The Florida Keys are gorgeous tropical islands varying in size that extend 120 miles out to the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida. The Keys are located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They are known for their abundant water activities! Making these islands the perfect spot to adventure! Enjoy the Florida Keys on your next weekend getaway beach hopping, boating, snorkeling or scuba diving.
Getting To The Florida Keys
Boyfriend (Logan/Love/Light) and I had a weekend getaway through the Florida keys in our Camaro convertible. Starting our journey in Key Largo, we made the 2 hour drive down to the southernmost point of the continental U.S. Key West. Pro Tip: if you are driving a convertible (which I highly suggest) make sure you wear sunscreen! Save 25% on car rentals HERE!
Each U.S. state is very different from one another. They each have their own culture, traditions, and diversity. To experience the Florida Keys as a local would, we stopped at several State Parks on our way down to Key West. Enjoying the incredible views as we drove with the top down, and the sun on our faces. Daily passes for entry into the state park’s vary depending on number of vehicle occupants; prices ranging from $4.00-$10.00 usd.
Long Key State Park
Curry Hammock State Park
Bahia Honda State Park
Fort Zachary Taylor
Key West
If you’re visiting the Orlando area, check out this post on the best coffee shops by Blonde Living Guide!
We ended in Key West, where we spent two days exploring the town. Our original plans were to take a seaplane out to Dry Tortugas National Park for the day. Unfortunately our flight was cancelled the morning we were scheduled to depart. With no Ferry Boat tickets available and no way to reach the island, we were unable to visit this time. After two days in the keys we made the journey north back to the mainland. We spent our last day exploring the Everglades!
I have visited many National Parks around the world, and every once in awhile, my expectations get blown out of the water by some unexpectedly beautiful destination. The Everglades National Park is located in the state of Florida in the southern United States. This park is packed full of adventure, nature, and animals so unique, you can’t miss it during your visit to Florida.
Never had I imagined a wetlands landscape would be so mysterious, wild, and stunning. There are no other Everglades in the world– so I shouldn’t have been too surprised. My Everglades National Park Guide will take you through all the unique ecosystems of the everglades. With all you need to know, including hike suggestions to make the most of your time in the park. I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did!
Here’s my Adventure Guide for Everglades National Park!
Fly into Miami International Airport (MIA) and drive a rental car 45 minutes west into Everglades National park. We entered the park at the Ernest F. Coe East Visitor Center and spent the day driving the parks scenic road in our Camaro convertible. Driving down State Hwy 9336 (Main Park Rd) is a journey, so buckle your seat belts!
Go Bird Watching
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Hiking Trails Guide
Elevation in the Everglades is typically measured in inches instead of feet. The highest elevation in the park doesn’t exceed 8 ft. so when I saw this elevation sign at 4 ft it made me laugh a little..
The elevation levels in the park define each habitat, from the lowest freshwater marsh to the higher tropical hardwood hammocks.
Anhinga Trail
This was our favorite trail we did during our day in the park. It was the first hike as you entered the park, so it was quite busy. The 0.8 mile hike was the best area to spot wildlife. We saw alligators, turtles, varies birds, and lots of unique fish.
A word of caution- at the trailhead parking lot there are vultures that are waiting to feast on your vehicle. They’re quite fond of the rubber window seals for some reason, and they WILL destroy your car if you do not cover it with a tarp. The tarps are provided with straps by the bathrooms and rest area.
Gumbo Limbo Trail
After we finished the Anhinga hike we made our way over to the Gumbo-Limbo trail. A short 0.4 mile hike takes you into a dense tropical hard-wood hammock.
The trail was not crowded, and it was a nice break into the trees from the sunny Anhinga hike. Forests like this can survive only because of the tropical conditions. About 70% of the 700 native plant species of the park are of tropical origin.
Pinelands Trail
Take a short walk along this 0.4 mile trail through a sub-tropical pine forest. You’ll be walking through one of the most diverse habitats in south Florida.
You’ll see the scenery changing as hardwoods are taken over by young pine. Higher areas in the Everglades eventually become large hammocks, unless they are destroyed by fire first. Fire preserves the natural diversity of the Everglades, and is crucial to the regrowth process of the various ecosystems.
Formerly, 52 color varieties of tree snails lived in the hammocks of South Florida. They came from the West Indies, dispersed, and settled in separate tree islands. After years of inbreeding, many multi-colored varieties came about. After gathering many of one variety, collectors sometimes would burn the hammock, destroying any left and making their collection more valuable. Thus putting at least four kinds of tree snail into extinction.
Pa-hay-okee Overlook
A short walk will guide you to a beautiful overlook known as Pa-hay-okee. This ecosystem of freshwater marsh is a wide, shallow, slow moving “river of grass”. It’s amazing how large this green river of grass really was. It seemed to expand forever into the horizon- with the occasional tree sprouting out.
Water is the lifeblood of Everglades National Park, this river of grass is dependent on the seasonal rise and fall of fresh water. It is also dependent on people. For over 100 years we dredged, dammed, and drained the landscape. Controlling the ebb and flow of this life-giving force. In doing so, we endangered the Everglades and the life dependent on it.
Mahogany Hammock Trail
This 0.4 mi walk takes you through a jungle-like island forest. Tropical Hardwood Hammocks as seen above grow in Everglades National Park The hammocks create dense island forests that grow out of the freshwater marshes.
Everglade Mangroves
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Visiting every National Park in the United States has been a huge bucket list item of mine for years. The National Park Service (NPS) works to protect and preserve these important eco systems around the country everyday, as a visitor we must do the same. To help preserve our extraordinary National Parks, it is VERY … Read more 20 Extraordinary National Parks to Visit in 2020
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