Monday, January 20, 2020 will be a fee free day at Canaveral National Seashore. This is in honor of MLK day!

Canaveral National Seashore is a great place to take the kids for a hike. They have short hikes to choose from, and you can take a boardwalk walk over a Native American shell mound (picture above). There is a lot to explore there, including beach where there are no buildings along it.

You can access Canaveral National Seashore in Volusia County. From I-95, take exit 249 & head east toward New Smyrna Beach. The road turns into A1A, then curves to the right (heading south). Stay on A1A for approximately 8 miles to the park entrance station.

Get more information about Canaveral National Seashore here.

MDC’s January Lecture Features Right Whales

North Atlantic Right Whales will be the featured topic at the Marine Discovery Center’s January 2020 monthly lecture series this week.

This endangered species may be spotted from the shorelines of Central Florida during the winter months as whale mothers give birth to calves during this time. 

Julie Albert, who oversees the North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation Program for the Marine Resources Council, will provide an update on these mammals, whose population has continued to decline in recent years.

The lecture will be held Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 starting at 6 p.m., and will be hosted by the Marine Discovery Center, located at 520 Barracuda Boulevard in New Smyrna Beach.

Albert will also provide contact information for coastal residents who may observe the whales this winter. Local citizen involvement has been critical in protecting the mothers and calves through a contact network. Citizen reporting has helped officials alert cargo ships and fishing vessels about whales in specific areas, enabling the whales to escape potential deadly encounters.

This week's lecture is open to the public at no charge and no reservations are required. 

Seating in the center’s Learning Lab is limited and early arrival is recommended.

For more information about the lecture, contact the Marine Discovery Center at 386-428-4828.