Barrier Island Sanctuary

The Barrier Island Sanctuary is a gem of information on conservation of our beautiful coastal resources. What it lacks in size (it’s a fairly small facility) it makes up in quality. The exhibits are hands on and interesting for a wide range of ages. They do a particularly good job showcasing the importance of the Brevard beaches in the nesting of sea turtles.
It’s a favorite stop when we are visiting the area for my four year old who loves both the facility and the nearby hiking trails.

This place has beautiful views, where I plan on coming back when I get my neutral density filters for my camera, as well as information on the ecosystem that makes up this island. Inside was very informative, cold, and clean. The exhibits are also well done here.

Drove there with my three friends to go on the «turtle walk.» If you are going for that, make sure to park at the parking lot nearby, because the gates to the building will be locked. Just read the directions. We learned about turtles from one of the researchers there via looking at PowerPoint at the theater. It was pretty educational, especially if you don’t know much about the sea turtles. Q&A was pretty long, since all we had to do later is wait for «scouts» to find a turtle on the beach to look at. We waited quiet a bit for that to happen. Around 11:30, we went outside. We waited on the terrace. Then maybe 20 min later we walked on the beach as a group. Unfortunately, our group only found turtle tracks and no turtles. It was disappointing, but still neat. It’s not a zoo, so it’s understandable if the turtles aren’t there all the time.

My boyfriend and I went here on a whim the other day. It is not a huge place, but it serves its purpose. As a native, I did not learn too much that I hadn’t learned while growing up here. With that said, I think the Barrier Island Sanctuary is an awesome resource for kids in school and tourists that are interested in learning more about Sea Turtles and conservation.
During the summer they offer guided tours so you can see the turtles up close without disruppting their nesting.

This is a great place to stop by and learn about ocean and sea turtles. I have been here a few times over the years when I am in the area. I enjoy the exhibits and the small theater. The theater shows different movies. The time I was here, it shown a movie about Turtles and the fishing industries.
It is especially cool doing turtle nesting season. Barrier Island Sanctuary provides nightly tours to watch sea turtles lay their eggs. It is a great family event. Do check the calendars and call ahead. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Found this place quite by accident while out on a leisurely drive one day. It’s located in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. What a wonderful center for Sea Turtle and local habitat education!
Small center, but my child enjoyed the exhibits, especially the sea turtle game. Knowledgeable, friendly volunteers; they even suggested other local areas that might be of interest to us as newcomers to the Space Coast.