Jean and I love to visit Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a fairly regular basis and today we were blessed to be able to see an abundance of wildlife. As you can see above we were able to spot eagles as soon as we drove into the park, and later saw a huge variety of birds and as you will see below, we even got to see a bobcat crossing the road right as we were leaving.

You want to get to the Refuge as early in the morning as possible to get the best chance to see a variety of animals roaming and flying about. The best place to see the wildlife in the refuge is on the Black Point Wildlife Drive which is a 7 mile meandering one way trail through the more remote parts of the park. It will take approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete the drive depending on what you see and how fast you drive. Most people (including Jean and I) creep along at about 5 miles an hour to make sure they don’t miss anything that might be hiding in the bushes or just under the swampy areas on either side of the narrow road.

The drive used to be free, but now requires a $5 per car entry fee. You can also pay $15 for an annual pass or use your America The Beautiful Pass that gets you in to all federally managed parks and recreation areas. We used our pass we purchased last August for our vacation out to Arizona last October.

Young Eagle (we spotted a total of 4 during this trip)

Roseate Spoonbills

Of all the times we have been up to the Merritt Island national Wildlife Refuge, this one was one of the best because of the variety and sheer numbers of birds and other creatures we we able to see. The highlight was probably seeing a bobcat cross the road right in front of us as we stopped a second time to see an eagle that had perched itself on a telephone pole right at the entrance to the refuge. I was taking pictures of the eagle and just happened to look away for a second and there was the bobcat. I have been in Florida for 44 years and have never seen a bobcat in the wild.

The pictures could have been much better, but I was so startled to see it and I thought it was a dog at first and didn’t really have time to focus the camera. I just pointed it and shot 3 pictures one after another. I now know how people taking pictures of Bigfoot feel when those photos always come out blurry. At least I know the Florida bobcat exists and you can see the pictures to prove it.

If you want to see the diverse animal life of the Indian River Lagoon and enjoy a leisurely morning or afternoon out on the water, then there’s no better recreational activity to engage in than a Florida kayaking tour in Cocoa Beach. Launched right from the parking lot of the Cocoa Beach Country Club, Cocoa Beach Kayaking owner Jessica Yeaman will take you on a guided tour of some of the winding shoreline off of the Minuteman Causeway.

Our tour began at 8:30 in the morning and lasted approximately 2.5 hours and we saw a a multitude of plant life including 3 different mangrove trees including the red ones that have a bean pod hanging from the branches, a variety of birds including osprey, water turkeys (also known as the snake bird), tarpon streaking through the water, mullet and the gentle giants of Florida river-ways, the Florida manatee. Being in Florida for more than 40 years I have seen plenty of manatee, but never like this. They are the most gentle, curious and mildly playful creatures you can imagine and they enjoyed gently pushing our kayaks around after we spotted them and just floated near their location. You can watch the manatees come right up to your boat and push it around, but don’t touch them because it is against the law.

Florida Manatee playing with our kayak

The area we kayaked in off of the Minuteman Causeway (a permanently unfinished causeway) is actually known as the Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands and if you don’t know your way around the area, it would be fairly easy to get lost as the mangroves and islands create a maze like path to follow. Therefore, we recommend you at least make your first journey with a guide and Cocoa Beach Kayaking is the perfect outfit to introduce you to the area.

Our guide Jessica (pictured to the left) is in the process of finishing up her degree in Oceanography and is a member of the SeaWorld Marine Mammal Rescue Team so she really knows her stuff and knows the natural surroundings of the Banana River and the Indian River Lagoon. Even though I’ve been living here for more than 40 years she informed us of natural Florida news that I didn’t know. One piece of information, that is vital to our manatee friends, was that most manatees are not killed by boat propellers as one would think, they are killed by boat strikes that break their ribs and puncture their lungs. That’s why you are supposed to idle your boat in manatee zones, so you don’t strike them.

