gas stations after you leave Titusville. Be sure your car is gassed up and bring plenty of drinking water. You might want to bring a lunch to enjoy eating at the Eddy Creek pavilion.

BRING MONEY? Yes, there is a $3 per person charge (children under the age of 16 are admitted free) to get into Canaveral National Seashore (unless you have a National Parks pass). You can also purchase an annual pass to Canaveral National Seashore for $35. The National Park Service is offering free admission to park-goers the weekends of July 18-19 and August 15-16.

WHERE TO PARK: There are 13 parking lots along the four-mile road.

WHAT TO WEAR: Remember that the sun bouncing off the water will burn you to a crisp, so protect yourself with sunscreen, beach umbrellas, hats, and common sense. Drink lots of water. And as a reader noted in his comment - bring insect repellent!

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: There are bathrooms at each parking lot (no running water, though). The boardwalk at Eddie Creek Pavilion is wheelchair accessible.

HOW LONG TO STAY: As long as you're having fun (within the constraints of the Park hours)!

WHAT TO DO: Fish, surf, swim in the ocean, relax. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. You can launch a boat at Eddy Creek. If you fish from your boat, you need to have a fishing license. If you are fishing from the shore or a dock, you do not need a salt water fishing license.

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: I'm always torn between Dixie Crossroads and El Leoncito. Dixie Crossroads is an iconic restaurant co-owned by long-time Brevard environmentalist guru Laurilee Thompson (we quote her in the I Think box) with terrific seafood, corn fritters that melt in your mouth, and exterior wall murals by our favorite mural artist, Frank Rao. When you get back to US#1 and State Road 402 (Garden Street), keep going west on Garden Street for about a mile. Dixie Crossroads is on the left-hand (south) side of Garden Street.

El Leoncito is in the southern end of Titusville on US#1 near Highway 50 and features excellent Cuban and Mexican food (I'm partial to their Cuban sandwich and black beans). You won't go wrong at either place.

HOW TO HELP: Follow Margie's example and pick up a bag of trash on your way back to the parking lot. There are recycle and trash bins near the restrooms. Pets are not allowed on the beach, and must be on a leash elsewhere. Don't feed the wildlife. And of course, don't litter.

REFERENCE LINKS:

Playalinda Beach

Canaveral National Seashore

Dixie Crossroads

El Leoncito

Archaic Adventures

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary Field Trip

Back in the late 1960s, I drove to work through a portion of the Enchanted Forest. Co-workers and I would compare notes as to what wild critters we saw on our way in. Back then, we didn’t give much thought to over-development or land preservation – we focused on astronauts and moon walks.

Fast-forward to 1990, when Brevard County citizens approved a referendum for funding the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, charged with acquiring environmentally sensitive land and making it available to the public through passive recreation and environmental education. Under the able direction of friend Dr. Duane De Freese, the first phase of the EEL Program was to identify and acquire these sensitive lands, and the Enchanted Forest property was the first acquisition. When the development phase of the Program kicked in, the Enchanted Forest was chosen to be the “Flagship” sanctuary.

The Just the Facts section below will tell you the basics of how to get there and what to expect. I want to talk here about how “enchanting” this Sanctuary really is. From the moment you turn off the main road, you’ll start to unwind. Even the parking lot is mellow. The Education Center houses hands-on exhibits, a cozy library, a dandy gift shop, classrooms, and restrooms. A huge screened-in porch provides room for mosquito-free activities. Benches are tucked around a landscape dotted with big coquina boulders. My photo does not do it justice, but it should help you get an idea of the thought and love that went into this design.

When friend Margie and I attended the Archeology Month Kickoff Event, we viewed the exhibits set up in the screened-in porch, watched an atlatl demonstration, and took a guided hike led by Volunteer Joe Zayas (in this photo, Joe is the fellow in the blue shirt). Joe is a founding member of the Sanctuary and knows it like the back of his hand. We got a smattering of geology, history, biology, botany, and wildlife information, but even more so, I think Joe left everybody with a greater understanding of the importance of preservation and conservation. He has been involved with the preservation of Enchanted Forest for over 20 years, and certainly qualifies for my designation of Conservation Hero!

In previous posts, we spoke of habitat in general and scrub habitat specifically. The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary includes five basic habitat types: oak scrub, mesic and hydric, hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwood. Fortunately, as you approach the Education Center building, you can pick up a little green booklet titled “Exploring Biodiversity – Self-Guided Hike” to use during your visit. It’s an easy-to-read booklet with great, useful information – be sure to pick one up. (That’s friend Margie standing by a Hike Desk with literature that includes the booklet.) Guided tours are also offered, and you’ll find the staff and volunteers to be friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.

Margie and I have lived in Florida for so long that we were amazed to find that the Sanctuary actually has hills. Joe explained that this high ground is an ancient coastal dune, part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, and that we were about 30 feet above sea level, standing on one of the highest points in Brevard County. What fun stuff to think about, and the children in the group seemed fascinated by the possibilities.

I can’t begin to tell you everything we saw, heard, and learned on our hike – Margie and I took so many photos that I’ve included a slideshow (far right column). This is a wonderful place to spend the day – don’t miss it!

ENCHANTED FOREST SANCTUARY

JUST THE FACTS

"BIG PICTURE" LOCATION: North Brevard, Mainland, Titusville

WHEN TO GO: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)

HOW TO GET THERE: 444 Columbia Boulevard, Titusville, Florida
From I-95 southbound: take SR-50 to first light, turn right and go east 4 miles on SR-405. The Sanctuary entrance is on the north side of SR-405 across from the Space Coast Regional Airport. From I-95 northbound: take SR-407 north to SR-405 and go east through two lights. The entrance is on the north side of SR-405, 0.25 miles past the second light.
From US Hwy 1: the entrance is 0.5 miles west of US Hwy 1 on SR-405.

WHERE TO PARK: There is a spacious parking lot.

WHAT TO WEAR: You’ll be hiking through sand, so wear comfortable shoes. Depending on the time of year you visit, remember sunscreen, water, and mosquito repellant.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: The Education Center includes a feature called Enchanted Crossing – an interpretive nature trail with a stabilized surface for universal accessibility. The trails through the Sanctuary are soft sand and there are some inclines, so take your physical limitations into consideration as you are planning your hike. Ask the Staff for recommendations if you have concerns. There are some benches and rocks along the way for sitting. Bathroom facilities are in the Education Center building.

HOW LONG TO STAY: If you have brought food along, you could easily spend the better part of the day wandering around, sitting and contemplating life, etc., but it all depends on how much you want to see and learn.

WHAT TO DO: Hike, sit and enjoy the view, look at the educational exhibits in the Center, take a guided tour – lots of possibilities.

BRING MONEY?: The Sanctuary is free, but the Gift Shop in the Center has some neat things to buy.

WHERE TO EAT AFTERWARDS: Margie and I finished our day by eating at the iconic Dixie Crossroads, an attraction in its own right! Co-owned by local environmentalist Laurilee Thompson, its offerings include different types of shrimp harvested by their own fleet, and you’ll start your meal with a basket of corn fritters that are totally addictive. Their papergoods are biodegradable. You’ll see a quote by Laurilee in the We Think section of this site.

HOW TO HELP: Don’t litter, and respect these sensitive lands. Support the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program if you are a Brevard County voter. Volunteers are essential to the Sanctuary, so lend a hand.

REFERENCE LINKS:
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Friends of Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
coquina
Florida Archeology Month
atlatl
habitats
Dixie Crossroads