Canaveral National Seashore, Florida

 

“Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

Sarah Kay, writer

The day after driving from our beloved Augusta, Georgia for our vacation in Titusville, Florida, we decided to go and explore Canaveral National Seashore. We packed up the car for the day with an ice chest, bathing suits, beach towels, and plenty of sunscreen and bug spray and headed across The Max Brewer Bridge which crosses over the Indian River Lagoon towards the park. This bridge is considered one of the best places to view a launch from Kennedy Space Center.

Once on the other side of the bridge, we drove through a scenic marshy area when low and behold, got a great view of a launch site at Kennedy Space Center at the southern end of this barrier island. There is an easy pull over to check it out at parking lot number one.

We continued down the road till we came to the entrance station for the park and stopped to pay. It cost $20 per car to enter and the pass last seven days. We asked about if they offered a military discount. We were surprised and pleased to be told they did and didn’t charge us anything. The park ranger gave us our pass and we were told to enjoy our day. It had rained right before entering the park so the park was very quiet that day especially for a Sunday.

Canaveral National Seashore is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River and is the largest area of undeveloped land on the east coast of Florida. This park has a 24 mile long beach and the southern area, where we were, is also called Playalinda Beach. We drove down this narrow stretch of land surrounded by sand dunes, sea oats, sea grapes, wild flowers, and other flora that is native in this area.

We passed the first couple of parking lots as they were difficult to cross over with our ice chest since they had high boardwalks. There was steps or handicap ramps but we just figured there might be easier access further into the park. We kept on driving until we found easier access and stopped, loaded up, and headed to the beach. The beach was near empty and gorgeous. There were only a handful of people sitting on the beach and it was so peaceful. We got set up and felt the water which was at least 83 degrees and felt great. The water was rough though since the hurricane Henri was brewing way off shore and bringing in some good size waves.

Relaxing on the beach was wonderful. We observed little sand crabs poking their heads up looking for food and running from the incoming surf. We watched the pelicans soaring overhead and diving straight down into the sea for their food. Many small snowy plovers running in a group on the beach as well as plenty of seagulls, pigeons, and Sandpipers. The sounds of the surf and the birds sounding off was just what we needed to relax. A fisherman came later and set up his fishing gear down the beach some and later ended up pulling in a small shark. Even with the heat of an August day, the breeze blowing off the sea, felt pretty good.

We made sandwiches and enjoyed a drink before heading further down the narrow road towards the end of the park. All the parking lots only had up to five or six cars till we got to parking lot 13. We saw the warning signs that number 13 is a nude beach. You couldn’t get a parking spot there. They were full up. Just passing by we saw a naked man strutting to car like it was normal to walk around naked. It seemed so odd to see. Oh my. Parking Lot 13 is also where you park to go primitive camping.

We were lucky enough to see a few tortoises munching away on the grass next to the road. We enjoyed how pristine this area was and so natural with no hotels, restaurants, or any modern conveniences. Even the bathrooms were primitive with no running water. We enjoyed the southern part of the park.

Later that week, we headed up to New Smyrna Beach and headed to the northern part of the park which is known as Apollo Beach. You can not get to Apollo Beach from Playalinda Beach by vehicle. They are independent from each other. We stopped at the entrance gate, told the ranger that Joe was a veteran, and this time she gave him a card that gets us into any National Park for free through August 2022. How wonderful and we were very grateful.

After entering this part of the park, there was a sign for The Turtle Mound which is where the Timucuan people lived from 800 – 1400 CE. They lived mainly off oysters and fish. After they ate the oysters, they threw the oyster shells in a pile. That pile got to be 600 feet long and 50 feet high and is the largest of the shell middens anywhere in Florida. As a matter of fact, the ancient sailors used the Turtle Mound as a navigational tool since it can be seen from seven miles out at sea.

We got out of the car and walked up the boardwalk to to top of the mound where you have great views of the ocean and well as Mosquito Lagoon. The path was surrounded by tropical plants and was lovely. The views from the top were gorgeous and when you looked down from the boardwalk, there were plenty of shells still visible.

Once again, we headed to the beach and again saw many different birds and got to see one of the most beautiful, deserted, ever changing and unspoiled beach on the east coast of Florida. Thousands of sea turtles come here to lay their eggs each year. This park has 57,662 acres and is home to over 1,000 plant species and more than 300 bird species. We discovered that at the end of the northern park is also a nude beach.

If you are into nature; this is your place. It is lovely and relatively unchanged for years and years. If you like primitive camping, you can buy a permit and head out on foot to camp. The night sky must be incredible. We enjoyed our time here and will be back.

Till next time. Bye for now.