|
Rockets and pirates form this region’s modern image, from the gleaming technology of the Space Coast south to the quiet, nautically-oriented Treasure Coast.
Canaveral National Seashore is a 25-mile-long strip of beach and surrounding wildlife habitat that, protected by NASA and the government, has been kept undeveloped. May throug h September, endangered loggerhead, leatherbacks, and green turtles struggle ashore. The female turtles crawl above the high-tide line to lay dozens and dozens of eggs for a roughly two-month incubation period. Turtle walks are available. Behind Canaveral Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a birder’s dream, hosting 330 bird species, including 14 that are threatened or endangered.
Heading south, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge sits on a barrier island straddling Brevard and Indian River counties. Established by Congress in 1990, the park protects one of the world’s largest nesting populations of loggerhead turtles. In the winter months, endangered West Indian manatees pay a call on Blue Spring State Park outside of DeLand, drawn by the spring’s warm waters from November to March. The waters are a constant 72 degrees, coming out of the spring at a rate of 105 million gallons per day.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in DeLeon springs plays host to more than 200 species of birds, including the Southern bald eagle. The eagle population ranks second in the nation, with four active nests and 80 roamers. A favorite birdwatching spot of John James Audubon, the park is internationally recognized for its bird watching and nature and hiking trails. At Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve, near Okeechobee, visitors may spot wild turkeys, bobcats and river otters.
In 1715, a hurricane shattered a fleet of 11 Spanish galleons at the mouth of Sebastian Inlet. Pirates and other opportunists plundered the wreckage for years; this and similar sinkings led to the Treasure Coast appellation. The McLarty Treasure Museum and Mel Fisher Treasure Museum in Vero Beach hold momentoes of these ships and the efforts made to recover their gold. Spanish treasure is also on display at the St. Lucie County Historical Museum in Fort Pierce. History buffs will enjoy touring the five Historic Districts in West Volusia County’s Lake Helen, Cassadaga and DeLand.
 Oranges are one of Florida’s oldest crops, first introduced by the Spanish. The Indian River Citrus Museum is a monument to a past that never really left: With more than a half-million acres devoted to its cultivation, citrus remains Florida’s largest agricultural product.
Daytona Beach, the former Spring Break hotspot, has undergone a major image shift. It’s a paradise for birders—Lighthouse Point Park is an excellent place to observe seafaring birds—but it’s also rich in culture, with the London Symphony Orchestra playing on the beach and a first-rate collection of museums. African-American heritage sites are numerous: The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach has one of the best African art collections in the Southeast. The “Africa: Life and Ritual” exhibit focuses on 30 cultures in 15 African nations. |
