We had a great time snorkeling!! Joel and the other…read moregentleman there (sorry, cant remember his name) were great We saw a variety of beautiful and colorful fish and the water was super clear! It was a great experience that I think everyone should try at least once.

John Pennekamp State Park is a great location to discover all the outdoor adventuring in Key Largo,…read morewhether you're boating, picnicking, cycling, paddle boarding or gathering with family for a BBQ. Our group arrived in time to catch the tail end of a triathlon and got to cheer for a few athletes. We were there to paddle and enjoy a few of their easy to intermediate water trails. The beautiful views, peaceful surroundings and just being out on the water was exactly what we came for. Entry was $8 per vehicle, plus a 50¢ per person surcharge. Our group member is a veteran so he was able to get us all in for free with his military park pass. The staff we came in contact with were super friendly and provided us a map and what to expect for the day. All in all, a great place to explore and relax when you want to experience the Keys without the sandbar flex.

The park is very clean and well-kept !!! The only problem is all the wave runners poop and urinate…read morein the water because they don't use the bathroom !!!!! The local liveaboards that live on their boats have a pump out boat that come out and pump out the boats !!!! So it's definitely not the people living on the boats !!!! so all that is floating around in the swimming area and the boats go by and the propellers chew up the grass and all the animals in the grass and jellyfish get shoot up like they're in a blender so all the jellyfish are floating around all minced like they were just got out of a blender !!!!

I'd say bulldoze it down, but they already are…read more Limited parking, homeless people gathering there, crazy people singing to themselves and probably gators in the water. Skip it.

This is an amazing park anywhere in the world but it's located in the Florida Keys specifically Key…read moreLargo so it's even amazingER!! This park has it all for infants to toddlers to bigger kids ! This park is also right next to baseball fields frisbee golf and aquatic center! There is lots of parking, but your car will roast not a lot of shade . There are a few pavilions where you can have a small picnic with your family or having lunch from one of the fisheries nearby ! This is one of the best parks because it is a little bit off the path, but nothing far from the major highway going north south! This is where all the locals go

This county park was a lot larger than I first thought. And it's definitely for the active person…read more The park offers space for all sorts of sports. There are courts for tennis, handball, basketball, and pickleball. And fields for baseball, and soccer. Did I mention volleyball? Around the park is a walking trail along with a fitness "course". For the smaller kids, there's a playground. For groups, there are pavilions that can be rented, as well. At one edge of the park is a separate aquatic center with its own activities and fees.

Meandering along our Keys journey led us to Harry Harris, and it was a happy trip. During the week…read morepeople were sparse and there was plenty of room to spread out. Grab a table if you brought your meal, or just plunk down on the sand to gaze at the ocean. Some swing sets will keep the young and young at heart engaged, and we saw several families during our trips. Yes, trips: we enjoyed it enough to stop by on the way north as well. Established shade makes the sun bearable, and the stroll around the arched path into the ocean is relaxing. On weekends and holidays there's a charge per car, but that's worth it for this place, although likely busier than midweek. We'll come back again whenever heading through.

A nice place to picnic, walk your dog, or just relax by the water. It was a bit run down, and the…read morenormal admission fee wasn't collected. The beach is small and the water protected, making it a fun place for children to play in the water. However, it's not ideal for swimming. Definitely worth the trip.

This was lots of fun! We went to Grecian Rocks with our older kids. Beautiful snorkeling spot! Make…read moresure you ask if it's a calm day at sea. We kicked out and it was but some ppl have had a rougher time. I opted not to being my 5 yr old but the 10 yr old and up were fine. We saw sting rays, barracuda, beautiful colorful fish! They let you use a noodle if you need one. There a little vest you get that you blow up yourself - not like a life vest.

If hindsight were a thing, I'd probably want to redo my 1st experience of Molasses Reef as a…read moresnorkeling trip.  Unfortunately, I actually went there initiallly via a glass-bottom boat tour, and as a result we saw virtually no fish :-( Maybe it wasn't the boat but the time of day we went - regardless, I expected to see tons of different fish, but I actually saw less than a hundred of maybe three different species... It also might have been the fact that the boat's engines were so loud that they scared off a majority of the fish we might have seen.  Whatever the actual cause, I suggest that you skip the boat tour and come here to snorkel instead.

Located in Key Largo is Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock state park. Ms Johnson was a lawyer,…read morenaturalist and Key Largo native that fought the late 1970s Port Bougainvillea development which would have brought a Venetian style condo mixed use to this vast property. After the project imploded Ms Johnson fought hard to reclaim this largest track of Indian Hardwood Hammock left in the US; successfully. The park is named in her honor; rightfully so. The main attraction is the 2.4 mile long trail that takes in the park. The trail starts by the gazebo: you go right that's the outer loop, go left, that's the inner loop. We did half, cutting across the half loop link. There is a picnic table area and a unisex bathroom, with very little amenities. The outer loop has more of the Indian hammock and the inner loop has gorgeous views of the lake. If you notice you can see the fossilized coral rock underneath you. Windley Key State Fossil Park down the road is dedicated to this unique geological formation. Tips: bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Even though we did it in March we were thankful we brought along a thermos. There are no amenities other than the bathroom and neglected picnic area. Price is 2.50 per person cash on the honor system. Parking is out front before the gate. Spaces are limited.

The Good: a good length of flat paved pathway that would accommodate those with wheelchairs, mostly…read moreshady, fresh air, lots of benches along yellow path. Good place for dogs and baby buggies. The Meh: the only thing to see is a rock wall. We saw 1 small bird, one small lizard in the parking lot, some berries & deer poop. Yeah there's plenty of botanical specimens if that means trees. If you're looking for flowers or wildlife, you might be disappointed.

