Florida Space Coast Eco Tourism - More Than Beach To Explore

Because residents of the Space Coast were early to understand the importance of promoting tours of the surrounding environment not only as an economic generator but as a tool to support conservation of the many habitats that make up the beautiful landscape of the area, Brevard County is considered a leader in Florida eco- and nature based tourism.

Tourists and locals on foot, boat, kayak or bicycle marvel daily at manatees, endless wildlife species, preserved mangrove islands, and beautiful waterways across the Space Coast.

For an area also defined by the height of manmade technology, the unique and protected habitats, resulting from a convergence of temperate and sub-tropical climate zones around the Space Coast are testament to the hard work and foresight of locals who were working on long-range nature alliances and green practices well before the United Nations declared 2002 as the year of the eco-tour and locales worldwide jumped on the bandwagon.

Thousands of visitors each year are attracted to the area, site of the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival and several stops along the Great Florida Birding Trail, for bird watching.

In recognition of the important role of the natural environment for the county, the non-profit Brevard Nature Alliance (BNA) was formed in 1998 as a coalition of representatives from the community who combine knowledge to protect the distinct ecology and raise awareness of citizens and visitors to the value and importance of the local natural resources.

The BNA offers support to educational projects, organized community workshops to form a strategic conservation plan as part of the Brevard Tomorrow Initiative, provides environmental documentation to myregion.org and works with Brevard County to enhance functional ecological design for new development.

The Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, now in its second decade, is the BNA’s biggest event which attracts thousands from across the world. Created in 1997 by local restaurateur and award-winning environmentalist Laurilee Thompson, the event showcases the unique environment and technology on the Space Coast.

The connection of nature to quality of life, excellence in environmental education, high technology, cultural heritage and business involvement has placed the event in the top three ranking of such events in the United States. It is recognized internationally as an event for premier birding opportunities and outdoor adventures. 

With assistance from the Space Coast Office of Tourism and VISIT FLORIDA, the BNA produces the Outdoor Adventure Guide for Florida’s Space Coast to provide alternatives to the beach for visitors in need of a listing of all outdoor tour providers and activities. Copies are distributed to festival-goers, Florida Welcome Centers, Chambers of Commerce, hotels, restaurants, outdoor providers and other tourism entry areas across the state. 

In fact, there are not many areas left in Florida that have such a vast in-tact ecosystem. Forward thinking government programs and the development of Kennedy Space Center have also contributed to the vast natural amenities preserved in the unique network of coastal, estuarine and marine habitats.

Options for exploring the region include guided and un-guided tours by foot, boat, automobile, kayak or bicycle. Local ecofriendly activities to check out are Guided Turtle Walks with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, DolphinGirl Cruises & Eco-Tours headquartered at the Conch Key Grill in Suntree; Island Boat Lines touring the Banana River near Florida Seafood Bar & Grill in Cocoa Beach; catamaran tours with Indian River Cruises and antebellum paddleboat tours aboard the Indian River Queen in Cocoa Village; and awe-inspiring trips around the Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands with Fin Expeditions or the Cocoa Beach Manatee Watch.

Many tour providers, such as the Indian River Queen equipped with the Dragonfly wastewater treatment system to protect the fragile waters on which it sails, offer special launch day tours to take visitors out on the water to view the incredible rocket and shuttle launches.

All areas that become hot spots for nature-based tourism run the risk of exploiting the natural environment that is the backbone of the industry which is why the BNA has been in the forefront of the growing market and pioneers of the local industry, such as Thompson, who has been recognized by the Audubon Society for her work, have stayed true to the best interests of the nature that surrounds them as they have spread the word about the magnificent natural areas such as the Enchanted Forrest and the Indian River Lagoon.

Leave only your footprints…
A real eco- or nature tour should honor and protect the environment through quality education and experience, not something that exploits it for a buck.

Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival

The non-profit Brevard Nature Alliance (BNA) was formed in 1998 as a coalition of community representatives who combine knowledge to protect the distinct ecology and raise the awareness of citizens and visitors to the value and importance of the local natural resources.

The Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in January, now in its 13th year and ranked as one of the top three birding events in North America, is the BNA’s biggest event which attracts thousands of birders from around the world each year.

The connection of nature to quality of life, excellence in environmental education, high technology, cultural heritage and business involvement has ranked the event so favorably that it is now recognized internationally as an event destination for premier birding opportunities and outdoor adventures. 

Located on the Atlantic Flyway, the area is within close proximity to 40 sites on the Great Florida Birding Trail and is a perfect place to watch for migrating species.

Birds that can be seen include reddish egret, roseate spoonbill, crested caracara, American bald eagle, multiple herons and egrets and the painted bunting, among dozens of others.

Space Protects Nature

As it prepared to build what would become the Kennedy Space Center, NASA purchased hundreds of acres of land of which only seven percent has or will be developed. The rest was set aside as the 220 square mile Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore.

The refuge includes points of interest along Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 7-mile self guided tour of impounded marshes; a Visitor Center; four hiking trails and the historic Haulover Canal. Kayaking tours of some of the wading bird islands and otherwise hard to reach spots are offered by many reputable tour providers and education specialists from Brevard Zoo. 

Enchanted Attraction

Disney may have a corner on the market for make-believe magic, but the Space Coast area is so naturally special that one site is well known as being “enchanted.”
The 428-acre Enchanted Forest Sanctuary features more than four miles of hiking trails managed by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program in Titusville.

An onsite Education Center provides interpretive exhibits, two classrooms, a large screen porch, a reference library, a gift shop, restrooms, a picnic area and an outdoor amphitheater.  The Education Center wildflower and butterfly gardens have even garnered awards from the Florida Native Plant Society.

Turtles

Turtle Walks with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society are available in June and July of each year along the Central and South beaches and through the Canaveral National Seashore in the north part of the county.

The guided walks provide educational information and allow guests the opportunity to observe actively nesting female sea turtles. Reservations are required and the limited number of spaces available for each walk book very quickly.

Botanical Gardens

Check out the fantastic botanical gardens at the Florida Institute of Technology.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Brevard Nature Alliance
Brevard Zoo
Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
Sea Turtle Preservation Society
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Erna Nixon Park

 

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