During my recent vacation to Florida’s Space Coast, I visited the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne. It’s quite a nice zoo with a wide variety of animals just off of I-95 that’s comparable to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC, or the Jacksonville Zoo (and like the Jacksonville Zoo, there is plenty of local wildlife other than the zoo residents to see – like Green Herons and Ibis). With the exception of parts of the Expedition Africa section, it’s nicely shaded, so there’s not as much worry about getting sunburned. I particularly enjoyed getting to see a Klipspringer and the Meerkats in the Expedition Africa section, it was the first opportunity I’ve had to see both in person.

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The Brevard Zoo uses two frequencies (one of them with two different PL tones) for radio communications. They’re regular analog, so easy to monitor with the simplest of scanners or amateur radio HTs. Listening in to the keeper and veterinary staff communications is a good way to enhance a visit and know when some of the animals are being released into their exhibits for the day.

464.375 (PL 186.2) - Brevard Zoo 1 (seemed to be the primary channel)
464.375 (PL 67.0) - Brevard Zoo 2 (referred to as '2')
462.275 (PL 100.0) - Brevard Zoo (unknown designator)

Near the zoo is Amici’s Italian Restaurant; if you like Italian food, it’s a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. I had their Chicken Marsala and it was wonderful! It’s definitely a must-stop for me when I return to the area in the future.