Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland Florida is a playground for watersports. Whether you’re into snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, or maybe you just like to relax on an innertube on crystal clear water, this is the place for you. And, as the name of the park suggests, there are manatees that visit during the year.

If you’re more of a stay on land type of person, there are 8.5 miles of trails for biking and walking. For the fisherman, fishing is available on the Suwannee River, where you can catch bass, sunfish, and catfish.

If you want to stay at Manatee Springs State Park, they have 80 campsites that are split for RVs and tents.

Manatees at Manatee Springs State Park

When the water in northern Florida starts to get cold, manatees will head to warmer waters. It’s unsafe for manatees to stay in water below 68 F, but, fortunately for them, the spring water in Manatee Springs State Park stays right around 72 F year-round. And fortunately for you, there are about 20 manatees that show up at the park from November to April.

If you find yourself in the water at the same time as the manatees, please be aware that there are laws regarding touching and interacting with these gentle giants. Florida has a strict look, but don’t touch the manatee law, so don’t ever harass, try to touch, or chase a manatee.

Camping at Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park has 80 wooded campsites spread out over three loops. Each loop has showers and restrooms. Camp sites all have electricity and water, and pets are allowed, as long as you keep Rusty on a leash. The Hickory Camping Area has 20 campsites and is exclusively for tent campers. RV campers can spread out in the Magnolia 1 and 2 camping loops which offer 49 sites to set up camp. If you don’t mind intermingling, Magnolia 1 Loop also has 11 campsites for tent campers.

If you want to go all out and camp like your favorite influencer then you are in luck, because Manatee Springs State Park offers a glamping experience. Three sites are set up on the Hickory Loop. Just a few of the amenities included are pre-pitched tents, towels, bedside lights, and extra charging stations (because you never want to be ready to post to the “gram” and find that your battery is dead). Rates are $90-$225 a night depending on time of week, month, or year.

Check out the ultimate camping adventure in Florida, Dry Tortugas National Park!

Hiking at Manatee Springs State Park

There are 8.5 miles of hiking/biking trails in the park. They are split into three different trails; they are mostly easy trails with a max elevation gain of 59 feet. The Scenic Trail is almost 4 miles long, runs through a hardwood forest, and is a popular trail for birding. The Sinkhole Trail is a short and quick trail that features sinkholes that were formed many years ago. The Campground Trail is a 3-mile hike in the forest around the…campgrounds! All three trails are heavily wooded which will keep the sun off you in the Florida summer, and the Florida winter too, for that matter.

Hikers, keep a heads up because they do allow bikers on the trails, and bikers, be respectful of the hikers.

Snorkeling and Swimming at Mantatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs is a first-magnitude spring with a flow rate of 50 – 150 million gallons of water per day. With that much water movement the springs will stay clear as long as the Suwannee River isn’t overflowing.

Most of the year the springs are clear and offer spectacular snorkeling. If you’re looking for someplace to cool off in the summer this is the place to go. 72-degree water really refreshes and makes you forget about the heat.

The water does have a current, see the 50–150-million-gallon flow rate above, so it’s advisable to wear swim fins to help with navigating the waters.

Innertubes and swimming floats are allowed in the springs, just don’t forget to bring the pump, or a long-winded spouse.

The park can get a little crowded in the late morning/early afternoon, do yourself a favor and go early to stake out your spot.

Scuba Diving

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Scuba diving is permitted in the springs of the park. Certified Open Water Divers must register at the ranger station. Don’t forget your diving partner as you’re not allowed to dive as a single. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, don’t touch or remove any fossils or artifacts. Just leave them where they are so others may enjoy them.

You need to complete your dive at least one hour before sundown. And if you see any manatees, you’re required to stay at least 50 feet away.

Catfish Hotel is the body of water southwest of the springs and is the entrance to the caverns. While open water certified divers are allowed to dive the pond, you must be cave certified to enter the cavern. Remember, make sure to not dive beyond your abilities.

More info can be found on the park’s website here.

Kayaking and Canoeing

The Suwannee River runs right alongside Manatee Springs State Park and it’s a perfect place to do some paddling. If you don’t have a kayak, or you didn’t feel like loading one up, you are in luck as they rent kayaks at the concession stand.

Fishing is allowed from the shore or boats, but you’ll need a license from the Florida Wildlife Commission whether you are a local or a visitor.

The concession stand is open year-round, in addition to kayak rentals, they most likely have that thing that you forgot on the counter at home. Sunscreen, towels, and of course t-shirts. They also have a grill and other edibles if you somehow forgot the cooler.

There are pavilions available for rental, as well as first come first serve picnic tables scattered throughout the park.

Admission into the park is $4 for a vehicle with one person, $6 for a vehicle with 2-8 people and $2 for pedestrians/bicyclists.

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Dry Tortugas National Park consists of 7 islands about 70 miles west of Key West. It is one of the least visited National Parks in the system as the only way to get there is by ferry, seaplane, or boat. If you want to camp, the only way to get your gear there is by ferry or boat. Getting a spot on the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park is relatively easy, getting a spot for camping at Dry Tortugas National Park is not. But, if you do get a chance to camp there, take it, even though it can be daunting if you’ve never done primitive camping before. You’ll find an article or two online as to what to expect but they don’t really have everything that you would like to know, until now.

Dry Tortugas gets its name from a couple of different sources. The Tortugas is due to all the turtles on the island when Ponce de Leon (that’s right, the fountain of youth guy) landed there, he called the land “Las Tortugas”. Since there was no fresh water on the islands, they would be labeled as “dry” on the mariner charts of the day.

The Keys of Dry Tortugas National Park

There are seven keys, or islands, that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Unfortunately, four of them are closed to the public.

Hospital Key

Hospital Key is a small island that had a (wait for it) hospital on it for the prisoners and residents of Fort Jefferson. Hospital Key is closed to the public, most likely to contain the leftover hospital zombies.

East Key

East Key is the smallest of the keys, it’s pretty much just a sandbar that sits about 6 feet above the surf and is also closed to the public. While small, it still has a purpose as various types of flora and fauna inhabit the key along with a small collection of wildlife.

Middle Key

Middle Key is closed to the public because there are times when it’s not even above water. Seasonal weather and tidal conditions will cover the island for weeks and sometimes months.

Long Key

Long Key is connected to the east end of Bush Key by a sandbar. It’s a mid-sized key at 8,000 square meters filled with sand and trees and it’s also closed to the public.

Bush Key

Bush Key is located right next to Garden Key, separated by a channel that disappears from time to time. Known as Hog Key during the fort’s tenure due to the raising of hogs there for fresh meat for the residents of Fort Jefferson.

No more hogs are raised on the island as it’s a bird sanctuary for Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies. Bush Key is open to the public…only part of the year. It’s closed between February and September during nesting season.

Loggerhead Key

Loggerhead Key is the largest of the keys in the park and it’s open to the public! That’s right, it’s open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. The only way to get there is by small boat. It’s a three-mile paddle from Garden Key if you came by ferry. If you come on a private or commercial boat, there are mooring buoys around the island for you to tie off and then take a small boat in.

On the island there is a lighthouse and a couple of small buildings, including one that’s been deposited on the beach and broken in half. You’re not allowed to go into any of the buildings and be sure to stay on any pathways.

The coral reefs that are around Loggerhead Key are spectacular for snorkeling and diving. There is also the Windjammer shipwreck about a mile southwest of the island. It’s under 20 feet of water and is perfect for scuba diving.

Garden Key

Garden Key is the second largest of the Dry Tortugas National Park islands. It’s 14 acres includes beaches, tropical island trees, campgrounds, a fort, and a moat around the fort. The park headquarters are located on Garden Key, and this is where the ferry, seaplanes, campers, and private boaters check in.

Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson takes up much of the land on Garden Key. Building of the fort started in 1846 and lasted for 30 years while never really being completed. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used though, it was one of the largest masonry forts in the nation at the time. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson was used as a prison, it even housed four men involved with President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

The sheer size of the fort helped to keep the peace, as it was the biggest masonry fort built of its time. Why build such a massive fort in the middle of the ocean you ask? It’s actually in the middle of a very busy shipping lane and the Gulf Stream. All ships going to Europe and eastern North America from South America sail near there and any traffic that goes to the Mississippi River from the east passes by Fort Jefferson.

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Reservations for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is the hard part. You don’t need reservations for the campsites, they’re first come, first serve, with an overflow area, but you have to get there! There are three ways to get to Dry Tortugas:

• The Yankee Freedom Ferry
• Private/commercial boat
• Charter a seaplane

Yankee Freedom Ferry

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The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the most economical way that campers get to Dry Tortugas. You’re allowed 60 lbs. of gear per person plus a cooler and all the water that you can carry. If you want to take a kayak with you (highly recommended!) they allow three kayaks per trip, and it costs $20 more. You’ll have to make sure that there is a slot available when you book your trip. They offer 1,2-, and 3-night trips and the cost is $240 per person, that includes the entrance fee into the park, but it doesn’t include the camp site cost, $15 per night.

