The Space Coast - Florida - page 720

The original settlement was established by freed slaves and pineapple farmers who built
homesteads on a small peninsula between Indian River and Crane Creek in the 1870s. A
fire destroyed the burgeoning town in 1919 and a new downtown was resurrected along
New Haven Ave, which remains much as it was in the 1920s.
Sights & Activities
Brevard Zoo ZOO
( 321-254-9453; www.brevardzoo.org ; 8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne; adult/child 2-12yr $16/12,
Treetop Trek adult/small child $40/22; 9:30am-5pm)
For over 20 years this community-built zoo has set standards for imaginative design, im-
mersive wildlife experiences, education and conservation. Since hammer-holding locals
came out in force in March 1994 to start construction, the zoo's landscape has evolved via
winding boardwalks through hardwood hammocks into distinct geographical zones featur-
ing wildlife from Florida, South America, Africa and Australia. Specially designed enclos-
ures merging with the undergrowth and free-flight aviaries give a real sense of wandering
through a wilderness.
The zoo's best experiences are the kayak tours past gangly giraffes down the Nyami
Nyami river and the Tree Top Trek , an aerial adventure course incorporating zip lines
over wetland ponds and alligator pools.
Once you've got over the enjoyment of wandering around the zoo's unique environ-
ment, you'll begin to notice its dedication to the serious work of conservation and wildlife
education. The Paws On children's area invites kids to build, explore and splash around on
a real sand beach, engage in hookless fishing and pet the resident pigmy goats and alpacas.
Volunteers work tirelessly to create oyster mats for the oyster-reef-regeneration project in
Indian River; and the Wildlife Detective Training Academy encourages curiosity and in-
quiry in older kids through self-guided mystery tours designed around the zoo.
In addition, there are night hikes, a Junior Zoo Keeper's Club, summer camps, animal-
adoption programs and well-attended community events, including the popular Boo at the
Zoo Halloween celebration. For kids and animal lovers this may well outshine the Space
Center.
Ryckman Park PARK, PIER