In Florida, we have snorkeled at Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park. 1 of 3 Florida NP. Hike up the old rail bridge, built in 1908 as part of oil baron Henry . Until next time. When visiting Biscayne National Park, your first goal should be to get out on the water. 6.0 miles - one-way. 95% of Biscayne National Park is water. Instead of protecting mountains, forests, canyons, and deserts, the park preserves the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay, including its offshore coral reefs and enchanting islands. Water covers 95% of the Park; hence, the name 'watery wonderland.'. Elliott Key is the largest island in the park and the northernmost true key in the Florida Keys. After our trip to Boca Chita Key, we decided to go for a stroll on the Jetty Trail. The Ultimate 7-Day Florida National Parks Itinerary A short drive south of Miami lies Biscayne National Park.It's 173,000 acres of salt water, coral reefs, mangroves, islands, and parts of Biscayne Bay itself. The clear, calm water of Jones Lagoon is an excellent place to spot fish, rays, baby sharks, and upside down jellyfish. The trip starts and ends at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, located in Homestead, FL. We love hiking, but these are not hikes that I would recommend. The park offers spectacular ocean views, beautiful scenery, and the most abundant biodiversity in the world. Further along the Maritime Heritage Trail youll find the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, an 1878 lighthouse in the middle of the bay thats guided ships away from the shore for decades. Though listed as easy, it can be up to 7 miles one way so you can make it as long and difficult as youd like. We saw an incredible number of fish here, clustered around the metal pilings. Considering that 95% of its area is water, visiting Biscayne National Park in one day can seem challenging. So, pro travel tip, lather on the mosquito repellent before visiting Jones Lagoon, or any of the keys, because we saw (and felt) these little guys everywhere. Elliott Key was even used by the CIA for training after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The complete guide to Florida's Biscayne National Park includes information on its island campgrounds, best snorkel spots, boat tours, and wildlife. There are two campgrounds at Biscayne. Instead of protecting mountains, forests, canyons, and deserts, the park preserves the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay, including it's offshore coral reefs and enchanting islands. Here, the Atlantic Ocean meets the dense mangrove forests of southern Florida to form this spectacular environment, which is home to 36 protected species. Trips start with a 30-minute ride out to the lagoon on a powerboat. There wasnt anything fun or scenic about hiking this trail. Then stroll through the exhibits on the parks four ecosystems: the mangrove swamps along the shore, the shallow waters of the bay, the keys formed from coral limestone and the offshore Florida Reef. Biscayne NP Institute offers paddle rentals (canoe, kayak & paddleboard) as well as a number of guided eco-adventures (snorkeling & paddling) which leave from the visitor center. Support for the national monument grew. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Biscayne National Park - NASA PDF Visitor Services Project Biscayne National Park If you dont have a boat, you will have to join a tour of some sort. The institute also focuses on eco-tours so you know that you are safe and not disrupting the habitat. Take a snorkeling expedition, and youll find yourself smack in some of the clearest waters in America, swimming past sharks, parrotfish, lobster, and quite often bottlenose dolphins. BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK - 921 Photos & 63 Reviews - Yelp The park ranks #39 out of 61 national parks with over 446,961 visitors in 2017. Our website uses cookies. From here, you have wide open views of Biscayne National Park, and not too far off in the distance is Miami. In the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay lies Biscayne National Park! Sadly, we did not see any, but we did see plenty of fish. Explore the Boardwalk & Trails Check out Convoy Point to Jetty Walk. One wouldnt expect the county with the most densely populated neighborhood south of Manhattan to also be the only one in America with two national parks. Cruise through Stiltsville and then head back to the marina. Two Must-Do Biscayne National Park Tours. Is Big Cypress National Preserve Worth the Visit? NPS image by Matt Johnson The Biscayne National Park Institute provides eco-adventures including snorkeling at a shipwreck on the Maritime Heritage Trail and colorful coral reefs full of life, cruises to Boca Chita Key and lighthouse, sailing on beautiful Biscayne Bay, exploring the seldom seen wonders of Jones Lagoon, and more! If you do not have a car, you can take the Homestead National Parks Trolley from Homestead. The water is so clear youll see fish swimming all the way to the bottom. The Quick Guide to Visiting Biscayne National Park Biscayne National Park Basics . While in Biscayne National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. We ate at the Mamma Mia Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria (good Italian food) and Bangkok Cuisine (good Thai and Southeast Asian food). Biscayne National Park: The lighthouse is decorative, built by an industrialist to help make Boca Chita even more picturesque. There are more than 500 species of fish; corals, manatees, and crocodiles; and butterflies and birds abounding above waters. Below is a map from the National Park Service. Best Camping in and Near Biscayne National Park Their long arms stretch deep into the ground while fish swim between them and larger animals hide in the distance. Biscayne Bay National Park is located on the southeast coast of Florida, approximately 20 miles south of Miami. The coral reefs that sit to the east of Boca Chita, Elliott, and Adams Keys are an excellent spot to go snorkeling or diving. The subtropical climate of South Florida provides sunshine over 300 days out of the year. From spending the morning cruising the bay by boat to exploring Boca Chita Key mid-day, to hiking the mangroves lining the parks shores, and then wrapping up the day with a snorkeling excursion to the parks offshore reefs. Since these waterways are located away from the deeper canals and motorboat traffic, this is a peaceful experience. A Quick Background The first thing you need to know about Biscayne National Park is that it is 95% underwater! Paddle Boarding Sup & Kayaking | Biscayne National Park Institute So, we chose to stay just north of Miami in a hotel along the shore. If you love snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, or simply cruising around by boat, you will love this underrated gem of