To say that getting a camping reservation is hard would be an understatement. If you have a group of more than one then you will probably become very intimate with the Yankee Freedom staff through the phone. They do have an online reservation system right here. But go ahead and try to make reservations, you can do it now, that’s okay, I’ll wait…

Did you find any? Of course you didn’t, they are normally booked up at least six months in advance. They release openings at the beginning of the month for six months out. So, on May 1st, they will release campsite reservations for October. If you have flexibility, then you can log on every day and look for cancellations. One-night and two-night reservations do pop up regularly for one person, but multiple openings are rare and go quick. Three-night reservations are harder to come by, but they do show up time to time, just remember flexibility is the key.

If you keep in contact with the Yankee Freedom staff, they have an idea when there are going to be cancelations, so you’ll want to keep in contact with them. They won’t put you on a waiting list, there is no such thing.

There is a private Facebook account specifically for camping at Dry Tortugas, you should definitely join that one. People will post openings on that page. There are a couple more pages that you might want to look at, just do a Dry Tortugas Camping search.

Private/Commercial Boat

If you have a boat that can make it over 140 miles on one tank of fuel, you can camp in the park. There is no docking at the pier but there are buoys available to tie up to. Or you can charter a boat to take you to the island, there are outfitters that will take you for one or multiple days. You can check on Facebook for help on this also.

Seaplane Charter from Key West

Seaplane Adventures has regular half day and full day excursions, cost is about $800 per person. But due to weight and space restrictions, they won’t take campers.

Dry Tortugas Pre-Camping Prep

You’ve scored your tickets on Yankee Freedom, now what? For the most part, their Camping Information PDF that you can download is very informative and covers a lot of what you can and can’t take with you, but it still leaves some questions on a few subjects.

Disclaimer! What follows is what I have actually seen make it on to the boat, don’t blame me when you overload your bin by 50 pounds, and they make you leave your 1000-watt solar generator and your espresso machine on the dock because you “just can’t morning” without coffee!

Bins, Duffle Bags, Coolers, and Water

The Yankee Freedom Camping Information PDF actually shows you the best bins, duffle bags, and coolers to take. You don’t have to match them exactly, but you’ll want to get something within their size guidelines, so you make sure that it actually gets on the boat.

Bins

The Home Depot 27 Gallon yellow lid bin is by far the most popular, to prove it just take a look…

You can fit a lot of gear in it if you pack carefully, the only thing that you have to be watchful of is the weight. I was able to fit a four-person tent, 2 small tent fans (didn’t need them), flashlights, first aid kit, snorkel gear, extra camera gear, miscellaneous little camping gear, an air mattress, and battery powered inflator.

Duffle Bags

Go for the lightest bag that’ll fit your gear that you can find! If you load up that old canvas military bag that you’ve been lugging around for years, you’re probably losing 10% of your weight allowance.

Coolers

The max size of cooler that you can take is 100 quarts. The size of cooler that you take is going to depend on the size of your group, how long you’re staying, and what you’re planning to eat. Coolers don’t count against your total weight so you can pack as much ice and food as you want.

Water

You can take as much water as you need, do not put it in your bins, leave it separate. You can use refillable water jugs, or you can stock up on one, or five-gallon jugs at the grocery store. Figure at least 1 gallon per person per day.

Extras

Fishing gear, kayaks, and canopies are something that you see a lot of people take. The nice thing about having multiple people in your group going is you can redistribute weight and take some extra “luxury” stuff. There is great fishing around the island, just make sure that you have the proper license. Kayaks are limited to three per ferry trip, so you’ll really have to plan in advance for that. Even if they won’t fit in a bin, you can take a canopy, make sure that you keep your weight where it needs to be.

How Long to Camp at Dry Tortugas

The simplest answer is whatever’s available! Yankee Freedom offers trips of 1,2, and 3 nights. If you can only stay one night, pack as light as possible. I would use the first day for snorkeling and exploring the fort, it’s open until sundown, then you can take the guided Fort Jefferson Tour the second day.

Two nights is a good amount of time, the nice thing is after 5:00 P.M. the last of the seaplanes have gone for the day, and the park is left to you, your fellow campers and the park rangers.

Three nights is the best if you can get it. It gives you plenty of time to set up camp, explore the fort, seek out great photography shots, and get to know your neighbors.

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What Not to Pack When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

There are a few things that are not allowed in the park. First off, the only fuel that you can use for cooking food is Match Light type charcoal or Sterno, so plan your food schedule accordingly. No weapons are allowed on the ferry, also no liquid fuel or propane, and leave the fireworks at home.

Not allowed:

• Compressed gas of any kind
• Weapons, including axes, hunting knives, firearms, and machetes.
• Kerosene, white gas, or gasoline
• And of course, fireworks

What to Pack for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is pretty subjective as some things that are absolutely necessary for one group may mean nothing to another. But, there are some things that are needed when camping at Dry Tortugas, and there is no place to buy something once you’re there (for the most part, will be explained later). Of course you’re going to take your normal camping gear, first aid kit, flashlights, plates, towels, utensils, cookware if needed, here’s the official list here.

You are not allowed to camp on Garden Key without a tent, so don’t try to save those 3 pounds and say that you’re just going to sleep in the sand. Pack your tent with a ground cover and stakes if you want them, I don’t know how much they really help in the sand. Keep your cooler in your tent, that way if the wind really starts to whip up, that’ll help keep it on the ground. Then if you really had your heart set to sleep in the sand, go ahead, just be ready to wake up with hermit crabs crawling all over you.

You’ll want to pack a lightweight, comfortable camp chair, unless you really find picnic tables to be the most comfortable place to sit for three days.

Depending on the time of year that you’re going, a sleeping bag might be comfortable if you’re going in the winter. Or you could just take a sheet and a light blanket. In June I only used a single sheet.

Tent fans are great when you’re camping in the middle of summer. In south Florida, they’re pretty much needed all year long. You don’t really need one if the wind is blowing, but on the really calm nights it will get hot, so best to throw one in with your gear.

You’ll want to have a lightweight rain jacket for inclement weather. You can check the forecast before you leave, but in the middle of the ocean, storms do pop up out of nowhere.

If you’re going to cook, and you actually have the weight allowance available for it, take some Match light charcoal. You probably won’t need a 20 lb. bag, just take enough to cover the meals that you’re planning on cooking.

If you have your own snorkel gear you can pack it, if you don’t, Yankee Freedom will supply you with gear for your stay.

A book or something to read. Surprisingly, there might be down time when you’re not exploring the wonders of the park. If you’re planning on using your phone/Kindle/tablet, just remember there is no power once you’re off the boat.

Take some type of wet wipe, there’s no running water, and the only toilets are compost type after the ferry leaves.

Cash. The only way to pay for your campsite is to put cash in an envelope at the Park Service drop box.

Clothes needed? Bathing suits, coverups and a good pair of walking sandals/shoes is pretty much all you need. Most of your days will be spent in the water, so bring plenty of bathing suits.

Trekking to Your Campsite at Dry Tortugas

At the Yankee Freedom Dock

You need to be at the Yankee Freedom dock, 100 Grinnell St, by six a.m. with all your gear. You can leave your car parked on the street while you unload and wait for them to check you in. Unload your equipment on the red pavers in front of the stanchions.

The ferry captain and other staff will come down and check all your stuff, yes, they will go through it to make sure that you don’t have prohibited items. They’ll also check the weight of you bins and other gear, so it’s best to be as close to 60 lbs. as possible, and they will pull out a scale.

Once all the campers are checked in, you’ll load your bins, duffle bags, and whatever else that you have into wheelbarrows and take them to the loading area of the ferry. The crew loads your stuff onto the boat and now you’re free to park your vehicle. Just be back to the passenger check in by 7:15, you don’t want to be late and standing on the dock as your camping equipment goes to the park without you.

There is on street parking nearby, make sure that it’s a multi-day spot. If you don’t want to deal with the stress of leaving your car parked on the street for days, there is a city parking garage nearby for $40 a day. I worked out a deal with the hotel I stayed at to be able to leave my truck. They had plenty of parking spots, so it wasn’t a deal. Not all hotels and BNBs in Key West have that luxury though. And if you’re going to do something like that, make sure that your hotel is close enough so that you can get there and back before the ferry leaves.

Yankee Freedom, Your Ride to Camp at Dry Tortugas

This is the easy part. Board the ferry, and enjoy the ride, providing that it’s a calm day. Otherwise, load up on your Dramamine!

The trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas takes about 2.5 hours. They serve bagels, coffee, juice and water. You can sit inside and stand outside downstairs, or you can sit inside or outside upstairs.

The crew is knowledgeable and will have information on the fort and the surrounding keys. You can also buy t-shirts, towels, souvenirs, and other items that you might need.

Unloading and Setting up Camp

Once the ferry is docked and people are unloading, you’ll go upstairs and get a briefing from the captain. They’ll go over general information, such as where to get in contact with the rangers if there’s an emergency, what time to have your site packed up and on the dock, and how to dispose of your trash. Oh, and they’ll tell you about the rats. Actually, right now they are in the process of eradicating them, so they really shouldn’t be a problem anymore. I didn’t see or hear of any when I was there.

