Canaveral National Seashore

One of the best Florida family beach vacations for day trips or camping trips can be found at Canaveral National Seashore. It is a 24 mile long coastline between Daytona and the Kennedy Space Center. You therefore have the ability to completely (or almost) relax, and then head to sites when you feel the need for speed. This is undeveloped public beach, but over 1 million visitors attend per year due to the marine life, the land species, the ecosystem, the huge spread of shoreline, the riding and camping, the nature presentations, etc. It is one of the last of Florida’s untouched wilderness shorelines, and is very much as it was when the Spaniards arrived over 400 years ago. Families find that Daytona is too busy for younger children, and this area provides a lot of natural playground without worrying about traffic and losing your child on the beach.

And where exactly might this long delicious spot be? It is by Titusville, Florida or alternatively by New Smyrna Beach. You can start at Playalinda Beach, from the south, or Seminole Rest from the east. You can access the park from U.S. 1, I-95, and Fla 528, also called Beach Line Expressway. If you are coming from the north, you can head into Apollo Beach, which is at the southern end of New Smyrna Beach. See their site for maps and directions. Parking and boardwalks are in areas spread over 12 miles in order to avoid over-crowding. Some areas are closed during the shuttle launching at Cape Canaveral. From Orlando you are about one hour and ten minutes.

Lifeguards are on duty from May 30 to September 1st at Apollo Beach and Playalinda Beach. All your food and drink and play items need to be brought in yourself, as the water fountains are mainly at the information booths. Important note: don’t go to the northernmost point of Playalinda beach unless you want to be part of the nudists congregating in that area. Nudism is not illegal on the beach if there is no lewd behaviour attached to it. Ask about Apollo Beach also if this is an issue, because there is no point in being surprised or having your day ruined if you were not planning on this much natural display for your gang. There are brochures about the rules at the ranger stations.

You can horseback ride if you bring your own horses, with a permit and reservation, or bring a bicycle, kayak, go fishing for bluefish, pompano or whiting. And of course swimming. You can take a six-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive to observe many wildlife species. Boating is allowed, with launch areas established. Horseback riding is in the middle twelve miles of beach, and you can also access that area on foot, but that is about it, so if you are confined to a wheelchair, there are better areas to be focusing on for mobility.

You can earn your Junior Ranger patch here if you are so inclined as a young sport.

Camping is available all year with a permit in designated areas, or like a lot of people, head to New Smyrna Beach or Titusville for the motels and hotels available.

There are approximately 400 Bottlenose dolphins that habitat in the Indian River Lagoon there. This is also a nesting area for over 4500 turtle nesting spots in the summer. You can see why this is protected, and unless you are up to laying low at night to observe, you will miss their arrival on shore in the dark, to dig holes with their flippers and store their eggs. There are some ranger tours that provide the opportunity to observe this very amazing work of nature. The manatee, bald eagle and peregrine falcon call this area home.

The fees for entry are cheap – 3.00 per person, children under 16 are free, back country fees are 2.00 – see details on this, and there is a fee for seniors, and one for people with physical disabilities. When I think about the fees for other national parks for one day, these are exceptionally good fees.