park. Interesting Facts about Biscayne National Park Geography and Maps of Biscayne National Park Best Things to Do How to Get Here How to Get Around the Park Planning Your Time When to Go Where to Stay Plan Your Visit. Check out my guide to Everglades National Park. Otherwise, its a nice place to cruise through on a boat. We snorkeled around the Mandalay shipwreck. Pack out all trash and bring both sunblock and mosquito repellent. The best way to get here is by car. Once at the lagoon, visitors disembark the boat and enjoy a guided paddle (kayak or stand up paddle board) through the shallow waters. But its precisely because Miami-Dade County has so much protected space that people are packed so tightly. Best Things to Do in Biscayne National Park The Travel Diaries You can choose between group tours and private charters. This is the Maritime Heritage Trail, a collection of shallow-water wrecks that can easily be viewed without SCUBA equipment. Less than an hour from Miami's urban center, Biscayne National Park shows visitors another side of the destination - one hidden in the blue waters and dense sea beds of Biscayne Bay. This lagoon, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is made up of Totten Key and Porgy Key, and the shallow waterways between them. The Ultimate Florida National Parks One Week Itinerary 4/7/2022. 3.3 Biscayne is close to Miami and the Florida Keys. The closest place to grab a bite to eat is in Homestead. Protected by the park are incredible coral reefs, marine life, and the 19-century Fort Jefferson. From here you can also get a good view of the Miami Skyline! 20 Of The Best Things To Do At Everglades National Park. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. The Good and Bad of the Popular Biscayne Boat Tour Just a boat dock and a visitor center. Now, prices start at $700 for four hours in Biscayne National Park. It goes without saying that its good to avoid Florida during the hurricane season (which runs from June through November) but with that aside, the best time to visit the park is definitely winter and spring regardless. We snorkeled at Mandalay shipwreck, Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, and, on the reef, at Bache Shoal. I loved the experience even though I got torn up by mosquitoes. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Trails in Biscayne National Park. In the 1960s, there were two groups of people, with very different views of what this area should become. This trail runs approximately six miles down the center of the island. Its only about an hour from Miami by car, and the ideal day trip to escape the citys feverish pace. The islands farther north in the park are transitional islands of coral and sand. Hello. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was once a thriving community of pioneers engaged in pineapple farming, sponging, wrecking and other pursuits. Interesting Facts about Biscayne National Park, Geography and Maps of Biscayne National Park, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Miami Homestead, One Perfect Day in Everglades National Park, Florida Keys Road Trip: 25 Awesome Things to Do between Key Largo and Key West, 7 10 Day Florida Keys Itinerary: Miami, Key West & the National Parks, Best Restaurants in Key West: 20 Places to Eat & Drink, The Complete Guide to Dry Tortugas National Park, The Complete Guide to the US National Parks, The Perfect Acadia National Park Itinerary, Top 10 Things to Do in Congaree National Park, Top 10 Things to Do in Virgin Islands National Park, 7 - 10 Day Florida Keys Itinerary: Miami, Key West & the National Parks, Best Things to do in Dry Tortugas National Park, 10 Best National Parks to Visit in December (USA), 10 Best National Parks to Visit in March (USA). Welcome to Road Trip 7! Learn how your comment data is processed. Biscayne Key is located right outside of the national park boundary. The Glades people inhabited this area 10,000 years ago. Spanning 173,000 acres, 95 percent of this park is actually underwater. One is in Boca Chita, a popular day-trip location on the island. . Biscayne National Park The Greatest American Road Trip We did this in December, and I underestimated how many mosquitoes would still be out and about. Rich with diverse wildlife and vegetation, Everglades National Park is a must-see destination for anyone fond of birding, hiking, paddling, or being surrounded by salty ocean air. You can watch the 20-minute informational film. Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida. Prior to that, plans existed to dredge the area and create the largest port on the East Coast, the beginnings of which can be seen at Turkey Point power plant just outside the parks borders. One is on Elliott Key and the other is on Boca Chita Key. There also is a long history of humans dating back 10,000 years as well with plenty of shipwrecks to explore. You can save money by booking one to two tours through Biscayne National Park Institute and still get to most of what we have listed in this post. Here's a guide for one day in the park! A Four-Day Florida Road Trip Through Three National Parks The group site is located on the . Adams Key (accessible only by boat or swimming) is a day use area only. Summer is typically hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoons. May through October is the wet season. This also makes a great home base for exploring Everglades National Park, which is very close to Biscayne National Park. Here is our interactive map, highlighting the main things to do in Biscayne National Park. Biscayne National Park - Road Trip the World To inquire about renting one of the homes for camera shoots, . Hurricane Andrew left only seven buildings intact, and just recently, one caught fire and not much remains of it. The proximity to the visitor center makes it an easy add-on to any water excursion. Visit Miami, Biscayne and Everglades National Parks, road trip through Florida Keys to Key West, and visit Dry Tortugas National Park. You can also hike the entire length of Spite Highway, but I think it would be one of the most boring hikes in the national park system. You can also find private fishing charters who operate in the park, as fishing and lobstering are allowed here in accordance with Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations. Today. Biscayne National Park - Wikitravel Biscayne National Park: An Essential One-Day Itinerary Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, also called the Eye of Miami, is a historic lighthouse located in Biscayne National Park. Starting at the visitor center, you will walk out on a jetty to the Colonial Bird Protection Area. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. While we booked the Boca Chita Key Excursion prior to our trip, the snorkeling experience was a last-minute addition. 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