If you want to join in on the fun and see a part of Florida up close and personal that you don’t normally see, take a trip with Cocoa Beach Kayaking. The cost is $30 per person and reservations must be made. Bring a snack with you if you want one, but everything else is supplied including hats, towels, sun block, bottled water and sunglasses if you need them. It is worth the price of admission just to watch your guide Jessica pat the water and call and talk to the manatees just like they were little puppies. Trust me, you will have a great time.

You can visit their website above by clicking the link above or call (321) 784-4545 to get more information or to make reservations.

Osprey seen while kayaking the Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands

I never really liked mangos (also spelled mangoes) until a friend brought us a bag of Merritt Island mangos several years ago and now every year around mid July we go on the hunt for those delicious treats right from our very own Merritt Island. Jean and I love mangos and honestly, we have never tasted anything like the ones that come from Merritt Island in South Brevard County Florida. We think they are, without a doubt,  the best in the world.

Of course we haven’t eaten every mango variety in the world, but we buy them all the time from Publix, Walmart or any of the local produce stands around our area and we haven’t tasted anything like what we’ve found that comes from right along Tropical Trail on the Island.

Many mango varieties (some sites claim there are some 2,000 or more) can be quite fibrous and even some of the better ones have a slight amount of fiber. You almost know immediately when you slice into a mango how it sounds as to the amount of fiber in it. But we have found a variety that are almost like slicing into butter when you cut them open and they are the sweetest mangos I think we have ever tasted. The variety is known as the Keitt mango and it is the best of the best.

Eating a Merritt Island mango is almost like drinking a fine wine and trying to figure out all the flavors you are experiencing. The taste of this exotic fruit (it’s not actually exotic in most of the world) is something like a cross between a coconut, a banana and a mango (duh) with a slight hint of pineapple in it. The reason I say it is not exotic in most of the world is that the mango is the number one most popular fruit in the world, even more popular than bananas and apples. I suppose that’s because mangos originate from India and with a population that is almost 4 times that of the United States, no wonder they are popular.

These particular mangoes pictured here are from a produce stand right in Satellite Beach on South Patrick Drive, aptly named South Patrick Produce and this is the second year in a row we’ve purchased out Merritt Island mangos from this vendor. The stand is located right on the northwest corner of South Patrick and Banana Rive Drive.

Don’t miss the mango season here in Brevard county Florida that runs from July till late September or early October. I don’t know exactly what it is that makes Merritt Island mangos so sweet and delicious, but you have never experienced a mango, until you’ve had one from Merritt Island Florida. Make sure you ask wherever you buy them if they are mangos from Merritt Island.

When you think of the Kennedy Space Center you may think of that bump on a Florida map that extends out into the Atlantic ocean, but did you know that only half of that area is home to the Space Center? The other half is known as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and it offers a visitors center, beautiful beaches, a wildlife drive, boating, hiking trails, fishing and a bioluminescent kayak tour.

Visiting the refuge is a great day trip for Melbourne and Palm Bay residents as it takes only about 45 minutes to get there from the intersection of I-95 and 192 and you can spend a few hours there or most of the day. Then it’s just a short return trip home. Jean and I like to visit the beaches as one of our favorite things to do there. When you drive up through Titusville on Highway 406 and then switch to 402, then onto the Refuge property, that will bring you to Playalinda Beach. When you cross over the railroad tracks, it then become a state park and you do have to pay a $3 per person access fee ($10 max per vehicle) to get to the beaches.

What we love best about the beaches is that they are pristine and you see zero buildings no matter how far you look in both directions. If you are in the right spot you can see the shuttle launch complexes, but when you travel down to beach a ways, you won’t even notice them. There are 13 parking lots and beach access areas as you travel north away from the Space Center so there is lots of room to find a nice spot on the beach for you and your family. We like to bring our beach chairs, a few snacks in the cooler and the beach umbrella and we’re set for several hours just reading and relaxing on unspoiled white sandy Florida beaches.

Our next favorite thing to do in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is take the Black Point Wildlife Drive through the usually swampy areas (it has been very dry this spring and early summer of 2011) and see what kind of wildlife we can spot. We’ve seen alligators, a multitude of different kids of birds, crabs scurrying about along the shore, turtles and more along the 6 to 7 mile drive. Depending on how much you stop to check out the wildlife, it can take you anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete the loop.

