This low-lying ribbon of land braced by sand dunes is a barrier island, behind which salty Atlantic water flowing through inlets combines with seasonal rains to form the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon estuaries. Fish, oysters, clams, and shrimp begin life in these fertile nurseries, which, in turn, attract an abundance of waterfowl. An engineered introduction of freshwater in the 1950s attracted new residents, and today it is common to see waterfowl, alligators, otters, and wading birds such as snowy egrets, white ibises, and great blue herons. Hammocks of ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss grow near sand dunes covered with palmetto and sea oats, and the Seashore supports 15 wildlife species federally listed as endangered or threatened, including sea turtles and West Indian manatees.

Canaveral, from a word given by Spanish explorers meaning "place of canes," is one of the oldest recorded geographical names in North America, but humans left their imprint here long before European explorers ventured ashore. American Indians, attracted by the fertile estuaries and temperate climate, harvested oysters and clams and discarded the shells in heaps that archeologists study today as middens.

• Scout Indian River by pleasure boat, sail, or canoe.
• Explore Mosquito Lagoon for oysters, clams, pink shrimp, and blue crabs.
• Bicycle the 6-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive, which can take an hour or all day, depending on how many stops you make to view wildlife.
• Backcountry camp among the many islands in the northern part of Mosquito lagoon, which can only be reached by boat or canoe.