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.

Took the kids kayaking at Flamingo Everglades park and it was a great experience. Dock Master…read moreRueben was very helpful and made sure we were prepared and safe before heading out. TAKE MOSQUITO REPELLANT!!!! PSA: Entrance to the was free due to it being July 4.

Probably one of the more lowkey National Parks in the US. Located about 45 minutes to an hour from…read moreMiami. With two official entrances into the park and visitor centers at each. Opted for a boat tour to see as much as possible, the tour was by Flamingo Adventures($48 per adult, $24 per child under 12). A nice way to see a lot and learn more about this National Park. Pro tip: bring bug spray and dress for the humidity, light layers + body fully covered! Lots of bugs!!

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.

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.

We were staying about 1/2 mile down the road and wanted to take a couple mile walk. Our hotel…read moresuggested Long Key State Park. We started on the bike trail along the busy highway, then turned into the park. At the guard house, the nicest ranger asked us to come in while he waited on a car driving through. He was so pleasant and caring about having water, giving us directions, etc. I am so sorry I didn't get his name. if you are walking or cycling, it is $2.50 per person. We met another ranger who was maintaining the restroom down by the shore and he was friendly, too! Walking down, there are mangroves on each side. Then you see the shore. They have done such a great job carving out little areas for people to sit or eat, etc. We were very impressed with that. There was no litter and the restroom was also very clean. Highly recommend if you need a break going to or coming from Key West. It is also great if you are staying nearby.

This review is specifically about the PRICING policy for campgrounds in Florida State Parks…read more Camping in the Keys is a popular activity, and it's difficult to find availability. We were thrilled to find that Long Key had a site available for the March date that we needed. Our preference would have been for a site for a Class B RV, but we were willing to accept the only site available, a tent-only site. Our reservation for the site was quite expensive ($34.51) for a tent-only site in a public park, without hookups. The fees in Florida state parks really add up. The site itself was "only" $22.50, but there's also a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee and an assortment of taxes that totaled $5.31. Unfortunately, due to wildfires near Homestead, FL, we needed to reschedule our trip into the Keys, which also involved cancelling our reservation at Long Key. Of our initial outlay of $34.51, our refund was only for $10 and some change. There was a $17-something cancellation fee, and the initial reservation fee was non-refundable. Of the $10+ returned, over $5 of this was the sales taxes.

If you blink, you may miss it. The entrance to the preserve is well hidden. There are no road…read moresigns, only the park entrance signs. This park is a gem, let's make sure we keep it clean! Great area for a picnic in the park, or for launching your kayak. There are two separate parking areas and a canoe launch. There is also a small hiking trail on the grounds. Animals are welcome but must be leashed. Beautiful area, well preserved and maintained. You can bring the kids, there is a small playground in the front area.

Florida Bay Forever is a charming spot with Old Keys style. Filled with native plants, walking…read moretrails, and all sorts of wildlife, it also has a kayak launch and a very nice pavilion where I'm sure the view of the sunset is spectacular! The gift shop is wonderful and the people there are even more wonderful. They have guided bird and nature walks, and the staff is so knowledgeable and just plain NICE. A great spot to take the kids, or just go by yourself or with friends to enjoy the wildlife and maybe learn something while you're at it. I guarantee you will come away from the experience with a renewed appreciation of the Florida Keys.

Located at the same trail head as the Anhinga trail so plenty of parking with facilities…read more Although marked accessible, Gumbo Limbo trail is not as well maintained as the Anhinga. I would say this is not wheelchair accessible given the condition of some spots being cracked, pushed up by roots and having drop offs on the sides but it is a short hike and very flat. The tree canopy if this trail provides a full rainforest feel and some If the signage explains that. There's a nice pond overlook that is probably a good spot for alligator sightings and a neat stretch where the original Road to Flamingo was located. If you're stopping at Anhinga trail, this is a nice one to do in the same spot and a completely different experience.

It's a beautiful and readily accessible spot in the Everglades fairly near the entrance to the…read morepark. You'll be able to see water lilies and other flora as well as quite a few bird types along the boardwalks. The rustic trail is gorgeous and highlights just a glimpse of what the original Royal Palm Hammock was like. Great for getting a glimpse of the Glades.

This place is sick!! The overall island vibe for starters just creates a really relaxed atmosphere,…read moreand really gives you that Florida Keys feeling. This was my half way pit stop point on the way back from Key West, and it's definitely the most bang for your buck in a single stop. You can get food, drinks, and activities all in one. I fed the tarpons which was a unique and cool experience. Went over to Charli's and got a fizzspresso (new favorite coffee drink) and had to try a key lime pie bar of course. I left feeling like my trip wasn't just a drive, but an actual journey worth taking. If you're driving through this is definitely a must stop.

We arrived for a late lunch so there were available tables. It's super touristy so figure $30 for a…read morefish sandwich... but that's how it is here! Service was fast and friendly and the food... well my fish was very salty (the batter) but tasty- the quesadilla was good sized and good, nothing spectacular, we were hungry so the food worked :) Enjoy!

Peaceful, pretty natural setting. We rented a double kayak for $21.50…read more They recommended to go right across the beach. We chose to go left to avoid the ocean and just enjoyed the privacy of the inlets and the mangroves. We had a picnic under the shelter facing the beach. We walked the trail. Great day!

They do charge by person and not by car. This park is on the smaller side, but they do have…read morebathroom, one shelter and swings. They beach area I wouldn't recommend for families with kids as it was hard to go up and down for the dune area. The view was beautiful and we saw a few crabs. Compared to other parks I would recommend for kayaking or to walk in the trails. But not for a beach day.

Since this National Park is 95% water, you have to book some water activities to fully appreciate…read morethe uniqueness of this park! We did a snorkel tour our first day, which took us out in the bay where we got to snorkel in the mangroves and near a limestone shoreline that was filled with lobsters and unique marine life. Sometimes you will get to go snorkel the coral reef, however it was too windy the day we were there, which was disappointing but safety is first priority. Our second day, we kayaked the mangroves. This was my first time kayaking and it took a little while to get the hang of it but it was a cool experience. Going down the mangrove inlets was very peaceful and you could see some cute crabs hanging out at the root of the tree. Be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen. You will need it! This park is free to enter, but excursions do cost. They are pretty affordable though. If you don't go on any, at least walk the trail around the visitor center and watch the 20 minute video about the park.

Biscayne National Park was a nice surprise on our Florida Keys trip. We didn't go in expecting…read moremuch, but it was actually quite beautiful and they had some fun activities on site. There were nice paved and groomed walking trails around the peninsula and bay, as well as a ranger-led fishing experience on the bridge, which didn't cost anything. One of the kids caught a neat looking fish. There was also a nice little visitor center with all sorts of information about the wildlife in the area, as well as different maps and rangers there to talk about what there was to do. Of course there were also junior ranger badges to get, which we made sure to do to add to our collection. Overall this is definitely worth a stop on any trip. Five stars!