Dry Conditions Along The Black Point Wildlife Drive. The sandy area in the picture should have 2 feet of water in it.

The visitors center also is worth a look as it features some of the animals that have been seen in the Refuge and you can also find out about camping there as well. There are only a few spots to camp in the Refuge and they must be accessed from the New Symrna side of the Canaveral National Seashore so it is a bit of a drive for Melbourne and Palm Bay residents if you want to camp there. You can also camp on one of the islands in the Refuge and you can find information on that here.

Enjoy a nice day trip away from Melbourne and Palm Bay up in Merritt Island. Get more information about the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge here.

Enjoy some additional pictures of the Refuge below:

Blanket Flower on the roadside:

Gator tracks in the dry swamps. They’re obviously looking for water.

More dry conditions at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Since we made a feeble attempt at flipping houses back about 5 or 6  years ago it intrigues me to just peruse through the Brevard MLS and see what prices are doing. It certainly is interesting to see where things have gone from the heydays of 2002 to 2005 to now. Prices have dropped considerably and many homes are selling for less than half of what they were just 7 years ago. Below are a couple of examples:

We sold a 3 bedroom 2 bath, 1,704 square foot home in Riviera Key in October of 2007 for $180,000 in a short sale. We purchased that home in October of 2005 for $242,000 and that exact model of home in the Rivera Key subdivision in Palm Bay, is now listed for $95,500. That’s a huge total reduction of 61% off of the original price and a 12% reduction off of the price since my last report on Palm Bay real estate.

The second example is a Florida home we sold in April 2005 for $345,000 that now has an exact model listed in the Brevard MLS for $205,000 six years later, a 40% reduction in the price. Other examples are a couple of homes in our neighborhood, one that was listed for $199,000 a year ago, then dropped to $149,000 and is now priced at $74,900 and is still sitting. The other has been priced at $65,000 and is a nice house that the previous owners put some nice upgrades in and it has been sitting at that price for more than a year.

While Jean and I go out to eat quite a bit and see lots of people in local restaurants and around town and at times wonder where the recession is, it is right here in real estate. Something is not correlating between what’s happening to real estate prices, how long homes are on the market and how much money people seem to have that they can spend on discretionary items such as dinner out.

All this is happening in our local economy while the Brevard County unemployment rate has gone from 2.8% in April of 2006 to 11.4% in February this year (the most current stats as of this post). Unfortunately, this information doesn’t make our local economy look all that great and it may even spell for much harder times ahead.

If you have a job and or a good source of income right now, be thankful and count your blessings and maybe put a little or a lot back, as the case may be, for when things get tougher because we still don’t know where the bottom of the Palm Bay real estate market is. It is still really anyone’s guess.

The zoo now features 4 different themed lands that include Expedition Africa, La Selva (South America), Australia & Asia, Wild Florida (since that’s where we live) and an additional petting area called Paws On Play. We took a very low intensity stroll through only 2 lands this visit and enjoyed Expedition Africa, Australia / Asia and just the alligator section of Wild Florida. Because we purchased an annual pass we decided we would just have a short visit of only about 2 hours.

The exhibit we enjoyed the most was Africa where you can see cheetahs (the fastest land animal in the world), white rhinoceros, dromedary camel, giraffes and much more. My wife had been taking all week about going to the zoo and hopefully getting to see a giraffe. Well, she got her wish and more when we went to the giraffe feeding and observation platform and one beautiful specimen came right up to the platform to be fed. At first it came to a group of people and then gracefully wandered over to where my wife was all by herself. To her surprise there was a cracker that you purchase to feed the animals sitting right next to her. The giraffe can right up to her and let her feed it and pet it.

Now, if you have never had the experience of seeing a giraffe up close, it really is quite amazing. These exquisite creatures are some 17 feet tall and weigh in at 2,000 pounds or more and they move that huge mass in the most graceful manner you can imagine. It is as if you are watching ballet to see the giraffe move.