By the time the captain is done, they’ll have your gear unloaded from the ferry. Grab yourself a wheelbarrow and load it up with your gear. The campground is to the left of the dock about 100 yards. There are shaded spots, wind protected spots, and open spots. Each campsite is marked by a picnic table and grill. Be careful, some campsites will look empty, but the tents will actually be back in the trees. If there are no open campsites, then you’ll have to set up in the overflow area. You can always move into a better spot if one opens up while you’re there.

Set up your tent and canopy if you brought one. Just be aware that it could get windy, so you’ll want to make sure that everything is secured. DO NOT tie off any of your gear to a tree. That’s not allowed. If it’s really windy, it’s best to leave the rainfly off of your tent.

Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park

The Fort

There are two free tours offered by Yankee Freedom, one’s a short 20-minute general information tour that is given inside the fort. They go over the uses and history of the fort, as well as the building of the fort. If you don’t want to spend too much time on a tour, this one is very informative.

The second tour is a comprehensive tour around the fort, and if you’re camping at Dry Tortugas then you can hop on the tour any day that you are there. You’ll learn about the people who lived there and what they did during their days they spent at the fort. You’ll walk around the fort and learn about the buildings and what life was like living in the fort. This is a great learning experience, and you should definitely do it.

If you’d rather take your time and not have 20 people surrounding you and getting in your pics, then there is a self-guided tour that starts at the ranger office and museum. There are information stations throughout the fort and signs to guide you on your trip.

The Beaches

There are two main beaches on either side of the fort. The south side beach gives you the most room. It’s shallow so a lot of people like to hang out in the water. The north side is a smaller beach, so pick a side that suits your beach personality. Both offer great snorkeling with a chance to see unlimited marine life.

Snorkeling When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The best snorkeling is by the Coaling Dock Ruins. You’ll see big tarpon, plenty of reef fish, and amazing coral. Be careful around the coaling docks, it’s more open and the water will get choppy. Snorkeling along the moat wall is popular too. Reef fish, stingrays, anchors, sea turtles, even sharks will show up. If you can get out to Loggerhead Key there’s a great reef to snorkel there too. You can spend hours snorkeling around the reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park and not get bored!

Kayaking While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

If you’re lucky enough to get your kayak on the ferry, then you are in for a treat, even if you don’t fish. You can take your kayak over to Loggerhead Key and check out the tranquility that island has to offer. Just make sure that the weather is favorable, it’s a three-mile paddle over open water and it can get rough. Even if it does get rough, you can still kayak in the harbored waters around Garden Key.

Fishing

Amberjack, grouper, snapper, and even barracuda are all fish that you can catch just fishing off the dock. Make sure that your license is up to date, and if you bring your own gear you can fish from the dock, take your kayak out, or just fish the surf.

After Hours While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The ferry heads back at 2:30, the Seaplane tours are off the island by 5:00 and the only people left are the campers and the rangers. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be on a secluded island, this is about as close as it gets!

You can explore the fort until the sun goes down. Speaking of the sun going down, find yourself a comfortable spot and enjoy the sunsets and sunrises as they are spectacular! Meet your fellow campers, this is a special trip, and most people enjoy talking about their experiences to get there.

After the sun goes down, be prepared for the best stargazing that you have ever seen. No light pollution means more stars are viewable in the sky. Shine a flashlight on the ground, you will see the most hermit crabs that you have ever seen in your life!

Yankee Freedom Ferry, Keeping Your Primitive Trip Semi-Primitive

The Yankee Freedom Ferry shows up every day around 10:30, this is like a floating general store showing up at the entrance to your tent. Running out of ice or water? You’re covered. Need a shower to rinse off? Yep, you can do that too.

If you’re tired of the trail mix and beef jerky that you’ve been eating for the last two days, climb the ramp and get yourself a made to order cheeseburger! There’s other food that you can order too. You can even belly up to the bar and order cocktails until the ferry leaves.

So, if you’re worried about not being able to make three nights of primitive camping, rest assured that there’s some help that shows up every day.

Be prepared to spend an extra night if the weather doesn’t cooperate. It doesn’t happen often, but there is a possibility, so don’t over gorge yourself and eat all that beef jerky the last night because you don’t want to take it back with you.

Heading Back to Key West

Break down your campsite and make sure that all the sand is off everything. Grab a wheelbarrow off the dock and cart all your gear and garbage bag to the picnic tables on the pier where they unloaded you. You need to have your equipment there before the ferry docks, or by 10:30.

It’s best to do it first thing in the morning, that way you don’t have to fight for a wheelbarrow and can do whatever you want before the ferry leaves at 2:30. Hang out at the beach one last time, snorkel the moat wall again, or take one of the tours.

If you are on the fence about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park, let me tell you that if you ever have a chance, take it! You will not regret it, and it will give you an experience that you will remember forever.

Did I miss something? Have you been there and have your own tips, or are you going and you still have questions? Drop a comment below and I’ll answer.

Looking for things to do while you’re in Key West? Check out 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West right here!

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The post The Definitive Guide to Camping at Dry Tortugas National Park appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

The Deering Estate is a 450-acre historic preserve just south of Miami that should not be missed. A diverse ecosystem including coastal mangroves, exotic plants, rare butterflies, turtles, and snakes. Oh, and it also houses a converted hotel from 1896, and a stone mansion built in 1922 to house industrialist Charles Deering, his family, and his collection of fine art and furnishings. Hey look! Education below!

Charles Deering

Charles Deering was born into a wealthy family. He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. Between the navy and his family business, Deering spent a lot of time in Europe and Asia. This is where he found his love of Spanish Arts. After his stint in the Navy, he went to work for his father’s company. His father was William Deering, founder of the Deering Harvester company, which later turned into International Harvester. His brother was James Deering who built his own mansion just north of the Deering Estate in Coconut Grove, Villa Vizcaya Estate, which is now also a museum.

The Richmond House

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Charles Deering was visiting south Florida and saw the potential for growth. At the time there wasn’t much development in the area. He bought the Richmond Cottage in 1916 as a winter house for himself and his wife. The Richmond Cottage was originally built as a residence for S. Howard Richmond, and in 1900 was converted into the only hotel between Coral Gables and Key West.

The Deering Estate was soon built out with a carriage house, pump house, and power house, along with a concrete and limestone wall surrounding the property. The Great Chicago Fire spooked Charles so much that he specified 18″ concrete walls for his new residence.

As long as you’re in the area check out where all the cool kids put their kayaks in on Biscayne Bay.

The Stone House

The Stone House was designed by well known Coral Gables architect Phineas Paist. The Mediterranean -Revival style home was built with the aforementioned 18″ concrete walls, oolitic limestone, brass encased doors, and no stove to alleviate Charles Deering’s fear of fire. All cooking was done in the Richmond Cottage. The Stone House kitchen only had refrigeration and storage cabinets.

What The Deering Estate Stone House lacked in cooking facilities, it made up for in modern conveniences. Included in the house was an Otis Elevator and in true “rich guy in the prohibition era” fashion, a hidden wine cellar. The wine cellar was behind a false wall and a bank vault door. The room was big enough to hold hundreds of bottles of wine and other liquors. The vault door was so formidable that in 1945 a hurricane flooded the room and apparently blew away the key to the door, because it was not opened again until 1985, by a safecracker no less. Unfortunately, by that time all the liquor was ruined, but they kept the bottles and now display them.

In 1992 Hurricane Andrew came ashore and deposited 16 feet of storm surge after pummeling the house with 170 MPH winds. After seven years and $7.2 million the Stone house and the Richmond house were renovated into what you see today.

The house was built to accommodate Charles’ extensive art (and evidently liquor) collection as he was an avid collector. He moved all the artwork that he accumulated in his travels and had staged in his residences in Spain to the Stone House. Deering always intended for the house to showcase his books and art collection, but currently there are only a few pieces on display and most of the rooms are empty.

The Grounds at Deering Estate

Turns out that you can fit a lot of stuff in 450 acres. About 111 acres of it is a tropical hardwood hammock that you can tour on the Nature Preserves Tour. There are also so many birds flying through it’s part of the Important Birding Area (they missed the boat to add very to the name and make it the VIB-Area). Anyway, you can find out about the guided bird walks here.

There’s actually a fossil record that dates back to 10,000 B.C.. Bringing things a little bit closer in time, there is also a burial mound from the Tequesta Tribe. There are estimated to be about 12-18 burials there from around 1600 A.D.. You can visit the site but the only way to get there is to take the tour. Find out more information here.

At some point they decided that the boat basin wasn’t big enough for them and it was made bigger. Luckily for you, it worked out alright…

Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket or use one of the convenient tables. As you’re eating, you can gaze across the bay or maybe a manatee will pop out in the basin for you. Wait, is that Miami across the way? Why, yes, it is, you’ve forgotten you were even near the city it’s been so quiet since you got there.

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The Fun Stuff at Deering Estate

While taking a tour of the house and grounds is interesting, Deering Estate also offers cruises, kayak tours, camps, and concerts. To match up your free dates with their schedule of events, mouse over here and press the button.

They have summer camps that cover a variety of educational aspect of nature, so rip that phone from your kid’s hand and kick them out into nature.

