Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge
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| Promise that you won't feed the alligators at this overlook at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge |
The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge's physical address is:
Kennedy Space Center
Florida 32782
Florida 32782
321-861-0669
AT A GLANCE Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge
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Date of Visit:
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Saturday, April 15,
2017
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Parking
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Nearby onsite parking
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Amount of time needed
to peruse exhibits:
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30 – 45 minutes
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Amount of time needed
for gift shop
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35 – 45 minutes
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The “must have”
souvenir
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A gourd, which is
also a clandestine bowl.
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Online shopping
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None that is apparent
on the official website. If you see
something you like, buy it.
Another group, the Merritt
Island Wildlife Association, has online shopping at: http://www.merrittislandwildlifeassociation.org/categories.asp
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Kid friendly shopping
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Definitely
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Kid friendly
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Yes
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Dress code
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Casual,
but not too tacky.
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Be sure to…..
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Drive
the “auto trail” in addition to, or instead of, a hiking trail.
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Nearby/other
establishments to visit
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Kennedy Space Center
Canaveral National
Seashore
Police Hall of Fame
Warbird Museum
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Walkability, general
downtown area / amount of traffic
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You’ll need a car
because this is a huge hunk of land.
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Safety, in terms of
type and number of crimes committed in general area
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Generally safe, but
keep in mind that it’s up to you to protect your possessions. Stow valuables out of sight and lock your
car.
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I’m in love with
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.). The
scenery is unique and spectacular, and it never feels crowded with people. I always leave with a deep sense of
refreshment. Florida’s Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has the same effect on me. In fact, it has the same sandy soil and scrubby
growth of grasses and trees as the U.P., and the similar absence of
crowds. Take a deep breath and inhale
the perfume of pine mingled with the salty air of the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s not
necessary to be a marathon runner or mountain biker to enjoy this wild
beauty. Merritt Island NWR can be
considered a beginner, or gateway, park.
Here’s what I mean by a gateway park.
Many folks avoid natural areas because they are unfamiliar with
them. They didn’t hike or go camping as
kids, and haven’t had anyone since then to introduce them to outdoor
recreation. As is true with many of use,
that first step is the toughest to take.
A gateway park is one that successfully eases newcomers into a sense of
familiarity which, if successful, puts the idea into a visitors head that the
outdoors isn’t that bad or scary. There
are also gateway activities, which are those that foster a sense of
accomplishment. Fishing, camping,
bicycling and hiking are examples of gateway activities. The theories goes that participating in any
of those activities leads to an increased amount of outdoor activity in terms
of time spent and willingness to try other activities. The NWR tackles this issue head on. Walk out of the back of the visitor
information building, and start an easy 15 – 20 minute stroll on a boardwalk
through the trees. Take the time to
experience the vista from observation decks located along the path. Benches in shady areas dot the boardwalk,
inviting hikers to sit and contemplate things.
Many feel their apprehension of being in the woods slide gently
away.
Again in
comparison with Michigan’s U.P., Merritt Island NWR consists of unique
habitats. The predominant ones are palm
or oak hammocks. Think of a hammock as a
pinpoint of similar habitat, or use the definition below:
“Hammock is a term used
in the southeastern United States for stands of trees, usually hardwood, that
form an ecological island in a contrasting ecosystem. Hammocks grow on
elevated areas, often just a few inches high, surrounded by wetlands that are
too wet to support them.” - Wikipedia
Hammocks are fun
to ramble about in, because it’s not necessary to hike for miles upon miles to
get a feel for the area. In the case of
Merritt Island NWR, palm hammocks grow adjacent to oak hammocks. I found this weird at first, being from the
Midwest. Palms located next to
oaks? Say, what?
Yes, it certainly happens in Florida.
While at the
NWR, participate in another gateway activity:
bird watching. This is one of the
fastest growing outdoor activities over the past 20 years. Skill or knowledge isn’t necessary, which
makes it an ideal lazy Saturday activity.
Here’s an easy way to do it: sit
quietly and watch. If you spot something
you’re not familiar with, make some mental notes on its size, shape, color, and
flying pattern if it’s a bird. When
finished with bird watching, head back to the gift shop at the visitor center
and pick up an identification guide. I
loved how this gift shop had identification books for all ages and all
skills. The ones I’m used to are thick
volumes specifying habits, songs, overall size and habitats in a dry monotonous
tone. Not so, here. Select from flash cards, identification
guides geared toward children, or colorful slimmed down versions of those books
from my college days. Purchase a book and
head back outside armed with new nature knowledge. Don’t worry about not being able to correctly
classify birds at first. To be honest, I
have a bird that’s been visiting my backyard every now and then for the past
four years, and I still can’t figure out what it is.
Merritt Island
NWR has a nature trail set up to be driven, which is nice if it’s a hot Florida
summer day or if tired feet make walking unpleasant. Stay in the car and gaze out at the
distinctive bird species that live or pass through here. Rare and endangered species have been sighted
at the NWR, so keep a pair of binoculars handy.
Even better is to have a camera or iPhone ready to take photos to
impress your friends and family back home.
Immerse yourself in the NWR’s scraggly and wild habitat. It may not be pretty, but it’s a safe haven
for shorebirds and other migrating birds.
There’s no place else on earth like it.
What does this
mean toward my recommendation to you? It’s
simple. Visit
a gateway park and participate in a gateway activity. In plain terms, go hiking. If not at Merritt Island NWR, then a NWR
close to your area. Just so you know,
every state has at least one NWR, and most are located within an hour’s drive
of many major cities (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/aboutNWRS.html). I’ve included a national map in the photos
from the Meet Me in the Gift Shop’s Facebook page https://goo.gl/ABTGlC (it’s on the fourth
slide). You’ve been acclimatized toward
hiking, bird watching, and nature knowledge.
It’s your turn to be the gateway for someone else. Pass it on.
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SPECIAL OFFER
FREE Refrigerator Magnets from "Meet Me in the Gift Shop"
Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Meet Me in the Gift Shop
336 Patrick Circle
Melbourne, FL 32901
Must be postmarked by April 30, 2017.
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