It costs $13.50 per adult for admission to the Brevard Zoo, but you can get discounts by buying annual passes for families or couples. We got an internet special of 2 annual passes (They’re called a membership) for 2 adults, 2 additional one day guest passes, 2 passes for the train and unlimited kayaking for only $79. The memberships run for 1 year from the time of purchase. It is well worth the price if you plan on going a few times because we took one additional person with us on our latest visit and the total would have been $40, half of what the price of the membership was.

The Brevard Zoo is located in the Viera section of Melbourne at 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL and is opened daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make sure you stick around and see the giraffe.

Bioluminescence is the technical name for what you see when you see fireflies light up at night and there are many creatures capable of producing this effect. Some of those creatures are microscopic organisms that live in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and when you paddle through these waters in certain locations the water lights up with an eerie green glow. I was expecting to see a few little glimmers of this effect but, was completely stunned by what I saw. It was like something out of a fantasy type Lord Of The Rings movie.

We paddled around at the beginning of the tour when it was still a little light and looked for manatees and as it started to get darker our guide took us through a narrow tree and shrub lined area and we didn’t start to see anything yet and I was thinking this wasn’t going to be any big deal. We then paddled to a more open cove and as we were approaching the cove in the open water, the bioluminescent effect started happening all of a sudden and it was pretty freaky at first.

When you move your paddles through the water the water actually lights up and you can also see the effect happen as the kayaks around you cut through the water. Also, when you disturb mullet and other fish in shallow areas, you can see the water light up as they swim through it. One thing I learned about disturbing mullet at night when they are sleeping, they jump, hundreds of them, and some end up in your kayak. If you’ve ever seen mullet jump and though, ‘oh, look at the fish,’ it’s a totally different experience when you kayak over top of them at night. It literally starts raining mullet. We ended up with 2 mullet jumping into our boat and it was quite startling to my wife. I was also hit by 3 or 4 mullet in the shoulder, back and head. When I say they jump, I mean, they jump.

There is only a short window of opportunity to see this phenomenon each year in the Mosquito Lagoon area. The tours run in July, August, September and October and the best time to go is either 5 days before or 5 days after a new moon, so you have the least amount of light in the sky. The darker it is, the better you will experience the full effect.

You can bring a camera to take pictures of the launch area and your friends if you bring someone along, but don’t expect to photograph the bioluminescent effect because it is nearly impossible to do so. Because of the lighting conditions and the short time the effect lasts as you move through the water, only a very few pictures of this phenomenon exist in the entire world. Even if you could get a picture of the effect, nothing beats seeing it in real life on the kayak tour.

The tour lasts for between 2 to 2.5 hours and costs $32 for an adult. This is really one of the more amazing natural phenomenon you don’t want to miss if you live in Florida or if you are vacationing here. Believe me, you will definitely be telling your friends about this adventure.

Java Surf is quite a bit different than your typical Starbucks or some of the hole in the wall coffee shops dotting the landscape of the Melbourne Palm Bay beachside area of South Brevard County. Beyond their homemade desserts, wraps, coffees and treats, they also feature top of the line decor that sets them apart from the usual. The tile work around the fireplace and behind the counter depicts crashing waves and a beach scene and the marble counter tops in he bathrooms, sitting areas and front counter tells you immediately you are in a different and unique hang out.

The place has a tropical feel of a retro surf shop right in the style of Shaggs, only quite a bit more classy. On Friday nights there is acoustic music featured only I don’t know if they do it every week so you’ll have to just come by and see. One of the best things about Java Surf is that you can just stop by, get you favorite tea or coffee and hang out for awhile and surf the net (free 1hr wifi access with a purchase), play games or just bring a book and read for an hour or two.

My favorite drink here is a decaf iced blended mocha because it’s just perfect and has a strong coffee taste to it. One of their specialties is shaved ice, which is just like a snow cone, but doesn’t seem to melt as fast. I’ve only had one once just to give it a try and it was pretty tasty, but a little to sugary for me and my wife. However, everyone seems to get them and they appear to be a big hit. You can get shaved ice in all kind of flavors and 3 or 4 different sizes. A large size would be quite a sugar rush.

