Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

1 hour east of Orlando,
45 minutes south of Daytona Beach,
45 minutes north of Cocoa Beach;
what a better place for a wildlife refuge to sit.

FEE $5 cash or check 

Use this review as a guide. Read it out loud,
step by step the day of your trip 
set aside 3hrs from NSB and 4 hrs from Orlando,
wear walking shoes,
pack some water, snacks or lunch
and lastly- relax and enjoy the moments and people of this day!

I've lived in New Smyrna Beach, Florida for over a dozen years and never visited this little gem.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is only 30 minutes from my house, once I discovered that out, I was itching to visit.

Last Sunday, Aubry and I headed out for a quick afternoon drive and hike.
From US 1 in New Smyrna Beach we headed south toward Oak Hill; 
aproximately 2.2 miles south of the Oak Hill traffic light 
US 1 takes a pretty sharp right-hand-turn 
you'll take a left,  
a fun, sharp left onto Route 3 
and into the refuge.

If you're coming from the south, start at the Visitor's Center on Max Brewer Memorial Parkway.

Once you take the left and you're in the park make a quick stop and pick up a:

-Refuge map, 

-hiking trail guide and 

-some bird watching pamphlets

-->Take a picture by the Merritt Island sign and drive on!<-- 

You are on Route 3/Kennedy Parkway North: Weird Florida has an interesting fact about a weird road that's off of Route 3 click over there to check that out...

We suggest you head straight to Haulover Canal, jump out and hopefully see some manatees! the colder the weather, the better!!

no manatees :(

Back on the road again continue straight down Route 3 toward the Visitor's Center.

You'll turn right onto 402 toward the Visitor Center and 
1.2 miles up on your right are the Oak Hammock and Palm Hammock Trails.

STOP at these trails.

The Oak Hammock has two loops that can be done in a figure 8;
walk it!!
We saw 3 armadillos, a bunch of cool trees and got up close to one too many spiders!

Did I say spider?
Don't let that keep you away, the paths are nice with boardwalks over the low areas.

We opted out of hiking the Palm Hammock Trail because of all the rain, so next we say head toward the Visitor's Center and poke around there.



After visiting the inside and outside of the Visitor's Center make your way to the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.
You'll have to self-pay the $5 so have cash or check!
Grab a guidebook and enjoy the ride, the wildlife ride!! 

Self-pay station at Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

The 6-mile, one-way loop is relaxing; stop, get out and enjoy the Florida wildlife if you want. We 
We saw lots of ducks, birds and a gator!

The mangroves and cedar trees are always neat to see how they grow, perfectly and beautifully built by God.

The Wildlife drive ends in true Florida fashion as a straight shot for the last little clip of the drive.

From here you can:
a. take a right toward Titusville
OR
b. Aubry and I took a left and headed straight on home to New Smyrna Beach; 
she slept and I...
well, I had a good playlist of TSwift and the Eagles!




If you make this trip please let me know, send me a picture via e-mail vintageSheet (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Happy travels!!
-m