Turkey Creek Sanctuary in Palm Bay, Florida is my favorite place to take a hike and enjoy nature. The hiking trails are actually beautiful boardwalks that meander through the 100-acre nature sanctuary, making it possible for people with strollers or wheelchairs to also enjoy the scenery. Of further interest, many of the boardwalk boards are engraved, so there’s a lot of interesting reading along the way.
Turkey Creek is a nature sanctuary located at 1518 Port Malabar Road NE in Palm Bay, Florida. The sanctuary is open year-round from 7 a.m. to sunset, and admission and parking are free.
There are two hiking trails at Turkey Creek, and both of them follow the Creek. Each trail is under a mile, and there are plenty of benches scattered along both trails so you can also sit and relax and enjoy the scenery. Trees and plants along the trail are labeled; my favorite is “sinkus holus.” Each trail is unique, so I usually hike both.
The first hiking trail I walk is the Creek Overlook Trail, which is about three-fourths of a mile long. This trail follows Turkey Creek, and there are various lookout points along the way where you can stop and watch the fish or the kayakers. My favorite part of this trail is the area of trees that are growing at a 45-degree angle, thanks to Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances.
To get to the next hiking trail, backtrack until you reach the Wet Hammock Trail. I always hike this trail last because it’s shady and cooler. Every time I hike this trail, I feel like I’m entering an enchanted forest from a storybook. At the end of this trail, there’s an area where you can sit and watch the turtles (no feeding allowed).
Other Activities
The last stop is the Margaret Hames Nature Center. In here you will find all kinds of animal skeletons and other interesting facts about Florida. Workers are very knowledgeable and friendly.
Besides the two hiking trails, the sanctuary has other amenities. As you enter the sanctuary, go to the right and it’s a short walk to the picnic table pavilion. An exercise station course (pull-ups, balance beam) is also located here. For joggers, there’s a 1.5 mile round-trip jogging course.
I have gone to Turkey Creek Sanctuary numerous times at various times of the year, and I never grow tired of its wild beauty.
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