Marine Discovery Center, New Smyrna Beach

Local creek waters and river tributaries empty into an estuary along more than 150 miles of Florida's east coast. There, the freshwaters mix with salty Atlantic currents to form the Indian River Lagoon. The lagoon supports the highest levels of biodiversity found in any North American estuary. Preserving this delicate and species-rich ecosystem is the goal of Marine Discovery Center, a nonprofit corporation headquartered on the banks of the river. The MDC connects citizens to nature through kids’ summer camps, educational outreach, and frog-kissing booths. Kayak tours allow guests of all skill levels to navigate through the mangrove-framed waters of the lagoon in search of native birds, leaping mullet fish, and even Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.