Enjoy Nature’s Bounty This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all we are thankful for.

Here at Florida Tech, the list is quite extensive – from our outstanding students, staff and faculty, to the cutting-edge research and scientific breakthroughs happening in classrooms and labs across campus.

Sharing a special meal with family and friends is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition and our Florida Tech family recently gathered for a holiday feast with all the fixings including slow-roasted turkey, cornbread dressing,  mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish and a dozens of deserts.

 It’s a ritual that usually ends with a burp, a loosened belt buckle and the desire to take a walk. After a big meal there’s nothing better than a little fresh air in the great outdoors.

While some states have already seen their first snowfall, and temperatures up north begin to dip into the twenties, here on the Space Coast with an expected high of 78-degrees, we can enjoy the wondrous beauty of nature all year. We’re thankful for the 72-miles of coastline we call home and to honor that – here is our list of six places you can go get a breath of fresh air after the feast.

Canaveral National Seashore –   Not only does this park offer a 24-mile stretch of beach (the longest undeveloped beach on Florida’s east coast,) but the seashore also encompasses thousands of acres of natural dune, marsh and lagoon – where more than 300 species of birds nest.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge:  Listed as a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail, the refuge consists of 140,000 acres and provides a habitat for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals.

Florida Tech’s Botanical Garden: Right in the heart of campus, this 15-acre oasis offers walking trails under a shady hammock and a variety of tropical flora and fauna.

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge:  Known as one the world’s most significant and important nesting areas for loggerhead sea turtles, the refuge also offers guided turtle walks.

Turkey Creek Sanctuary:  This 130-acre sanctuary boasts nature trails for hiking and jogging through hammock and sand pine scrub. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of turtles, alligators, manatees, river otters and other assorted wildlife.

Sebastian Inlet State Park: Enjoy a day on the beach – or choose from a variety of outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking or hiking.

So after enjoying your feast, just remember to take a moment and “relish” all the natural beauty around you.

From our Florida Tech family to yours – have a very Happy Thanksgiving!