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.

Admission fee $4.50 ea, things to do for free - picnic, swim in the lagoon and walk on the nature…read moretrails. There is canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals in the park next to the public restroom. Double kayak for $55/4hours. It's fun to kayak in the mangrove jungle with clear water. We saw lot of fish while kayaking. There are two kayak routes, each about 1.5 to 2 hours, we were given the laminated map and kayak follow the route. remember to wear hat and bring water, as some of the routes are pretty hot.

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.

Everglades National Park is truly breathtaking; there are barely words to describe it. I've been…read morevisiting this park since I was a kid and have been more times than I can remember, and it never loses its magic. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, and once you enter, I highly recommend stopping by the Visitor Center to check which park ranger tours are available that day and to get updates on weather conditions. The park map will be your best friend; aside from certain areas, cell service can be very spotty to completely nonexistent. I've explored almost all the trails throughout the Glades, and I definitely suggest packing accordingly and bringing plenty of snacks and water. If you're looking for an unforgettable experience surrounded by wildlife and natural beauty, this is the place to go. Every visit leaves you feeling serene, relaxed, and completely in awe of nature.

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.

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.

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.

Often an experience is "good" or "bad" based on expectations…read more The name Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park did not live up to typical state park or botanicals gardens. Typically state parks have more to do. We did the trail in December so maybe the botantical part was not as in season. A decent amount is ADA paved with droves of trees so thick it's all you can see. Eventually it becomes a natural path with a pond. There's a $2.50 suggested donation box. No one was there at the west big entrance.

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.

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.

This was hard to find but it was so nice and so perfect, I gave it 5 stars anyways. Great for a…read morepicnic when you're in the area. They also had a kiddie play area in the front and more parking spots in the front. I would highly recommend the spot. My friends and I enjoyed it immensely.

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.

Stopped here for lunch on the way to Key West. It was a great spot right on the water. We were…read moreseated right away and got a nice view of the ocean. They have a lot of fans available and the entire deck was shaded by umbrellas. I ordered the fried grouper sandwich. It was so good! It came out burning hot so I knew it was just made. The grouper was so crunchy and soft. I really enjoyed it. It was pretty hot outside so I was overheating with the sandwich also being hot but it was so good that it was worth it! Will definitely be stopping by again!

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.

This is the perfect campsite, clean, great views, and a nice beach. They have a shaded picnic area…read more The park rangers face a presentation to children and others while I was there regarding local wildlife.

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!