See what Florida has to offer away from the typical amusement park draws. Plan a Biscayne, Everglades & Dry Tortugas National Parks instead.
Why visit the national parks of southern Florida?
Between world-class amusement parks, cruise ports, beach towns and big cities, Florida is hardly what I’d call a “hidden gem.” Its tourist sites are probably the most developed in the United States. But there’s a more natural side of Florida that’s rarely talked about but worthy of exploration.
Florida is home to three national parks — Biscayne, Everglades and little-known Dry Tortugas. Conveniently located in southern Florida and the Keys, it makes sense to visit these parks in a week-long vacation. To be clear, I don’t think any of these parks warrant more than a full day; it’s possible to get a good feel for each in a short visit.
For this itinerary, I’d suggest flying into either Fort Lauderdale or Miami and then working your way south by car.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is expansive, covering 1.5 million acres across three counties. It has three entrances: the main entrance in Homestead with access to the Royal Park and Flamingo areas, the Shark Valley entrance near Miami, and the Gulf Coast entrance in Everglades City. Because of the marshy terrain, the best way to explore the Everglades is by airboat.
You’ll find a lot of airboat operators around the Everglades, but I’d suggest going with one of the three operators authorized to run airboats inside of the park. Why? In my experience, the wildlife sightings are better within the actual park boundary. You’re nearly guaranteed to see alligators in the wild, and you may even spot endangered manatees and American crocodiles. But what we found to be the most memorable were the birds. As the airboat hovers on the surface of the water, flocks of vibrant pink Roseate spoonbills rise from the grasses into the air, creating quite the spectacle!
The authorized in-park airboat operators are all located near the Shark Valley entrance: Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park. Rides run $26 to $40 per adult (less for kids) depending on the vendor, and typically include a wildlife show.
KidTripster Tip: Airboat operators offer private tours, too. Skip them. They’re not worth the extra money.
KidTripster Tip: Airboats are extremely loud. Headphones are provided; however, if you or your child are sensitive to noise, I’d recommend skipping this activity altogether.
Make sure to hit the Shark Valley Visitor Center. Chose the bike rentals here over the tram tour. And don’t forget to watch the park movie and pick up your Junior Ranger books.
Biscayne National Park
Located south of Miami and Shark Valley, Biscayne National Park is 95% water and comprised of the enormous Biscayne Bay plus a few barrier islands. After visiting the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, I’d recommend chartering with Captain Andrew of Reel Adventures for a full- or half-day tour. He’s extremely accommodating and very knowledgable about the area.
KidTripster Tip: Do not rent a boat to drive yourself. The waters here are shallow and tricky!
If you’re a more experienced snorkeler, Captain Andrew will take you to the Atlantic side of the barrier islands where there are reefs and a number of wreck sites to explore. This is where you’ll see the greatest variety of fish.
If you’re a novice snorkeler or have younger children, you can visit the bayside of Elliot Key. The sea floor is dominated with sea grass, but look carefully and you’ll find a variety of small fish and dancing crabs. The water is shallow and warm. (We visited in April, and the water temperature was about 86°F.)
End your day by visiting the small harbor and coral rock lighthouse on Boca Chita. This island was once owned by the Honeywell family (yes, the HVAC people) and hosted an annual party for the “Committee of One Hundred,” a group of influential wealthy investors and industrialists. Each guest was welcomed by a shot from the 1742 H.S. Fowey canon, which you can still see ashore. One guest even brought a pet elephant, named Rosy, to the affair! The island was later sold and then donated to the park. The island still draws a crowd on weekends — a combination of campers and owners of multi-million-dollar boats, all enjoying music (which technically is prohibited), refreshments, and Florida sunshine. There’s a small beach for beach combing and snorkeling.
The ocean, reef and islands are just part of Biscayne’s ecosystem. If you have time, book a short kayak trip through the mangroves with Biscayne National Park Institute, located at the visitor center.
After a day on the water, you’ll likely be famished. Head over to Shiver’s BBQ in Homestead. Serving authentic hickory-smoked barbecue for over 60 years, there’s a reason why the indoor picnic tables here are lined with people. And the sides — baked bean, collard greens, cornbread soufflé and more — are just as delicious as the mains!
Dry Tortugas National Park
As you make your way south along the famed Overseas Highway, take two or three days to explore the laid-back islands of the Florida Keys. For suggestions on what to do, where to stay, and where to eat, check out our Best of the Florida Keys itinerary.
Located 70 miles from Key West, Dry Tortugas can be visited on a day trip, or if you’re really adventurous, you can camp and experience what it would be like to live on a near deserted island. As folks say about many destinations, getting there is half the fun! You could take a 4-1/2-hour (roundtrip) ride abroad the Yankee Freedom II ferry out of Key West. But if your budget allows, why not go all out? Board a seaplane with Key West Seaplane Adventures and make the 45-minute trip to the island, where you’ll touch down on the turquoise blue waters and float into shore. I can still remember the looks on my sons’ faces when I explained that we’d be landing on the water!
KidTripster Tip: You can pick up Junior Ranger books at the visitor center, so that your kids can earn their Junior Ranger badges. I’d highly recommend this activity as it’s an engaging way to learn the history of this unique place.
As you approach Dry Tortugas with no other landmass in sight, you truly start to appreciate its remoteness. You’ll also marvel at its pristine beauty; the shades of blue water here are indescribable. The 100-square-mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.
Dry Tortugas has an interesting history. On Garden Key (the second largest of the islands), you’ll find Fort Jefferson, a large 19th century fort once used as a prison during the Civil War.
KidTripster Tip: Make sure to bring a carry-on bag full of necessities, as there are no services on the islandI. If you fly, the pilot will provide you with a cooler.
If you’re here just for the day, do make time for snorkeling in the crystal clear water after touring the fort. You’ll see angelfish, hogfish, parrotfish, nurse sharks, reef squid, and triggerfish. And yes, you may see turtles! The Dry Tortugas was originally named Las Tortugas for the sea turtles that swim and nest here. In all, there are five species of turtles in the national park, including Green and Loggerhead.
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