If you make a stop in Key Largo, make sure you’re at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (305-451-1202; MM 102/5 Oceanside, Key Largo; 1/2 person 3.50/6, 50 cents extra per person; 8am -sunset), the first underwater park in the USA. It covers 170 acres of land with spectacular geography, 75 square kilometers of ocean with living coral reef, and hiking trails that include the Wild Tamarind Nature Trail. It is home to air plants, okra-limbo, wild bamboo, Jamaican dogwood, crab tree and wild tramina.
The best feature, however, is the full program of ranger-led activities, with a wide variety of options when it comes to exploring the Florida reef. You can take a glass-bottom boat or snorkel-sailing tour; go on flat snorkeling trips or diving excursions; or charter a kayak or canoe (305-451-1621) to travel a 3-mile network of canoe trails. Motorboat rentals are also available.
Alongside the swirl of natural coral life below, interested divers are 8 1/2 ft. Bronze statue of Jesus thrown at 4000 – replica of a similar statue in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Genoa, Italy. If taking or getting into the water isn’t your thing, see what’s on at the visitor centre, which features a superb 30,000-gallon aquarium displaying live coral and tropical fish and plant life, as well as a theater that shows continuous nature videos. .
The park offers a great ranger-led program, including nature walks in mangroves and wooden hammocks, a campfire program, and a lecture series. Also, if you choose to tent or RV camping you don’t even have to leave at closing time (800,326,3521), but be sure to book as 47 sites fill up fast.
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