Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Barrier Island Sanctuary

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Nestled along A1A in Melbourne Beach, the Barrier Island Sanctuary Management & Education Center serves as the gateway to the 258-acre Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The Center itself features a variety of interactive exhibits, auditorium, gift shop and observation deck. Don’t miss the opportunity to take the one-mile hiking trail through several scenic habitats that are home to wildlife such as great land crabs, gopher tortoises, ospreys and great blue herons. 

Hike #43: Maritime Hammock Sanctuary

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Hike #43: 52 Hike Challenge: Maritime Hammock Sanctuary, Melbourne Beach. On a rather cold, dreary and wet morning, we headed north from Disney’s Vero Beach Resort past Sebastian Inlet State Park toward the 150-acre Maritime Hammock Sanctuary in Melbourne Beach. Fortunately, when we arrived at the Sanctuary, the rain had somewhat tapered off and we had a nice (but sometimes slippery) hike. The Maritime Hammock Sanctuary, which is located inside the 900-acre Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, once served as the site of an exotic plant nursery. Distance: 2.8 miles.