Be Sure To Visit Some National Parks During Your Florida Vacation
In recent years Florida has become a vacation Mecca helped by the construction of flashy state-of-the-art theme parks and other man-made attractions. However, it is the great climate and natural beauty that really is the base of Florida’s appeal as a vacation destination. With that in mind, take advantage of any opportunity you get to spend time in the wilderness areas of Florida that have been carefully protected in the National Park System. For example if you are traveling to Miami, then spend some time in the Biscayne National Park.
Biscayne National Park welcomes 500,000 visitors every year. The visitors enjoy fishing, cruising, picnicking, camping and snorkeling in this park, whose large area is 95% water. Because the park is composed of water you really need a boat to see anything beyond the visitor welcoming area. Most visitors enter with private boats but you can also go on a glass bottom boat tour or explore the Mangrove shoreline of the park with canoes and kayaks that you can rent from the park.
If you do not enter with your own private boat you can reach the park by car at Convoy Point. The park’s headquarters and visitor center is located here and you can enjoy a picnic, fish, rent a canoe or take a boat tour from this location. You can also take a walk on the picturesque boardwalk along the shoreline and view the boat channel heading to the bay. The visitor center has exhibits, videos and books and offers a veranda with comfortable rocking chairs and a wonderful view.
If you are vacationing with kids the park offers a number of activities that will be of interest to them. They will have a great time snorkeling in the bay or going to the coral reef or just exploring the shoreline at Convoy point. A canoe trip along the mangrove coast will also be memorable, and the park’s visitor center has exhibits that will help them learn about the natural environment. Park rangers are also on hand to answer their questions.
During the year the park hosts special events that are perfect for kids and families. For example, on the second Sunday of each month from December to April, you can enjoy a Family Fun Fest. The Fun Fest consists of three hours of activities for kids (of all ages!) And if you are visiting the park during August you can come and celebrate the National Park Service’s birthday on the last Sunday of August.
Biscayne National Park does not have an entrance fee, but visitors holding Senior or Access passes receive a 50% reduction on tent camping and boat camping/overnight stay fees. There is no fee reduction for holders of other Federal Recreation Passes. ( Senior passes are issued to US citizens and permanent residents aged 62 or older. The one-time fee is , and admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in the same vehicle to Federal recreation areas across the nation.)
Convoy Point (park headquarters and the Dante Fascell Visitor Center) is located nine miles east of Homestead, Florida, on SW 328 Street. The park address is 9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead, FL 33033-5634, (305) 230-7275
Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of DisneyRents.com You can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com
