I’ve got a secret, or at least it seems to be.
Most people in central Florida are familiar with Playalinda Beach, part of the Canaveral National Seashore in Brevard County. It is a lovely beach, and adding to its popularity is its proximity to Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Many people also know of its reputation as a nude beach, at least at the northern end. Brevard County has an anti-nudity law, but it’s rarely enforced.
Far less popular is the section of Canaveral National Seashore located in Volusia County, at the southern end of New Smyrna Beach. Her name is Apollo Beach and I love her dearly. I visit her almost every day and she continues to awe me.
Part of the National Park Service since 1975, Apollo has a visitors’ center which offers brochures, a film about the park, canoe rentals, educational programs, a turtle watch activity during the summer months, souvenirs, and much more. Within the property is a restored home, the El Dora house, steeped in history and open to visitors. Turtle Mound is a fascinating prehistoric archeological site standing 50 feet tall and made of primarily oyster shells from the Timacuans that resided there. There is normally an accessible boardwalk leading to the top, offering fantabulous views of the Atlantic and Mosquito Lagoon, but it is being renovated at the moment. You can still walk around the bottom of the mound, on the water’s edge.
There are several places available to get to the river side for kayaking, boating, fishing, picnicking, or just strolling. The beach side has five parking areas, all handicapped accessible and all with bathrooms (no running water, but better than a port-a-potty.). Parking area five usually has nude sunbathers and fisherpeople. Sometimes, but rarely, they show up in other areas as well, despite the rangers’ efforts to keep them corralled in the southernmost area. Volusia County has no anti-nudity ordinance, it appears. And speaking of rangers, the rangers at this park are incredibly friendly and helpful, with an equally friendly and helpful core of volunteers.
Now, here’s the important part. This is what Florida used to look like. There are no condos, no beach driving, no concessions. The road at Apollo Beach is 6 miles long. It dead ends at a spot where you can see both the Atlantic and the river, as well as the vehicle assembly building in the distance. To go very far south of the road’s end, you must get an outback pass. Cape Canaveral National Seashore is 24 miles of unspoiled beauty (if you overlook the trash that the tide brings in from the sea and occasional litterers on the shore. This is easy to do if you walk the shoreline and look out at the sea.). Regardless, I think this is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. And I think I am one of the luckiest people in the world to get to visit Apollo Beach daily. Some days, because I go early, I am the only person there, but I’m happy to share her with you, the wildlife (I’ve seen birds, dolphins, manatees, tortoises, armadillos, sea turtles, wild boars, and bobcats), and with the others that treasure her. Come walk with me and discover her many moods. But, shhhhhhh, don’t tell everyone about Miss Apollo; it’s our secret.
I just know that you have something or someone that makes you feel like a lucky person. Tell me! And I would LOVE to hear about your special place!
