Body of Water:   Banana River/Indian River lagoon

Nearest City & State:  Merritt Island or Melbourne, FL 

General description of possible day-sails or cruises:  Put in at Kelly Park, just south of FL Route 528.  The mast on your Scot will clear the highway bridges and the prevailing SE or SW winds usually make it easy to transit these bodies of water that are situated primarily north & south.  Sail north on the Banana River to get a good view of Kennedy Space Center (Note: No motors allowed north of the barge canal) and see cruise ships berthed in Port Canaveral.  With calm seas you can through the locks to the port and out into the Atlantic.  The barge canal connects to the Indian River and the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW).  Head south on the Banana River under Route 520 to find numerous restaurants on both shores just south of the causeway.  Expect to see both manatees as well as dolphins in close proximity to your boat!  Put in farther south on the Indian River at Ballard Park in Melbourne and sail north under the Route 404 causeway to explore the southern tip of Merritt Island (known as Dragon Point).  Go south to a great sailing area just off MYC.   

What we like best about this area:   Wide variety of scenery as well as wildlife, speed restrictions on power boats

Fun places to visit on the water:   Watch rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, visit Dragon Point, Manatee Sanctuary, fishing on the flats

Fun things to do on shore, attractions, restaurants, shopping, etc:   Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, camping at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral, about 1-hour from Disney World, Universal Studios, & Sea World in Orlando

Best Season to Visit:   _x_Spring   _x_Summer   _x_Fall   __Winter

Wind conditions:   Not specified

Name and location of Launch Ramp (or hoist):   Kelly Park ramp or off the beach at Calema Windsurfing School, Merritt Island 528 at Banana River Drive, Ballard Park off US Route 1 in Melbourne

Area Facilities: