This is one of Florida's renowned wildlife parks in which you can actually drive through different marked roads and get a close-up feel of many varieties of animals, reptiles, and birds. The refuge is on a 140,000 acre piece of land adjacent to John F. Kennedy Space Center, just off the highway. The refuge is made up of marshes, estuaries, sand dunes, pine forests, scrub oaks, and palm hammocks.
There are over 500 species that inhabit the island, 10 of which are threatened/endangered. While spending a few hours driving down the roads on a nice clear sunny day, I encountered many bird species, manatees, and free-roaming alligators. I'm an avid bird-watcher, so it was an absolute dream to encounter that many bird species: roseate spoonbills flying over our car, ospreys in trees, woodpeckers and many more.
There are several alligators that can be found along the roads in small ponds. There are no guard rails so you are at your own risk when getting out of your car. I did catch sight of an alligator that was lying right on the highway, so it was quite a scare, although as soon as our car approached him, he scurried back into the water down below.
Merritt Island has access to the Atlantic Ocean through their beautiful sand dunes. You are welcome to drive to the very end of the trails and park in the designated parking lots and have a day sitting in the sun on the beaches.
All in all, if you're an avid bird-watcher or just have a passion for wildlife, this is definitely a place not to be missed!
From journal Getaway in Florida