Physical / Mobility

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Apollo Beach

At Apollo Beach parking areas one through five provide access to the beach. All are wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking spaces are located at the entrance of every beach ramp. The ramps are flush with the parking lot and range from flat to having slight incline leading to the beach. Once at the top of the ramp there will be a platform to stop enjoy the seabreeze and an informational interpretive sign may be present. There may be a slight decline leading to the sand. Some ramps traverse if the dune height requires.

 

 

The front of the Apollo Visitor Center.

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The Apollo Beach Visitor Center

The Apollo Visitor Center is located at Apollo Beach. Upon entering there are interpretive displays, a gift shop, and a large auditorium for enjoying the park video that is closed captioned. The entire building is accessible by wheelchair as well as the pavilion and the dock behind the visitor center.

 

Beach Wheelchair

At Apollo Beach, a beach wheelchair is available to be checked out at the visitor center. There it may be checked out for a period of time. It may be used at the beach access ramp located across the street from the visitor center.

Apollo Visitor Center Contact Information: 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32796. Call to check its availability, [phone] extention zero.

Playalinda Beach does not currently have a beach wheelchair.

 

Turtle Mound

Turtle Mound is one of the most significant archeological sites on the east coast of Florida. The mound is a treasure trove of artifacts, history and culture. It is composed primarily of oyster shells. Upon entering Apollo Beach the Turtle Mound parking area is approximately one half of a miles drive into the park on the right hand side of the road.

The boardwalk leads from the parking area to the top of the mound. Stay on the path if you intend to reach the top of the mound. Once at the top three stopping points provide access to the north, south and west sides of the mound.

 

 

Castle Windy Trail

Castle Windy Trail is a walking trail located at Apollo Beach parking area three. Park at beach parking area three and the trail is directly across the street. It leads across the barrier island ending at the Castle Windy archeological site located at the edge of the Mosquito lagoon.

The path is nature ground path with some rooty spots. It can be navigated with a cane but with a wheelchair it would need all-terrain wheels. The ground is packed with a slight incline the peaks at the middle of the trail. Take this path in the winter time to reduce the chance for mosquitoes.

 

Seminole Rest

The half mile loop trail leading around the Seminole Rest Historic Site is wheelchair accessible. A large portion of the path is a cement sidewalk, while another portion is a wooden walkway that traverses across the top of the mound. This wooden portion has small inclines and declines while traversing 14 foot Timucua shell mound. The paved portion is relatively flat with one small incline as it encircles the base of the mound. There is one railing next to the first interpretive sign along the path. The rest of the path does not have railings. There are five benches to rest on placed strategically around the path near each of the informational interpretive signs.

When the Seminole Rest home is open it is accessible to enter the first floor. Please call the Apollo Visitor Center to check if the house is open before your visit at this phone number [phone] extension zero.

 

 

NPS/Photo Anthony Peritore

Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach is located at the southern end of Canaveral National Seashore just a stones throw from the northern most rocket launch pads of Kennedy Space Center. Ther are either vistas or vehicle pull offs to view the fresh water ponds and the rocket launch pads 39A and 39B.

For beach access there are thirteen beach parking areas. All have accessibilty parking spots located at the entrance of the beach access ramps. The first five beach ramps traverse a tall dune. Once you travel as far as parking area number eight the beach dune is flat allowing for much easier beach access.

 

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