Photography buffs will want to look into their moonrise and sunrise photography events. Just a word of advice…DO NOT FORGET THE MOSQUITO SPRAY. If you do, just leave your contact information with the attendant because you’re not coming back.

Kayak tours are great on Biscayne Bay, keep your eyes peeled for manatees, sea turtles, and sting rays. Plus they offer both regular kayaks and clear kayaks.

If you want to go all in on your wedding, they also rent out the grounds for weddings and other events.

They have a lot of activities covered so be sure to check out their schedule.

Hours and Admission to Deering Estate

Deering Estate is open everyday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. Just a warning, don’t think that you’re going to roll up at 4 PM and get in, the entrance gate closes at 4.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, veterans and active duty, and 7 for children aged 4-14. Better yet, become a foundation member and get in for free!

On your way to Key West? Well, we’ve got the ultimate guide for you right here.

The post Deering Estate: A Unique Florida Historical Site appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

Pigeon Key, is a small key that you’ve likely never heard of. If you’re traveling the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys, when you get to the Seven Mile Bridge, you should take the time to visit this island that sits under a dazzling blue sky and is surrounded by turquoise waters. So, as you’re traveling along the Seven Mile Bridge, stuck behind somebody going 5 miles under the speed limit. When you are just south of Marathon if you look off of the west side of the bridge there’s a little-known tourist attraction. And no, I’m not talking about Fred the Tree.

The Overseas Highway

There are 800 keys in the Florida chain of islands. Of course, everyone knows the big ones, Key West, Key Largo, and Marathon, (which is really just a municipality for a bunch of keys grouped together). The Overseas Highway connects them all.

The Overseas Highway that connects the Florida Keys to the mainland is full of history. When Henry Flagler opened it in 1912 as a railroad (he wanted to take advantage of Key West’s deep-water ports), it was considered the eighth wonder of the world. Construction lasted for 7 years and employed thousands of workers on a 100 mile plus railway. At the time, the only way to get around the keys was by boat, so there had to be somewhere convenient to house those workers, enter Pigeon Key.

If you’ve ever had the white-knuckle pleasure of crossing the Seven Mile Bridge pre 1981 you would know that the bridge was only 22 feet wide for two lanes of traffic with no shoulders. Fortunately for drivers, they replaced that bridge with a modern, wider, bridge. And even more fortunately for you, they refurbished the old one and now you can walk, bike, or even take a trolley train to Pigeon Key.

After you’ve been through Pigeon Key, pay a visit to Bahia Honda State Park for fantastic camping, beaches, and reef tours.

Pigeon Key History

Pigeon Key was first set up for construction personnel in 1908 and could house up to 250 workers in a combination of fixed buildings and tents. Construction lasted until 1912, after that the key was turned into a maintenance/bridge-tender camp. It even housed a post office for a brief period. After the 1935 hurricane wiped out the railroad, the state bought the right of way and transformed the railroad into a highway. The state pretty much just laid concrete on the railroad R.O.W. so you were driving on a very narrow bridge with no shoulders. Imagine driving your 1972 Chrysler New Yorker in a rainstorm on a narrow bridge and a truck bearing down on you!

After the highway was completed in 1938, Pigeon Key went through various iterations of government property; toll road headquarters, research facilities, and Coast Guard barracks to name a few. The current seven-mile bridge which runs parallel to the old bridge was opened in 1982. In 1990 the National Register of Historic Places designated Pigeon Key as an historic district.

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Tours of Pigeon Key

Today it’s known as Pigeon Key and Marine Science Center and is a non-profit organization. They have youth summer camps and offer daily tours. While there are buildings on the island, there are only a few full-time people that stay on the island.

Summer camps allow students to stay overnight for up to 4 nights. Students are immersed in the marine environment that surrounds the island and are given background knowledge with fun activities. While this sounds like a great time for anybody, unfortunately for adults the camp is only for ages 10-16.

But, fortunately for everyone, Pigeon Key is open daily for tours, picnics, snorkeling, and just hanging out. There are four tours daily. If you take the trolley, it’ll cost you $30, you can save a few bucks if you’re a local or veteran. Child tickets are $25. You can purchase tickets here and catch the trolley here.

If you want to walk or bike, there is a small parking lot at the entrance, but you better get there early or be willing to wait for a spot to open up. Luckily parking spots turn over fairly often. There is also another parking lot about 1/4 mile north of the bridge. This is where you park if you’re taking the trolley or riding a bike.

The walk to Pigeon Key from the parking lot is two miles, so make sure that you hydrate before and during your walk or bike. You’ll want to keep an eye on the water below as you traverse the bridge, from there you can see sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and other marine life. Notice the guard rails as you’re crossing the bridge, yes, those are the original railroad tracks the have been repurposed. Once you get to the island, admission is $15 for adults and $12 for kids, 3 and under are free. Again, veterans and locals save a couple of dollars, so don’t forget your ID.

Tours take you through the buildings, and the great staff elaborate on the history of the island. The tour includes the history of the 11 buildings that are still standing, displays, and artifacts. Bonus, if you take the 1 pm tour you can feed the sharks!

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Pigeon Key is a great place to stop on your way to Key West! Check out our ultimate guide to Key West here!

Enjoy the Day on Pigeon Key

Once you’re on the island you can explore on your own. Venture out and enjoy the stunning views from the dock. Better yet, bring your own snorkel gear and take a dip in the amazingly clear waters. From under the water or above it, you’ll see a variety of marine life that call Pigeon Key home.

There are tables and benches if you want to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it while the island breeze keeps you cool. Bring a blanket and your bathing suit and enjoy hanging out near the water. Don’t forget your fishing pole and license so you can fish from the dock. Sorry, catch and release only, so make sure that you get a pic of that record breaking tarpon before you throw it back in.

One last thing, dogs aren’t allowed, so you’ll have to leave Rusty at home.

Pigeon Key opens at 9.30 am, they don’t even mind if you stay the whole day, they just want you gone by 4:30. There is a gate that they close once the last trolley for the day leaves. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the sunset from the bridge. Unpack those chairs that you brought and enjoy what is sure to be a spectacular sunset.

Want to know more about the Florida Keys? We’ve got you covered right here with Adventure Florida Keys.

The post Pigeon Key: Historical Island Gem appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

Chapman Field Park is located at 13601 Deering Bay Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33158, it’s about 30 miles south of Miami, Florida. Checking in at almost 500 acres, Chapman Field Park features a baseball/softball field, a huge, split, dog park, a kayak launch, and a couple of small hiking trails. There are rumors and signs warning about crocodiles, so keep a look out if you go. A great feature to the park is that the admission is free.

Chapman Field Park: Pest Friendly

Before you go, you need to understand that the first rule of Chapman Field Park is: you do not forget the bug spray. The second rule of Chapman Field Park is: you do not forget the bug spray. The park is mostly a mangrove forest, and it borders on Biscayne Bay, with two lakes, and saltwater estuaries to boot. So yes, there is a fair share of mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

Dog Friendly

There is only one road into and out of the park. Driving to the end will put you at the two dog parks. One for big dogs and one for small dogs. Both are fenced and have a collection of trees in them with plenty of room for Rusty to roam. There are big banyan trees with park benches under them to relax on as Rusty and the other dogs plot their escape. It’s a really nice place to take the dogs, just don’t forget to take water with you. For some inexplicable reason, when they remodeled the park in 2021, they didn’t put water in the dog parks.

Hiking Friendly

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There is an asphalt hiking trail that’s about a mile long, from the baseball fields to the dog parks and ends at a gated fence. Presumably to keep the crocodiles out. Actually, if you go through the gate, you can access two short hiking trails to the bay. It’s best to walk them at low tide, as high tide partly covers them. Also wear some type of water shoe because you’re going to get wet and or mucky.

Enter the gate and the “road” will lead you to the first trail that goes to the bay. It twists around to the left and dead ends after a short hike through mangroves and palm trees. There’s a newer looking bridge that’s been twisted and deposited on the other side of a pool of water, most likely by one of the recent storms. At some point it must’ve connected the two trails together.

Staying on the road past the first trail entrance, almost to the end, is where the second trail starts. This one is only about 500 feet and pretty much just ends in a mixture of water and trees. A word of caution though, some of the muck can be thigh deep. Unless you’ve been wanting to see if the movies are right about getting caught in quicksand, it’s best to stay on the trail.

Find out about other places to kayak in South Florida. Just click here.

Kayak Friendly

Even though Florida is literally surrounded by water, it’s still hard to find a place to launch a kayak south of Miami. Outside of traipsing through someone’s yard to get to Biscayne Bay, there are only a handful of spots to launch. Fortunately, Chapman Field Park has a great kayak launch and fantastic kayaking trails.

About halfway between the park entrance and the dog parks is the kayak launch. There is a parking lot with plenty of parking for cars and vehicles with trailers.

The kayak launch is a dock and has a slot with rollers for kayaks to sit in and launch. From the launch, if you turn right, you’ll do a short paddle through the mangroves to a small tranquil lake. The clear lake is ringed by trees and the occasional condo building.

