Florida Bicycle Tour Destinations

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bicycling through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will be like nothing you have ever experienced from the seat of a bicycle.

This 140,000-acre refuge of marshes, hardwood hammocks, pine flat woods, scrub and coastal dunes provide habitat for over 500 species of wildlife including 21 federal and state listed endangered and/or threatened species. Manatees, sea turtles, bald eagles, otters, alligators, bobcats, and dozens of species of beautiful wading birds and waterfowl make their home at this refuge.

Blessed with a favorable coastal location and sub-tropical climate, this refuge shares a common boundary with the Kennedy Space Center, proving nature and technology can not only coexist, it can thrive.

You will have plenty of time to explore this one-of-a-kind wildlife refuge while bicycling the many miles of the eco-tour friendly hard packed roads with very limited vehicle traffic.

Make sure you pack a camera, you will surely want to capture the many wonderful wildlife sightings along the way.

www.fws.gov/merrittisland

Historic Cocoa Village

Historic Cocoa Village is like stepping back in time. Located on the beautiful Indian River, this area was once a citrus mega-center. As you bicycle down the tree-lined streets, you will see a number of homes and buildings on the National Historic Register, some of them dating back to the 1880's.

Go back in time or get away from everyday routine. For a memorable afternoon where you can walk or bike historic streets and avenues that tell stories from the past, discover Cocoa Village. Stroll the Indian River walk, explore antique stores housed in historic building, eat an old fashioned ice cream cone, or rest a spell with a cup of coffee in a Victorian style coffee house.

Cocoa Village will be the hub of one of the biking days on the PAMPERED Bicycle Tour. Bubba loves this area and is sure you will as well.

See for yourself at www.cocoavillage.com

Deseret Ranch

You may be surprised to learn Central Florida is home to the largest working cattle ranch in the United States.The Deseret Ranch, which  occupies well over 300,000 acres.

The Deseret Ranch is a vast environmental landscape that features pastures, citrus groves and natural wildlife habitats. It also includes 1,000 miles of canals, 250 miles of roads and 1,400 miles of fences.

 The word Deseret means honeybee and signifies industriousness and hard work. The ranch uses a “beehive” for a brand. There are currently 44,000 cows, including replacement heifers and purebred cows, on the ranch.

One of the highlights of your day riding through and around Deseret Ranch will be a guided bus tour of the grounds.

This day of riding  you will see part of Florida most do not know exists.