If you are new to the area or live on the mainland, you may not know about Java Surf. It worth the trip over to the beach just to check out the interior decor and of course get a great tasting coffee. They are located at 110 South Miramar Avenue, Indialantic, FL phone: 321-953-0366.

You can’t miss it, just head over to the beach via 192, take 5th ave to the end, turn left, and then make an immediate right onto Miramar Avenue and there you are. if you park right in front you get free parking for as long as you are there, just don’t head over to the beach because the parking is only for customers of Java Surf.

Did you know that Brevard County real estate is some of the most sought after real estate in the nation right now? According to the National Association of Realtors, Brevard County is the 6th hottest housing market in the nation. Stats are from the third quarter 2005.

In the third quarter of 2005 there were between 700 to 1000 new housing units complete each month.

Why do you think the Brevard County real estate market is booming today?

For one thing, Brevard is a very high tech area with large companies like Rockwell Collins Avionics, Harris Corporation, Grumman and of course the Kennedy Space Center.

And then when you add in the great weather, the beaches, Port Canaveral and lots of recreation you have a real winning combination. Let’s face it Brevard County is a great place to live. It also helps that Brevard County was voted the 4th best place to retire recently by Retirement Places Rated.

Another plus for Brevard County is that it just a short day trip over to the Orlando area which of course is known as the vacation capital of the world with attractions such as Disney World, Universal Studios, professional sports teams such as the Orlando Magic and one of the largest convention complexes in the world.

With all there is available in Central Florida you are literally less than a days drive to almost anything you can imagine.

People are attracted to Brevard County real estate and Brevard County because of it’s abundant recreational, employment and entertainment opportunities while it still maintains a somewhat smaller community feel. Even thought we are within an hours drive of a major city, Brevard County isn’t at all like a large metropolis such as Orlando. Many small communities dot the landscape of Brevard giving it a still small town feel wherever you go.

Brevard County is large in size, some 70 miles in length, encompasses 1,018 square miles and because of our barrier islands, we enjoy 230 miles of coastline. But, while we have lots of land, our population is less than half that of Orange County (100 square miles less than Brevard County) which contains the Orlando metro area.

So, that’s what makes Brevard County real estate such a bargain. I’m sure you will enjoy living here!

Some of the communities in the Brevard County area include Melbourne, West Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Eau Gallie, Palm Bay, Malabar, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Titusville, and Rockledge.

The Super Flea And Farmers Market is the largest flea market located on the Space Coast and voted the Best Flea Market in Brevard County.

The flea market features 900 booths that offer everything from souvenirs to sunglasses and produce to plants.

The flea market is a great place to shop and find superb bargains on all sorts of items. You can even find hand crafted items such as artwork, leather goods, handbags and more from the daily vendors as well as more commercial items such as boats, flooring, hit tubs, interior decor and even automobiles.

Our favorite store is Brandon Produce located right at the very northern entrance to the market. John runs the show at Brandon Produce and always has a smile and tasty veggies, fruits and some unique selections like mini bananas or star fruit. Brandon Produce also has the best and largest red peppers I’ve ever seen and has lots of bright red and tasty strawberries during the spring and early summer.

John knows how to treat his customers and has the lowest prices in town. Don’t spend your money at the local Publix when you can get better produce for a much better price, sometimes less than half on certain items.

If you get tired of shopping for awhile and would like to sit for a spell, then grab a cold drink because this Florida flea market also features entertainment that boasts everything from birds to big cats.

The Super Flea And Farmers Market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and offers free parking, free admission, monthly promotions and special events.

If you have something to sell you can also rent tables at very reasonable rates on a daily or monthly basis.

To find a complete list of vendors, upcoming events, directions and more info please visit the Super Flea and Farmers market web site at: www.superfleamarket.com

See you at the Space Coast’s largest Florida Flea Market!