A Look Into the Past at Canaveral

Sometimes the best kind of beach day is one where there’s barely anyone around and you can enjoy the privacy of the waves and sand. Thanks to the Canaveral National Seashore, that kind of peace is attainable. The 57,000-acre national park is a soothing escape of immaculate coastline, wildlife, and solitude. Wander down the coastline and come across Playalinda Beach, an undeveloped section of the coastline, which was rated the “Quietest Beach” on TripAdvisor in 2013. At Canaveral, you can ride horseback by the sea, go on a hiking trail, and even camp out overnight. Plus, the park is home to marine animals like sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins who stay nearby for food, shelter, and breeding seasons. Canaveral, cozied between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River, is an unaltered reflection of older, simpler times. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; winter hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.