Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve
The Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. This 140,000 acre area is located on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, and is owned by NASA, who only uses 5% of the land. The remainder is controlled by the US Fish and Wildlife, who have made the land into a reserve for birds stopping on their migration to South America.

Half of the reserve consists of brackish estuaries and marshes, and the other half is made up of scrub oaks, pine forests, coastal dunes, and palm and oak hammocks. Nearly 500 species of birds make their home here, with over 15 of them on the endangered species list. This is also an ideal place to see Manatees, as over 400 of them make their home in the reserve's waters during the spring months, along with alligators and turtles.

The park can be seen by either the 7 mile loop for drivers, or by the many hiking trails that range from 1/4 mile to 5 miles in length. One of the most interesting spots is the Manatee Observation deck, where you can view these beautiful creatures swimming below. Boating and fishing are also activities you can partake in while visiting the reserve, as canoeing and waterfowl hunting. This is also an ideal place for photography enthusiasts to capture that perfect image of unspoiled nature.