Brevard Zoo

Brevard Zoo

8225 N. Wickham Rd.
Melbourne, FL  32940
321-254-9453

www.brevardzoo.org

The mailing address is Melbourne, but the Zoo is located in Viera for all practical purposes.

AT A GLANCE:  Brevard Zoo
Parking	The Brevard Zoo has a small parking area.  It fills up quickly, with overflow parking on the entrance road to the zoo
Amount of time needed to peruse exhibits:	60-90 minutes
Amount of time needed for gift shop	20-30 minutes
Dress code	Dress respectfully.
Be sure to…..	Bring bathing suits for any children in your group.
Nearby/other establishments to visit	Viera is a mid-size city, with many fast food restaurants lining Wickham Road, the major street that leads to the Zoo.  Additional shopping opportunities in the outside mall west of the Zoo.
Walkability, general downtown area / amount of traffic	You will need a car to get to the Brevard Zoo and its environs.
Safety, in terms of type and number of crimes committed in general area	Generally safe, but realize that this place can get busy.  Keep the honest people honest and lock your car.

If you find that you forgot sunscreen, insect repellent, or sunglasses, the gift shop is to your right upon entering the zoo.  These items are stocked near the cash register.

Exotic, educational, and endangered are three words that describe the Brevard Zoo, and everything the zoo does focuses on those principles.  The Zoo recently welcomed two Visayan Warty Piglets , which are a critically endangered animal, and cuter than you might think.  

Visayan Warty Piglets
Photo courtesy of Brevard Zoo

The Zoo sponsors workshops to support and help restore the Indian River Lagoon, the most biologically diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere (per Wikipedia).  Two recent ones are “Adopt a Mangrove” and “Oyster Netting Restoration” workshops.  I am caring for two mangroves in my backyard from the former workshop, and they are named Juan Lucinda and Steve.  When my mangroves reach three or four feet, I’ll return them to the Zoo for placement in the Indian River Lagoon.  Sustainability is another major word, as shown by its workshops and Fair Trade items in gift shop.

The Brevard Zoo is small and well-organized.  Raised boardwalks lead you through the zoo, which is also wheelchair and stroller friendly and has many benches for those who would like to sit.  As at the McLarty Treasure Museum, the boardwalks protect a fragile environment.  The Brevard Zoo offer activities for visitors, so check their website for the train schedule or the hours for kayaking, among other things.  Visiting the aviary is also great fun, regardless of age, gender or culture.  It is temporarily located in the Wild Florida section of the Zoo.  Food for the birds is for sale upon entering the aviary, but I have found that these brightly colored birds are quite friendly and may even land on your shoulder if you stay still.  This is a good zoo for smaller children, because of its compact size, and you’ll need 60-90 minutes to see everything.  The children will probably welcome a chance to cool off, after they’ve walked through the Zoo. Remember to bring bathing suits if you have young children with you.  There’s a splash pad and a zero-entrance pool, with a handy snack shop located not far away. 

The mini gift shop, near the giraffes

Now you’re ready for the gift shop, but first let me give you some marketing insight:  Did you know that there’s a reason why you often pass bouquets of flowers upon entering a grocery store?  Stay with me.  It’s a marketing tool that gets you to shop “up” from your normal purchases, because research has shown that flower bouquets put you in a frame of mind of purchasing items of higher quality.  The Brevard Zoo uses the same concept at its mini gift shop near the giraffe/zebra area.  They display souvenirs that you probably wouldn’t buy there, because you’d have to carry it with you while you visit the rest of the zoo.  Guess what?  The same items are on display in the main gift shop.  Like many other Florida attractions, you exit the Brevard Zoo through the gift shop.  Your first exposure to souvenirs planted the idea in your mind that you need to do some shopping before leaving.  That idea is absorbed and held in your mind.  You have been “warmed up.”  You could look at it as another thing those pesky marketing folks do to you, but I’d rather look at it as streamline my shopping experience.  I’ve seen the items and I know if I’d like to buy them. 

Ready to shop?  Let’s go.  I like the physical layout of the gift shop at the Brevard Zoo.  Many places

Children's clothing

display children’s merchandise close to the entrance, which can get crowded as everyone gathers to look at things.  The Zoo has their children’s thing on the far wall, which encourages families to move along once they enter.  There are quality items:  onesies, little sweatshirts, and stuffed animals.  Another thing I like about the Brevard Zoo gift shop is that it additionally caters to the young shoppers.  They have their choice of name plates, personalized pencils, shiny rocks that are sold by the bag, and other unique and quirky items that young folks like to buy for themselves.  It’s a win-win situation for all involved. 

They have a diverse selection of t-shirts, shot glasses, and refrigerator magnets.  This could be one of

T-Shirts

those times where you’d like something more substantial for yourself or for a gift.  You’ll find sassy tank tops, exotic plants, and other quality items along the left side andtoward the back corner.  Get some of your holiday shopping taken care of, or at the very least, scoop up some stocking stuffers.  Be sure to look at the merchandise stacked on the tables and cupboards to find t-shirts and coffee cups. 

The Brevard Zoo has a 3-part focus of being exotic, educational, and protecting endangered species.  Everything they do supports one of those three things, especially the merchandise in the gift shop.  Do some shopping here and support their mission.  You’ll not only look quite snappy in your new t-shirt and earrings, but you’ll feel good knowing that you supported the environment in your own way.  You are the model of sustainability.

* Additional restrooms are located at the halfway point, in the same building as the hot dog / ice cream place.  The Zoo train stops behind the building to collect passengers.*

Bench at Brevard Zoo

There are a multitude of places to grab lunch along Wickham Road.  Pull out of the Zoo’s entrance area and head east (turn right) to dozens of fast food joints.  A word of caution:  the eateries located near the Zoo tend to be busier than those further away.  If you have a hankering for something more substantial than fast food, head west (turn left) instead of east, onto Wickham Road, bypass the highway entrances and exits, and head toward the traffic circle.  Don’t be afraid of the traffic circle; we’ll get through this together.  Stay in the extreme right lane and it will lead you to Lake Andrew Road without getting tangled in the traffic circle.

The Avenue Viera (www.avenueviera.com), an outdoor shopping complex, is on to the east (right) of Lake Andrew Road.  They have restaurants unlike the fast food eateries.  This is eventually where you want to be, regardless of where you stop for lunch.  The layout of this place can be confusing, so you might want to drive around first to see what’s available.  Please, please, I’m begging you to be watchful of pedestrians and other drivers.  Everyone is focused on where they’re going with forgetting to watch for cars.  Parking is plentiful here. 

It’s a good use of time to plan an entire day, between the Brevard Zoo and the Avenue Viera.  You will not be disappointed with the shopping opportunities.