Going straight off of the launch will take you through a tree lined canal and under an arched bridge made of fossilized coral blocks. After the bridge, there’s a mangrove tunnel that leads to another lake. This one is bigger and has an island in the middle of it. Paddling along the shore you will see plenty of birds and the occasional jumping fish.

Kayaking to the back of the lake leads you to another mangrove tunnel. This one is a little more technical because you’ll most likely be dodging branches and downed trees. There are a few offshoot tunnels, but they dead end so you can’t really get lost. During high tide the water is really clear, and you can spot barracuda and other fish closer to the bay.

After about a 30-minute paddle from the kayak launch, you’ll come to the end of the mangrove tunnel and you’ll find yourself in Biscayne Bay. Once you’re out in the bay, there’s a chance to see manatees, stingrays, and other tropical fish. The great thing about this kayak trail is that if it’s windy, you can stay in the protected tunnels and lakes and not be affected by the wind.

Heading to the Keys next? Read about John Pennekamp State Park here.

Chapman Field Park: Softball Friendly

During the renovations the baseball/softball field was completely redone (there were elevated levels of arsenic, the land was remediated) and is now open. Slow pitch softball leagues are starting again. For information click here.

Chapman Field Park is conveniently located just 40 minutes south of Miami if you’re looking for someplace to take the dogs, or kayak, or take the dogs kayaking.

Looking for a park that you can camp at? Read about Bahia Honda State Park, just click here.

The post Chapman Field Park: Kayaking, Dogs, and Softball, in Miami appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

As you’re traveling the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys, on the bridge between Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key, you’ll spot a small, wooded island to the east. That is Indian Key State Park and was once the Dade County seat. Now it’s a ghost town. Back in 1836 when the only way to get to and around the Florida Keys was by boat, Indian Key was prominent enough that it was named the county seat of Dade County. It may not look like much now but back then it had warehouses, housing, a hotel (with a bowling alley!), it even had a post office.

Indian Key was once a bustling island with families, shop owners, and “wreckers”, the men who salvaged the many shipwrecks in the Florida Keys. Now it’s deserted, and just like in the 1800s, the only way to get there is by boat.

What would it be like to live there? You ask. Well, grab yourself a kayak and take a short paddle over to Indian Key State Park and check out a real Florida Keys ghost town. Lucky for you, Indian Key is about a 1/2 mile from either Upper or Lower Matecumbe Key through shallow, fantastic turquoise clear water.

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To get to Indian Key, put your kayak in at MM 78. There’s a parking lot on the east side of the highway. It’s closed right now (9/22) because of construction, but you can still launch from there and park closer to the street. It’s about a twenty-minute paddle to the island over sea grass and shallow water. As you glide through the seagrass flats, keep an eye out for trunkfish. The seagrass is their favorite hangout. Once you get to the south side of the island, you’ll see an abandoned dock. Don’t go there, it’s closed. When you get close, you’ll see the “Kayak Landing” sign, that’s where you want to land.

Since Indian Key Historic State Park, is in fact a State Park, there’s a $2.50 entrance fee. You can either put cash in one of the supplied envelopes at the kiosk or use the QR code on the sign and pay with your phone.

You’ll want to do yourself a favor before you even leave for Indian Key State Park, go to the App Store or whatever the current name for Apple’s download service is and download the Florida Stories app to your phone. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll have a complete walking tour of the island in your hand, along with walking tours of other popular Florida sites. You can either listen to the audio or read the text as you go. You don’t have to use the app while you’re there, they have plaques on all the points of interest, but Florida Stories goes into a lot more detail of the sites and the families that lived there. Plus, there’s a bonus walking map.

Since there are no facilities or fresh water on the island, make sure that you load up plenty of water before you go. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that since there are no facilities or fresh water on the island, there are no mosquitos either.

Hurricane Irma did a number on the island, so the boat dock and observation towers are closed, but who wants to see a fantastic view of the keys anyway?

You can do a leisurely stroll around the island on the re-created gravel paths, there are even street signs! Don’t worry if you didn’t download the Florida Stories app all of the stops have signs that describe what was in the spot that you’re standing in front of. Start at the town square which used to have up to 18 buildings, now down to 0. From there you can walk over to the warehouse district and check out the foundations that are still there.

In the 1830s the straits of Florida were heavily trafficked by merchant ships. Unfortunately, the straits were also filled with shallow reefs and pirates. When ships would run aground on the shallow reefs, the wreckers from Indian Key, led by Jacob Houseman, would race to the stranded ship. The first wrecker to the ship would then retain the rights to salvage the ship and move the inventory to the warehouses on Indian Key. The contents from the ship would be stored in the warehouses on the island until it could be moved to the customs office in Key West. Once the inventory was in Key West, a federal judge would award the wrecker a fee, usually about 25%.

While there are no buildings that are still standing, they were burned during the 1840 American Indian attack, there are plenty of ruins to see. Mostly old foundations and fireplaces. There are a few cisterns that are still standing. It’s interesting to see the difference between the cisterns that were built in the beginning of the community, and the ones that were built later on when the US Navy had a hospital on the island.

Once you’ve toured the island, head on over to the east side. Just up Center Street, sit down on the convenient bench and enjoy the view of the Alligator Reef lighthouse. “What a stupid name!” You rant. “The Keys are surrounded by salt water, they’re crocodiles.” You rant on. Calm down my easily riled up reader, it was named after the ship that ran aground on the reef, the USS Alligator. It hit the reef as it was protecting merchant ships from pirates. The USS Alligator was then sunk to keep the very same pirates from pillaging the ship. That’s what happens when you “discover” reefs, your ship lives on in infamy.

After you’re done ranting amongst yourself, head to the shore and don your snorkel gear. One thing though, don’t think that you’re walking there barefoot, the island is made of fossilized coral and let me tell you, it will do a number on your feet. There’s nothing sandy about this beach, so, wear some type of water shoe or sandal to protect your feet.

This is absolutely one of the best places to snorkel nearshore in the Keys. In the water you’ll see schools of reef fish, including colorful French grunts, snappers, tons of parrotfish, little blue tangs, groupers, even the much-maligned barracuda. There is also a veritable conch playground, just don’t pick any up or try to take them, or any other shells, as the area is protected. And it goes without saying, don’t touch or take any coral.

After you’re done for the day, make sure that you pack out everything that you brought in. There’s no camping on the island, so leave the tents and hammocks at home. Want to know more about Indian Key State Park? Check out the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada. It’s a treasure trove of all Keys information, they even have a mockup of Indian Key in its heyday.

You think it sounds great, but you don’t have a kayak or boat? Put your floaties away, you can rent kayaks at Robbies, if you can pull yourself away from the shops. Or Backcountry Cowboys (giddy up!).

You Might be Interest in:

If you’re going to be kayaking around Miami and in the Florida Keys and check out our Kayaking in Biscayne Bay guide.

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Find out more about the Florida Keys at Adventure Florida Keys.

The post Indian Key, Kayak to a Ghost Town in the Florida Keys appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

About an hour south of Miami lies the first recognized underwater park in the U.S. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, located in Key Largo. Comprised of 70 nautical miles of tropical hammocks, mangrove swamps, and spectacular coral reefs. The park is teeming with marine life and covered by picturesque turquoise waters. Guests from all over come to enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, birding, short hikes, glass bottom boat tours, and of course, beaches! Don’t worry about leaving at the end of the day, bring your tent, RV, or boat and stay at the campgrounds near the marina. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the visitor center and check out the 30,000-gallon(!) aquarium.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Backstory

In the 1950s a marine biologist and a newspaper editor teamed up to save the third largest living coral reef in the world from destruction. Dr. Gilbert Voss of the Marine Institute of Miami was tired of the destruction that was taking place on the reef. Vendors were hammering out coral any way they could to sell to tourists, seashells and sponges were disappearing (not literally disappearing, really just being taken by tourists to put on shelves so they could show their neighbors in the middle of winter that they’d been to Florida) at an alarming rate. Even the seahorses weren’t safe, they were being rounded up and sold to try to keep up with the crazy back-of-the-comic-book seahorse trade, presumably. No word on what happened to the sea monkey families.

Dr. Voss along with other conservationists teamed up with the Miami Herald editor John Pennekamp. John Pennekamp was a well know conservationist himself who was key in helping to establish Everglades National Park in 1947. With the help of a major newspaper calling out the destruction to the reef and the other conservationists doing what conservationist do, the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials designated a 75 square mile of Florida’s coastline as a protected area. In 1960 President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the area Key Largo Coral Reef Preserve. By the end of 1960 the Governor of Florida decided that that name didn’t have enough letters in it, so he changed it to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The park was officially opened in 1963 to the public.

Bahia Honda is another state park in the Keys that you should definitely visit. Read about it here.

Visitor Center

Before you go running to the beach, take time to check out the Visitor Center at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Here you can interact with the rangers and volunteers. Ask them any question and they have to answer you (just keep it to questions about the park)! If you can’t get the information out of the volunteers, there is an auditorium that plays nature videos that you can watch and learn from. Around the room there are smaller aquariums with live coral and an assortment of smaller fish. In the middle of the room is the big attraction, their 30,000-gallon aquarium. Floor to ceiling this aquarium allows you to come face to face with the bigger reef fish, and you can stay dry while you do it.

