The Turtle Mound National Historic Site

Located 20 minutes from our New Smyrna resort, The Turtle Mound National Historic Site is one of the most curious remnants of a prehistoric culture in the continental United States. It is unclear exactly why the Timucan Native Americans piled bits of shells to form what is now a 35-foot mound rising above Mosquito Lagoon (and archeologists think the mound was originally up to 75 feet tall). In recent centuries, however, this fascinating structure has served as a lookout point and a navigational marker to assist ships at sea. As a visitor to Turtle Mound, and the Canaveral National Seashore Park of which it is a part, you’ll be treated to one of the best preserved strips of coastal land in Florida. With no condos or houses to sully your view, you can bike, run, swim, or kayak out onto the water to get an up-close look at the dolphins, manatees, and pilot whales that inhabit the region. You’ll also want to keep any eye out for turtles’ nests, which vary in number from year to year, but have occasionally reached into the thousands.

Address: A1A, Canaveral National Seashore, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168