Nationwide Parks in Florida are proof of the state’s wealthy biodiversity and pure magnificence, providing a variety of outside experiences past its well-known sights. Florida, usually dubbed the Sunshine State, has gained fame for its vibrant Miami nightlife, theme parks, and pristine seashores. Nevertheless, past the bustling city scenes lies a realm of distinctive alternatives for out of doors lovers.
Florida’s distinct tropical ecosystem is a haven for wildlife, showcasing a spectrum of species from black bears to tropical sea turtles, pelicans, manatees, alligators, dolphins, and even whales. This wealthy biodiversity units the stage for the Florida’s 3 nationwide parks, every contributing to preserving Florida’s extraordinary pure heritage.
Along with these nationwide parks, Florida hosts 8 protected areas managed by the Nationwide Park Companies. These embody Nationwide Monuments, Historic Preserves, Ecological and Historic Preserves, Nationwide Seashores, and Nationwide Memorials. This broad spectrum of conservation areas caters to varied pursuits, making Florida a main vacation spot for nature lovers and historical past lovers.
Be part of our exploration as we journey by means of greatest nationwide parks in Florida. Every park unfolds a novel story, offering an summary of the perfect issues to see and do, guaranteeing that your go to to those pure wonders is unforgettable.
Nationwide Parks in Florida
1. Biscayne Nationwide Park
- 12 months Established: 1980
- Annual Guests: 705,655
- Space: 173,000 acres
- Finest Time to Go to: December – March
Biscayne Nationwide Park is an underwater wonderland with round 95% of the park underwater. For that reason, the perfect methods to expertise the park are boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. The park’s largest attraction is the world’s third largest coral reef, which is dwelling to vibrant fish, colourful coral, and even a number of shipwrecks.
What units Biscayne Nationwide Park aside is that there are not any roads resulting in the park, and there may be solely a 1 mile stretch of street throughout the park. One other nice approach to see the park is snorkeling and scuba diving to find the underwater world that makes Biscayne so distinctive.
2. Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park
- 12 months Established: 1992
- Annual Guests: 83,817
- Space: 47,125 acres (100 sq. miles)
- Finest Time to Go to: December – February, September
One other water wonderland, Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park, is situated on an island roughly 70 miles from Key West. This park is 99% water and is made up of seven small islands. Guests can get to the island by ferry, flight, or personal boat rent.
There are primitive campsites at Dry Tortugas however these will should be booked nicely earlier than a visit to the park as they’ll promote out 9-12 months upfront. On one of many bigger islands park guests can discover Fort Jefferson, which was constructed within the mid to late 1800s. The fort was used in the course of the Civil Struggle to deal with prisoners and Union deserters.
3. Everglades Nationwide Park
As the most important tropical wilderness park in the US, Everglades Nationwide Park provides what you’d count on of a Florida park: swamps and alligators. Nevertheless, there may be a lot extra to the park together with seven distinct ecosystems and wildlife.
One of the best ways to discover Everglades Nationwide Park is climbing and kayaking by means of the park. Guests can kayak by means of mangrove forests whereas ensuring to maintain an eye fixed out for manatees surfacing in the course of the winter months. Or spot some birds on the park’s well-known Anhinga Path. On the lookout for alligators? Head to the Shark Valley space of Everglades Nationwide Park.
Different Areas of Florida Maintained by Nationwide Park Companies
- Large Cypress Nationwide Protect
- Canaveral Nationwide Seashore
- Castillo de San Marcos Nationwide Monument
- De Soto Nationwide Memorial
- Fort Caroline Nationwide Memorial
- Fort Matanzas Nationwide Monument
- Gulf Islands Nationwide Seashore
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Protect