Scuba, Snorkeling, and Boat Tours

Yes, the park offers great opportunities for all three! Daily boat tours for snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours for sightseeing on some of the most beautiful and vibrant reefs in the world. The park is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the waters and reefs are protected so don’t grab that lobster (unless it’s lobster season and you have a permit) to take back to the campground for dinner. That goes for pretty much anything else that you see in the water.

Scuba

Want to get up and close with the Christ of the Abyss statue but you can’t hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. Hop on over to the dive shop by the marina and they can set you up with anything that you need. They offer lessons, gear rental, and tours for all, from the most inexperienced wannabe diver to seasoned pros. Whatever your needs are they will be able to meet them, and you’ll be hanging around the reef like one of the fish in no time.

Boats go out twice a day and the water depths vary from 15-50 feet. The cost is $105 for two tank/two location dives. Equipment can be rented for $40 if you book a tour. The reefs they visit include:

• French Reef
• Molasses Reef
• Snapper Ledge
• Benwood Wreck
• Carysfort Reef Lighthouse

All reservations need to be made online. See link above, or for more information call (305) 451-6300. If you need a refresher, or you want to learn how to scuba dive, they have lessons and programs that include non-certification dives all the way to a PADI Advanced Open Water course.

There is spectacular scuba diving in Key West, check out 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West.

Snorkeling

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The snorkeling tours leave approximately five times a day so you should have no problem catching one that suits your schedule. The tours are approximately 2 1/2 hours long, with 1 1/2 hours of in water time getting up close and personal with the reef fish. You can get on the big boat for $49.95 with the other visitors, or you can spring for a personal guide for you and a group of up to six. Bring your own gear or rent from the park, the price for the boat includes a safety vest but no snorkeling equipment.

Don’t want to be stuck snorkeling next to Lady Fannie from Omaha? Spring for a personal water guide for $120 plus $70 for each additional snorkeler, up to a group of six. Don’t forget that there are going to be taxes added on to those prices. To make reservations click on this handy link here.

If you don’t want to waste that 30 minutes on the boat to get to the reef, you can snorkel from the beaches. You’ll want to wear water shoes or something similar because the bottom can get a little rough. The bad news is the water isn’t as clear as it would be snorkeling the outer reefs due to the fact that it’s within the Largo Sound and not the open ocean. But the good news is that the water is calm and there’s still plenty to see in the sea grass, plus you don’t have to worry about any sharks sneaking up on you. Bonus, at Cannon Beach there are artifacts from a 1700s shipwreck just offshore.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Have you ever thought “if only there was a way to see these beautiful reefs with all the marine life surrounding them and not get wet”? Well, if that’s more your style, climb aboard the Spirit of Pennekamp. It’s a 65′ high-speed catamaran that’ll whisk you the 3-8 miles to the offshore reefs in comfort. You can put your worries away because the tours are under the dreaded 3-hour limit at 2 1/2 hours. You can enjoy the views of various shallow reefs along with 129 of your closest friends and never get a drop of water on you.

The 2 1/2 hour tours leave John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park three times a day and costs $55 for adults and $30 for ages 4-11. Making reservations is easy, just click here and pick your date and time, and give them your money.

Beaches

There are two relatively small beaches at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Cannon Beach and Far Beach. They are not on the ocean, but rather the Largo Sound. So, your tradeoff is that you get calm, shallow waters to swim in, but it’s not the clear turquoise waters associated with the Florida Keys. Both have convenient facilities nearby.

Cannon Beach is the most popular of the two, canons from the 17th century are located on either side of the beach. Snorkelers will find artifacts from a 17th century shipwreck about 100 feet offshore as well.

Far Beach is located on the far side of the park (see what they did there?). There’s a little more shade on Far beach, and it also has a mat installed across the beach for wheelchair accessibility.

Kayaks, Canoes, and Paddleboards

Bring whatever you’ve got, there are fantastic mangrove trails to explore. The kayak launch is just over the bridge to the left. Calm and clear waters in the 2 1/2 miles of trails allow you to see a variety of marine life. Bring your snorkel gear with you and jump in the water to really get up close and personal. Sting rays, Mangrove Snappers, and Manatees are frequent sightings. Keep an eye out in the mangrove trees as there will be plenty of shorebirds such as Herons, Egrets, and Osprey to view. You can’t fit your kayak into your Ford Fiesta, you say? Don’t worry, they rent kayaks and canoes, along with life vests, and snorkel gear. Pro tip: if you bring your own kayak, ask at the kayak rental stand for a map of the kayak trails.

You can also kayak and paddleboard in the Sound, protected waters keep the waves down, just look out for diver down flags as there can be snorkelers out there.

Interested in Kayaking closer to Miami? Biscayne Bay is a fabulous place to kayak. Here is where to launch your kayak.

Camping at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

There are 42 campsites that you can reserve, if you’re fast enough that is. Campsites go quickly and they sell out far in advance. The best way that I’ve found is to either be completely flexible and check availability a couple of times a week, or you can make reservations 6 to 9 months in advance. The Florida State Park reservation website is here, or call 800-325-3521 and speak to a real person, no word on how long the hold time is though.

All sites have electric, with water and sewer hookups for you RV’ers. There are picnic tables and grills at all the sites. There are two bathrooms with showers located within the campgrounds.

You can also stay at the marina overnight in your boat. Slips are available, or you can anchor to a mooring buoy in the Sound. Just make sure to check in and pay at the marina.

Boating

The majority of the park is underwater, 72 square nautical miles of ocean, so bringing a boat will really open up John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to you. There’s a boat ramp at the marina, it’s $10 to use it. The marina also rents power boats in four-hour and eight-hour intervals.

Hiking

There are two-short nature trails to hike in the park, the Wild Tamarind trail and the Grove trail. There is a third trail, a boardwalk that cuts through the mangrove, but it is closed for repairs right now.

The Wild Tamarind trail starts in the hardwood hammock and spits you out in a citrus grove. It’s six-tenths of a mile long and winds through tropical hardwood trees. When you get to the citrus grove, park yourself on a bench and check out the butterflies that visit the grove.

The Grove trail is half as long, it’s a three-tenths of a mile loop. Keep your eye out for native species that live in the forests of the Florida Keys. Bonus, a lot of the trees have plaques in front of them explaining their value to the area and information about the tree.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed from the shore in the park at designated areas, and of course you can fish from a boat. But be sure to check with the park rangers first because the park is in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and there may be protected areas. A saltwater fishing license is required.

Park Store

Don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs to remind you of your trip when you’re stuck inside in January and it’s 15 degrees outside. You’ll find local artwork to hang on the walls, t-shirts, hats, and swimsuits. Also, if you forgot anything, pretty much all that you need for the day can be found in the store. Sunscreen, drybags, flip flops, snorkel gear, and beach towels are all available.

Come and see what you’ve been missing. With over 600 species of fish, multiple types of shorebirds, and 70 species of coral in 70 nautical miles of crystal-clear turquoise ocean, you’re sure to see something new every time you visit.

For more information on the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

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What do crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, campgrounds, fishing, snorkeling, boating, an old railroad bridge, and picturesque sunsets have in common? They all come perfectly together in Bahia Honda State Park.

Located at mile marker 37 (almost to Key West!) on Bahia Honda Key. Bahia Honda is Spanish for “deep bay” because of the deep water surrounding the island. The state park has three separate campgrounds, three beaches, and one very old, spectacular bridge.

Heading to Key West after you visit Bahia Honda and need some ideas of what to do? The Ultimate Guide to Key West is right here!

Campgrounds

Good news, you can conveniently make reservations on the Florida State Parks website. Or you can call 800-326-3521 and actually talk to someone. Bad news, notice that I said conveniently and not easily. That’s because when you go to book your campsite, unless you’re booking 6 months in advance, you’ll see a wall of red X’s. That means that there aren’t any campsites available. So, you can do what I do (because who has time to plan 6 months in advance?) and check for cancellations weekly and hop on them when they become available. Or you can call the above number and set up your reservations that way.

Buttonwood

On the west side of the island Buttonwood is the largest of the campgrounds with 48 RV and tent camping sites that provide power and water, showers are available in a centrally located building. The campsites here are big and nicely wooded. There are approximately 15 campsites that are directly on the water.

Bayside

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Bayside Campground, also on the west side has 8 “primitive” (primitive because they don’t have electricity, and no, you can’t bring a generator) campsites and 6 cabins that you can rent. The cabins are directly on the lagoon, while the tent sites are across the gravel road from the lagoon. The lagoon is about 30 feet deep and was made when they when they quarried out the limestone to build the Overseas Highway. There is a nice, clean bathroom and dishwashing sink conveniently located near the campsites and all the campsites have running water.

Sandspur

Sandspur Campground is north of the park entrance. Sandspur campground is on the Atlantic side of the park and offers 23 tent and camper sites. Restrooms and showers are available. 19 are on the water, and they have electricity.

