Think of the USA's national parks, a massive swamp, a seemingly endless swath of the Atlantic Ocean or a 19th-century fort and you might not think of them.
Three of the country's most biologically diverse and captivating national parks can be found here. The southern tip of Florida is where all three of them are. It has three national parks that capture everything that is natural, wild and dangerous about the state. Everything you need to know about how to get to, what to see, and where to stay at Florida's national parks can be found here.
The Everglades is a national park. In addition to being a federal park, the park is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are more than 120 different tree species in the 1.5 million acres of wetlands in the Florida Panhandle. There are hundreds of different types of wildlife in the area, including the state's eponymous and critically-endangered panther.
Adventure beckons in the Florida wilderness. There is a network of trails behind each of the visitor centers. The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm is one of the easiest and most well known. You can take a ride on the Shark Valley Trail if you have more time and a bike.
Day trips from Miami.
The western side of the park is great for kayaking. The Wilderness Waterway is the granddaddy of them all and it spans 99 miles. The trip takes about eight days and is only recommended for serious paddlers. There is a requirement for back country permits.
It's an easy day trip to visit the eastern gateways into the park. The Long Pine Key and Flamingo campgrounds are open during the park's peak season, November through May, with rates starting at $25 a night. It's a good idea to bring a lot of insect spray.
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The majority of the 173,000 acres of Biscayne National Park are ocean. Visitors to the park can see migrating water birds and hundreds of varieties of reef fish, as well as dolphins, sea turtles and other creatures who live along the world's third-longest coral-reef. The wrecks of six boats can be explored below the surface.
There is a park above the waterline in the Florida Keys. Since it used to be an off-shore gambling and vice haven, it has been battered by hurricanes and only seven of its original structures are still standing. The National Park Service has been working to protect and preserve these stilt houses as a reminder of the area's lawless past.
The Spite Trail is one of the hiking options that visitors can take. The remnants of a six lane road were built in 1968 by developers angry that the federal government was planning to turn the area into a park. Today's dirt path leads through a beautiful hardwood forest that was bulldozed.
Biscayne National Park is free to visit. The Biscayne National Park Institute offers multiple paid water tours, giving visitors a chance to explore via sailboat or kayak, or go underwater with scuba or snorkel gear. If you bring your own boat, experienced paddlers can kayak less than 10 miles from the visitor center to the islands and camp for $25 a night. There is no RV camping inside the park, but you can find lots of privately owned options throughout the Keys and on the mainland. The Boca Chita Lighthouse has great views of Miami and the surrounding landscape but is usually only manned during the peak season.
Garden Key is the largest island in Dry Tortugas and is surrounded by miles of gorgeous turquoise ocean.
There are eight best beaches in the Florida Keys.
Fort Jefferson was built in the 19th century to defend against pirates. Union forces were able to block Confederate supply ships during the Civil War. The fortress was turned into a prison after the war ended. The most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated Lincoln. After the on- station military doctor died in the yellow-fever epidemic, Mudd began treating patients. Both the military and his fellow prisoners of war gave him a pardon and a plaque for saving hundreds of lives. Ernest Hemingway and a group of friends were stuck at the fort for more than two weeks as storms battered the island.
After touring the fort, most visitors head down to one of the island's small beaches, where they swim, snorkel or sunbathe until it's time to return to civilization.
There is no fee to enter Dry Tortuga's waters, but there is a catch. You can get a free permit at the Garden Key boathouse if you want to stop on one of the islands on your own boat. You have to take a ferry, seaplane or private charter to get to Fort Jefferson if you don't own a boat. As reservations increase, plan ahead. You can expect to pay a lot of money per person.
On a first-come, first-served basis, primitive camping can be found on Garden Key. There is no camp store to buy supplies. Trash needs to be carried out.
The article was first published in May of 2021.
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