This little noun and yet amazing State Park is definitely worth a visit. I don't know why more…read morepeople don't come here, except maybe because there's a lot of mosquitoes. There's trails to walk, and exhibits related to the flora and Fana, wildlife, and of course the quarry, and the machinery used to mine coral for use in building. You can either take a tour with the guide or you can get a book from the Ranger and walk around with the book and read the descriptions at each of the plaques. There are something like 75 around the park, some have only a paragraph or two about what you're seeing, others have several pages.

This is a nifty little state park that has some nice manicured trails and tons of examples of coral…read morefossils in the stone. They used this area as a quarry for stone to use in construction in the early 20th century. There is an entire guide that the rangers can give you which covers not only the history of the area, but all of the plant species, and the different kinds of fossils you can find. This can be a fun stop on a road trip if you like geology and this kind of thing.

We came here on a whim, not really knowing about this spot until we were already in Islamorada, FL…read more We had planned on coming to the island and making stops along the way and we're really just winging it for the day. The island is only about 1.5 hours from my house so it's easy enough to just get up and go. Once on the island, I noticed the traffic was slowing down so I did a Google search for beaches nearest to me. Founders popped up so we decided to give them a try. We pulled up to the guarded toll gate where we saw it was $8 per person for the day. Since we haven't been and I really wanted to get out and swim, we decided to stay. I asked the lady taking the park fee a few questions about the property and she said "This isn't Miami so don't expect too much." "This is a man made beach but it's nice." That made me laugh. Once inside, we found parking at 1PM and although there were plenty of people, it wasn't overcrowded. This is a nice public but semi private swimming area perfect for couples and families. This isn't the place to come with a rowdy crowd and loud music. Not that type of vibe. The water was clear and clean. The water temperature was perfect, mid 80s. It felt so good to just take out our chairs and umbrella and chill by the water. Very relaxing day. Note: There are bathrooms but no concession/food options so bring your own food and drinks. You are able to come and go in the park for the day as long as you have your parking pass in your window. I would highly recommend checking this place out if you're ever in Islamorada Florida.

What a find!! Just wanted a place to sit near the water and read a book. Decided to check it out so…read moreI went for a drive. Well, if you live in this town or staying at a place here on Islamorada. This place is free. Great place for a walk, sit and yes read a book or even go into the water...FREE. The beach is very clean, sandy and also has some tables. Can't beat free.

Spend a long beach afternoon here. Beach and water was clean and not very crowded. Thank you for…read moresupporting our Military Men and Women! Will return again.

This is a nice stop to stretch your legs, walk to a small beach or go to the Islamorada Visitor's…read moreCenter. The person behind the counter of the Visitor's Center was extremely helpful on the best way to spend 1-2 hours in the area. Next to the beach, they were holding a yoga class with a lot of people in attendance. There is a playground and a swimming pool (not open in February). This is a nice park and would be especially fun for a family with kids.

What a nice ride! We were afraid the weather wouldn't let us go! Thanks Mother Nature!…read moreEverything was on time. Clean boat, pleasant guides! In fact, the guide who described the plants & aquatic life while we were cruising over the reef was amazing! Knowledgeable & quick to identify what she saw & its location. They gave lots of info on avoiding seasickness & I didn't see anyone suffering. We took a camera but there wasn't a need. Cell phones are enough. I used my binoculars & only used them a bit to see birds in the mangroves. You can take plastic bottled drinks on board. You might not want to wear a hat. We stood on the front deck & it was perfect. It's with the $36 ticket for a 2.5 hr. excursion. Masks required inside.

We purchased our tickets online for the Glass Bottom Boat Tour which allowed us to pick the day and…read moretime and avoid the check-in lines at the park once we arrived, we also have our Florida State Park annual pass which allows easy entry into Pennekamp Park. We found a seat under the blue tent next to the dock which is used to stage the guess, they start boarding 15 minutes before the departure time and it's really a simple task even though they still manually check-in each guest as you board the vessel verses simply scanning the QR Code on the ticket or app. The 65' Catamaran is clean and spacious and the crew is extremely friendly, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and bubbly so they make every effort to make it fun. You can bring your non-alcoholic beverages on board since they no longer operate the snack bar, they do have (2) heads at the rear of the boat (restrooms). Once the boat leaves the dock it's a slow ride through the mangrove lined canal to the open water, the no wake zone continues until you pass the last navigational buoys, then he kick it up to about 18 knots until he approaches the reef I think that ride was about 25 minutes, it a nice relaxing ride, the interior cabin is air conditioned but the real adventure is on the open air top deck where the breeze is refreshing and you get the real outdoorsy experience. Once the boat arrives at the reef the captain brings the vessel to an idle and the viewing wells turn crystal clear exposing another world, the water depth over the coral reef is between 10' - 25' and the tour guide explains the viewing well numbering system so you know where to look while she explains what the boat is crossing over - she is very knowledgeable and explains everything you see - all the colorful fish and sea-life which is abundant as well as the coral types and objects that rest on the bottom. The tour runs about 2.5 hours and they take no short cuts so you get the total experience. They allow just enough time to get you back to the dock on time and honestly as much as I enjoyed it I was ready for it to be over, the ride back was not as exciting as the ride out and I found myself looking at my watch often - I thought it was a good value and worth the time but once is probably enough for me - the boat was about half filled so it wasn't crowded with about a third being kids and there's no doubt they loved it...