Boat Camping

That’s right, bring your boat and tie up at the marina. You can rent a slip with fresh water and electricity for your stay for up to two weeks. While you’re relaxing under your bimini in the afternoon, be sure to keep an eye out for the manatee that likes to swim in the marina.

Beaches

There are three main beaches in Bahia Honda State Park, one is on the Florida Bay side, and two are on the Atlantic side. Loggerhead and Calusa beach are on the southern end of the island, and the cool thing about this is that they’re just right across the street from each other. Where else can you jump in the Atlantic Ocean and five minutes later be cooling your heels in the Florida Bay? They both have white sandy beaches, incredibly clear water, and are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Loggerhead Beach

On the Atlantic side, Loggerhead Beach is the longer of the two. While it might look narrow near the parking lot, there is plenty of room to stretch out south below the bridge, or north of the parking lot. Right off the beach the water is shallow, and the sandy bottom is great for sitting on and cooling down on those hot days.

Be sure to bring your snorkel gear because beyond the sand you’ll find great snorkeling. Hidden in the sea grass are conch shells, star coral and a host of tropical fish including but not limited to, barracudas, angel fish, hog fish, and stingrays. Forgot your gear, or don’t have any? No problems, head across the street to the gift shop and you can purchase or rent any gear that you need. They even have underwater cameras for purchase, so you don’t have to wonder whether that “watertight” case that you bought off of Wish for your iPhone is really watertight.

Kayaks can be rented at the concession stand/gift shop. The kayaks are located north of the beach parking lot. Just drag one out to the water (after you pay for it) and you can kayak all the way around the key if you’re up to it. Just stay away from the designated swimming areas. Be careful around the bridges though, there are a lot of strong currents that’ll mess up your day if you get caught in them.

Sandspur Beach

Located on the northeast side of the island, sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, invite you in and the balmy breeze keeps you there.

Calusa Beach

On the Florida Bay side of the island of Bahia Honda State Park is Calusa Beach. It’s similar to Loggerhead Beach but you get views of two bridges from this beach. You can work on your tan on the beach while the kids are building sandcastles. When it’s time to cool off just jump in the water. Haha fooled you! If you’re there in August, that water’s warm! In that case grab your snorkel gear and head to deeper cooler water and check out the underwater sights.

Keep your Florida Keys memories close in one of our amazing journals! Available in hardcover or paperback, these are great for jotting down your vacation memories. Click here to buy one today!

Or check out our Planners and Journals page for more options!

The Old Overseas Railroad Bridge at Bahia Honda State Park

Built by Henry Flagler and completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad connected Key West to mainland Florida. It was such an engineering feat that it was known as the eighth wonder of the world. Before that the only way to get to anywhere in the Keys was by boat. This opened up Key West and the other Keys for tourism and fishing charters.

The railway was in use until 1935 when a Labor Day hurricane did a number on it and rendered it unusable. The State of Florida purchased it and converted it into the Overseas Highway. The bridge in Bahia Honda State Park was used for automobile traffic until 1972 when they opened up the new four lane bridge that you drive over today.

There is a trail to the top of the old bridge where you can watch amazing sunsets, get a spectacular view of the Atlantic, or just watch the boats wander by. Fun fact: the top of the bridge is where the cars used to drive, the train tracks were actually on the lower level. The structure was too narrow for two lanes of cars, so they just poured concrete on top of the old bridge structure.

Snorkeling and Snorkeling Tours

Bahia Honda State Park has clear blue water surrounding it that is fantastic for snorkeling. You can literally walk out to the seagrass put your face in the water (don’t forget your snorkel and goggles!) and you’ll be immersed in a tropical wonder. Spiny lobster, soft corals, queen conch, puffer fish and stingrays, just to name a few. Just a reminder, everything is protected so when you spy that perfect conch shell for the shelf in your bathroom, don’t pick it up!

Want to get away from the island and do some real reef snorkeling, maybe even see a shark? Then head on over to the concession and sign up for the Looe Key snorkel trip. After a short ride out to Looe Key, you’ll be unleashed to snorkel your heart out for 1 1/2 hours in 5 feet to 70 feet of water. It’s relatively inexpensive and it’s a great time for the family.

Kayaking

There are two boat ramps at the marina that you can put in at, or you can launch off of Loggerhead Beach. Steer clear of the swimming areas and you’ll be alright. Kayak along the shoreline and see a ton of birds as it’s located along Florida’s Great Birding Trail. Of course, due to the crystal-clear waters there are plenty of fish to view. Once you’ve had your fill of fish and birds then you can head to the south end of the island and get a great closeup of the bridge. You might even get to kayak alongside the local manatee.

Depending on the weather you might have to choose one side or the other. If the conditions are perfect, then either side will do. Just remember that the tides and current under the railroad bridge can be tricky, so unless you’re a seasoned kayaker steer clear. Even if you are a seasoned kayaker, keep a heads up because debris has been known to fall from the bridge. Bring your own kayak or you can rent one at… you guessed it, the concession.

Fishing

Tarpon, Barracuda and grouper are popular sportfish in the area. You can fish from the shoreline in many places. Bring a boat and you can get close to bridges and deeper water for the big fish. There are also many charter boats in the area waiting to take you out.

Stargazing While You’re Camping at Bahia Honda State Park

Where is the darkest location in the Keys for scoping out the stars? Why, it’s right here in Bahia Honda! Check out their two stargazing programs and view the skies under perfect circumstances with knowledgeable people. Or just look up in the sky when night falls and you will be amazed.

If you’re going to be in the Miami area, don’t forget to check out our guide to Kayaking in Biscayne Bay.

You don’t have to be camping, or just there for the day enjoying the great beaches around the island to take advantage of Bahia Honda. If you’re passing through on your way to Key West, do yourself a favor, bring a picnic lunch and park yourself at one of the many picnic tables and pavilions scattered around. Sit down enjoy your lunch as you take in the wonderful scenery of the park.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right Here!

The post Bahia Honda State Park appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

Biscayne Bay is huge! Filled with all forms of sea life from crocodiles to manatees, with amazing coral, and colorful jellyfish thrown in. Miles of shoreline inhabited by mangroves which house multiple species of birds. On the bay there are islands dotting the horizon surrounded by calm, clear water. Put it all together and you’ll find that kayaking in Biscayne Bay is a dream come true. This article will cover launching from public parks on the mainland side. Keep in mind, all of these parks are open from sunup to sunset, so don’t get stuck there after the sun goes down.

Biscayne Bay

Biscayne Bay is a crystal clear and shallow body of water that runs from Miami to Key Largo. Biscayne Bay also has it’s own National Park, the appropriately named Biscayne National Park. The bay itself is bordered on the east by the very upper keys, Elliott, Biscayne, and the always cool to say Boca Chita Key, all of the infamous Florida Keys. On the west is the mangrove covered mainland of south Florida.

Marine life is abundant and very visible. Sea turtles, manatees, stingrays, crabs, and of course crocodiles all inhabit the waters of Biscayne Bay and can be seen from a kayak. Stay away from the crocs, you’ll ruin whatever fashion cred that you had, oh yeah, don’t go near the crocodiles either, they’ll rip your arm off. In all over 600 types of fish have been seen in the bay and surrounding waters.

When you are kayaking in Biscayne Bay you will also see and hear plenty of birds. Flamingos showing off and standing around on one foot, Pelicans dive bombing into the water either looking for food or just trying to show the crabs who the boss is. Cuckoos and Loons also visit the park, but we’re talking about birds now.

Heading out to the Keys after you get done kayaking? Be sure to check out our guide to Key West.

Places To Launch

Homestead Bayfront Park

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Located in Homestead, right before you get to the Keys, this is the southernmost official public place to launch. It has a couple of put ins that are easily accessed from the parking lot. If you’re going on a weekend, it’s best to get there early, because the parking lot will fill up. You don’t want to be that stalker driving behind someone hoping they’re getting in their car to leave when they’re just going back to their car to get the sunscreen. Be sure to visit the great Dante Fascell visitors center, it’s filled with displays and information about what you can see in the park. For those of you who don’t mind human interaction they have Rangers on hand to answer any questions that you might have.

Homestead Bayfront Park is popular with kayakers, windsurfers, fishermen, and picnickers. Got all the way there and forgot to load your kayak? That’s cool, they rent kayaks and offer guided kayak tours.

Besides the option of just kayaking around the bay dodging windsurfers, there actually is an official kayak trail to paddle. The Mowry Canal trail. There is another trail that but the park service has removed the map, probably because they don’t want you crossing the channel. That would be the Crocodile Creek trail.

The Mowry trail is a little shorter, paddle along the mangroves and explore them, duck into the canal when you get to the islands on the west. It’s possible to see manatees, osprey and you will definitely see pelicans. When you come out of the canal head on over to the islands, find a place to tie off and just soak up the sun, or the shade if you prefer and drop a line in the water. When you’ve had enough, head back to the park, and cook that Grouper that you caught on one of the grills in the park.

