Canaveral National Seashore is one of Florida’s most absolutely gorgeous and untouched natural habitats. It is one of few places in the state where visibility of one of Florida’s swamps is combined with the view of one of Florida’s most beautiful beaches. The park consists of two entrances both of which provide access to amazing beaches and the parks Mosquito Lagoon.
Location: Central East Florida
Additional Resources: Official Website
Beaches
Canaveral National Seashore offers some of the most beautiful and yet relatively unknown beaches in Florida. The south side of the park consists of 13 different, easily accessible places to park and enjoy the deep blue waters and soft sands of Canaveral’s beach. It includes a nude beach area at the 13th spot for naturalists and wanting to feel a little free for day on the beach at Canaveral. And for others, including families with young children or even friends looking to have a good time, the rest of the strip offers an amazing beach experience that isn’t obstructed by large crowds of beach goers. The north end of the park also includes a spectacular beach that is even less crowd consumed than the south end. For anyone looking for a quiet get away where they can enjoy one of Florida’s greatest beauties, Canaveral National Seashore is the perfect place to visit.
Wildlife
One of the most unforgettable experiences within the national seashore is the viewing of manatees at the parks manatee observation area. The observation area takes viewers up close and personal with the manatees and offers some fantastic spectacles of these giant sea animals. The manatees are seen in their own natural habitat where they thrive prolifically along the observation area. Those viewing these amazing creatures should be able to see multiple manatees up close to the shoreline within minutes of arriving.
Trails
The Canaveral National Seashore also offers some of Florida’s best hiking trails for those seeking a trip through nature in some of Florida’s beautiful hammocks. The park includes two trails near the middle of the park taking hikers into the natural habitat of Mosquito Lagoon. And on the north end of the park Hikers can journey into the hammock trails or sightsee at turtle mound, which offers views of both Mosquito Lagoon and Canaveral’s beach. Make sure to bring lots of bug spray as the swamp is called Mosquito Lagoon for a reason.
For more details on park hours and fees, visit the National Park Service Website Here.
Top image by Susanne Pommer, other images by Tiger Tarell