On calm, quiet mornings, spectacular red and pink dawns break on the horizon above the Atlantic Ocean bordering New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Gentle waves roll onto a long, flat shore with a soft curling motion, then gracefully withdraw back into the sea. In the distance, a pelican swoops down into the water with a plunk, while a small band of sandpipers scuttle along the shore leaving tiny webbed footprints in the fine gray sand.

This is New Smyrna Beach, also dubbed the "World's Safest Bathing Beach," where the air and water temperature average a comfortable 70 degrees. Known also as the "temperate zone," New Smyrna lays claim to the best Florida offers -- featuring lush greenery and beauty without the intense year-round humidity so common to a tropical climate.

A scenic drive south on A1A leads to Canaveral National Seashore Park, a 57,000-acre reserve that's home to a variety of indigenous birds. Discovering and identifying wading birds is just one of the activities Mother Nature provides to entertain her beachside guests. At the park, bird watchers can take a gander at some of the most unusual, well-plumed birds in North America, including the blue heron, pelican, water turkey, ibis, snowy egret, great egret and countless varieties of waterfowl and shore birds.

This undeveloped, protected barrier beach also serves as a refuge for several endangered and protected species of Florida wildlife. On rare occasions, even a Florida panther can be spotted in its natural habitat.

Canaveral Seashore, a 24-mile stretch of unspoiled coastline and one of the longest in the United States, also serves as a home to the nesting loggerhead turtle.

Florida's loggerhead population is the largest in the nation, second only to that on Masirah Island, Oman, in the Middle East. Nesting takes place in New Smyrna, and to the south at Miami and at Cape Sabale on the west coast of Florida.

Strict enforcement is practiced to protect New Smyrna's loggerhead turtles since the odds are stacked against the turtles from the start; only one in 10,000 lives to adulthood. Despite the bleak statistics, loggerhead sea turtles continue, as they have for 150 million years, to make the perilous trek from the familiarity of the ocean to the beaches of Canaveral Seashore to lay eggs.

Nesting can begin as early as May and end as late as September. Usually, the peak nesting period occurs during the months of June and July, when more than 2,000 nests are created and 240,000 eggs are laid.

During the nesting months, sometime between nightfall and sunrise, female loggerheads lumber ashore to the cool, loose sand where they excavate a nest. Within 15-30 minutes, the hole for the nest is ready. The turtles lay their eggs into 19-inch deep cavities, which will incubate in the sun-baked sand for 45-60 days. When the eggs are laid, sand is scooped over the nest until the holes are filled. Then slowly the female loggerheads start their journey back to the water. They reach the water's edge within 30-45 minutes, then a sudden burst of energy propels them through the water, taking them instantly out of sight.

Alongside Florida wildlife, the sea dune landscape supports several species of plant life, including the tropical seagrape, beach berry, saw palmetto, yucca and black mangrove. A hike on the nearby Castle Windy trail offers nature lovers a bird's eye view of the scrub live oak, wild coffee, wild pines, a variety of air plants and the sable palm, Florida's state tree.

Shelling is a another form of natural entertainment at the water's edge on Canaveral Seashore, where nature provides an unlimited supply of shells year 'round, in all shapes and sizes. Former homes to snails and other sea creatures, the most common shells consist of moon and jingle shells, calico scallops, angel wings, the coquina clam, slipper shell and the valuable pearl oyster.

A short drive further along A1A leads to Turtle Mound, one of the most significant geographical sites on the east coast of the U.S. Historians estimate that it consists of 33,000 cubic yards of oyster shells, extends 600 feet along the Indian River and is 50 feet high. Dating back to prehistoric times, the mound was built by the Timucuan Indians, and served as a lookout point for enemies and approaching storms.

A stroll over an elevated wooden walkway at Turtle Mound commands a spectacular view of both Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, including familiar examples of Florida wildlife such as racoons and the armor-shelled armadillo.

Mosquito Lagoon, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Oak Hill (just south of New Smyrna) is part of the Canaveral Seashore system belonging to NASA. This sprawling body of water, made up of four bays, is one of the Southeast's most abundant fishing areas where one can catch redfish and flounder. In addition, the brackish waters create an ideal environment for clams, shrimp and oysters. Deep-sea sportsmen can expect to land snapper, amberjack, wahoo, black bass and tarpon.

For those would-be anglers, a professional guide can assist in learning the ins and outs of the lagoon -- many of whom guarantee a catch or your money back. Also found here are speckled trout, tarpon, mango, snook, triple tail, bluefish, jack chevalle, drum, sailor's choice and Spanish mackerel.

New Smyrna Beach's temperate climate, magnificent ocean scenery and flora and fauna, provide unique appeal to all who visit here. All one has to do is take a look at the surroundings -- where Mother Nature still knows best.