The Crocodile Creek trail has more open water to traverse. Be careful when you cross the channel though, you don’t want your day to end early because you didn’t see that 42′ fishing boat coming down on you. Paddle into the creek and explore the mangroves. If you do get attacked by a crocodile, remember, they’re protected so don’t do anything to hurt them as they’re eating you. If you do make it out alive, give yourself a reward and stop by the atoll pool in the park on the way back.

Keep track of all your kayak trips with one of our cool journals! Available in hardcover or paperback, it’ll come in handy to jot down your favorite memories! Each page has a slight image of the front cover to keep you in that beachy mood. Click here to buy one today!

Check out our Planners and Journals pages for more selections!

Black Point Marina

Black Point Marina is in between Miami and Homestead in Cutler Bay. There’s a marina, boat launch, restaurant, bike path and a pretty big park.

Do yourself a favor when you’re kayaking in Biscayne Bay at Black Point (<pssst, fancy map), don’t go to the boat launch/Marina side to launch. That place can be a madhouse. Instead, Black Point has a great park along the north side of the boat channel with facilities, picnic tables, and cutouts to fish. To launch your kayak, drive to the end of the parking lot and stay left. If you drive to the end, there’s a turnaround for unloading kayaks. Don’t do that, it’s a trick. The only spot to put in there is muddy, buggy, and not really easy to get to. Stop about halfway down and there’s a better place to put your kayak in by the bridge.

Once you get through the mangrove tunnel. you can paddle to the end of the jetty and head south. Be careful when you cross the channel, that’s where Fred the crocodile hangs out. There’s also a manatee that hangs out there so if you’re lucky, you might get to see both while you’re there. Heading south takes you along mangroves, with plenty of birds, the occasional crab, and possibly more manatees. After about 5 miles you’ll get to the aforementioned Homestead Bayfront Park, so turn around here, or keep going if you’re feeling strong.

Heading north offers you a chance to kayak through the mangroves. There are multiple breaks in the canopy to paddle in between the mangroves offering you a chance to check out the bird and mosquito population. If you choose to just cruise along the shoreline you’ll enjoy the amazingly clear waters under which you can see marine life among the sea grass.

Deering Point

Deering Point is just north of Biscayne National Park. There’s a parking lot with plenty of parking, bathroom facilities and pavilions with picnic tables. There aren’t any fancy maps for Deering point, just put in and go, you’ll figure it out. Dog lovers, you’ll need to leave Rusty at home if you plan on putting in here, as they only allow service animals.

Deering Point is a great place to launch, but do not go during low tide, you’ll end up beaching your kayak and you do not want those pics to go viral. If you go north, there’s a great mangrove island named Chicken Key that’s about a mile away from the launch. On the way there, you’ll pass the Deering Estates Museum, if you have the time some day, it’s a great place to visit.

Kayaking Biscayne Bay out of Deering Point allows you to see incredible things. Whether it’s a sea turtle, a manatee, a sting ray, or just a bunch of crabs hanging in the sea grass, it’s always a wonder. Kayaking along the shoreline offers multiple breaks in the mangroves to explore. Mangrove lined shores, mangrove islands, and just the most incredibly clear water that you’ve ever seen make for a remarkable day.

Chapman Field

Chapman Field is the place to go when you want to kayak in shady, calm, and clear waters. Located about 40 minutes south of Miami it’s a quiet little park with walking/biking trails, a dog park, and a kayak launch. Launching from the platform is really easy, just set your kayak in the groove, get in and push off.

Once you’re in the water you can go west and wind up on a lake that is overlooked by condos. If you go east and under the bridge, you’ll kayak through mangrove tunnels and eventually end up on a lake, where you can hang out with other kayakers, go fishing, or just float on calm waters soaking up the sun.

Paddling to the very east end of the lake takes you to another set of mangrove tunnels, don’t worry, you can’t get lost in these, they either dead end or circle back to the main path that eventually leads to Biscayne Bay. Keep going and enjoy the wonders of the bay or turn around and navigate back to the boat launch. Along the way you’ll see Pelicans, Herons, and other flying creatures above and schools of fish below.

A round trip from launch to the bay and back is about 1.5 to 2 hours, so you can have a relaxing paddle in the morning and still have time to take Rusty to run around in the dog park.

When You Go

Remember, when you’re kayaking in Biscayne Bay that you are in sunny Florida, floating on a reflective surface where the sun shines constantly and with the sun the summer heat will get well into the 90’s. What am I getting at you ask? The sun shines here 250 days a year so be sure to bring plenty of hydration, sunscreen, and even a hat.

Another great place to kayak is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park!

The post Kayaking In Biscayne Bay Florida appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

People have been doing awesome things in Key West ever since there were pirates prowling the waters around the infamous island. From deep sea fishing to rambling down Duval Street until four in the morning, there is something for everyone. Use this handy guide whether you’re going to Key West for a day or a week.

Not enough for you here? That’s great! Then you’re the perfect person to check out our guide to the Ultimate Key West.

Snorkel Tours

There are some awesome reefs around Key West, be sure to snorkel one of them. You can do an all day adventure or just do a morning or afternoon tour. Better yet, take one of the dolphin watching and snorkel combos and be the envy of your friends back home.

Scuba Diving

Key West waters are littered with sunken ships. They’ve been sunken both by accident and on purpose. Maybe you’ll find that sunken pirate booty and become famous! Or you can dive the USS Vanderberg and fin-walk the decks of a famous warship.

Want to scuba dive and don’t have a PADI Certification? No problem, there are plenty of PADI authorized shops that can teach you or you can do a Discover Scuba Course and start on the path to your dream of living underwater.

Deep Sea Fishing

One of the more awesome things to do in Key West is getting on a charter fishing boat and heading out to sea to land a big one, fish that is. Just imagine how excited your wife will be when you bring home that Sailfish and mount him in the living room! Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, you can even exact revenge for Amity Island and catch a shark.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Do yourself a favor and take a day and get over to Dry Tortugas. It’s about 70 miles from Key West and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Surrounded by crystal clear waters is the historic Fort Jefferson, built in the 1800’s. Spectacular snorkeling abounds in the majestic blue waters encompassing the island. If you want to spend more than a day there pack your tent and stay at the campgrounds.

Want to keep track of what you did on your vacation? How about having a convenient place to jot down all your vacation thoughts? Maybe keep track of everywhere that you’ve been in one book? Check out our stylish journals to record all of your thoughts.

Each page has a black and white image of the cover on it. Available in hardcover or paperback.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Not only could Ernest Hemingway write, he was also an avid outdoorsman, and he loved to drink. He devoted his time in Key West to all three. He wrote 70 percent of his published works while he lived in this house. When he wasn’t writing you could find him on a boat deep sea fishing. As for the drinking, one trip to Key West will tell you everything that you need to know about that.

Take one of the guided tours through this wonderfully maintained house and step back in time to the 1930’s. Learn about how Ernest spent his days writing, playing and drinking. You can head on over to Sloppy Joe’s after and maybe after drinking there you’ll become a prolific writer too.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historical State Park

Put Fort Zachary on your list of awesome things to do in Key West. It’s a Civil War era fort that was used continuously until 1947. At one time it was three stories but through retrofits over the years, today it’s down to one story. That still gives you enough to see how soldiers lived and worked in the late 1800’s. The fort is filled with Civil War canons and if you time it right you can visit when they do a living history weekend where they have re-enactors portraying what it was like to be a soldier in 1861.

Your admission into Fort Zachary also allows you access to the beach, hiking, and biking trails so load up the car with the beach gear and you can make a full day there. The snorkeling and fishing are great off the beach and the sunsets are fantastic!

If you’re only going to be in Key West for three days, here’s the perfect guide for that!

Key West Historic Seaport

While Duval Street gets all the hype, there’s another area of town that is a great place to hang out. Filled with restaurants and bars that line up along the waterfront is the Key West Historic Seaport.

Here you can enjoy your dinner and watch the fishing boats come in after a day on the water and separate their catch. Or, enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets in the only way that it knows how to in Key West, spectacular!

Most places have live entertainment that carries on through the night and it’s close enough to Mallory Square that you can pop on over there and catch the shenanigans going on there.

Key West Paddleboard/Kayak Tours

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What a great way to spend some time in Key West. Kayaking or paddleboarding among the many mangroves that are surrounding the Keys. Never been paddleboarding before? Don’t worry, they’ll teach you how!

Slicing through the shallow water on your stand up paddleboard at a nice leisurely pace, you can spot marine life below you. You think “how can this get any better?”. Well, it does, because as you’re cruising along you’ll also be getting a lesson on mangrove formation and the sea life that inhabits them from your guide.

Definitely take a morning or an afternoon to fit this in, you might even like it so much you’ll move up to paddleboard yoga!

Key West Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

Tired of walking? Spent too much time on Duval Street last night but you still want to go sightseeing? Then hop on board the Hop-on Hop- Off Trolley Tour!

You can buy one or two day unlimited passes that allow you to ride the trolley and get on and off as you please (just wait until the trolley comes to a full stop!). Get off at the stops that you want to see and while you’re on the trolley sit back and listen as the expert guides give you the history of the island and it’s attractions.

Don’t worry about being stranded at a stop for too long, usually another trolley arrives about every 20 minutes and the trolleys run from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

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