Celebrate 100th Birthday with Florida’s National Parks

If you find yourself in southern Florida there are two must see National Park Service units. Located west of Homestead, Florida is Everglades National Park. This park provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species including many species of birds, the American crocodile, manatee, and the Florida panther. Everglades has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a specially protected areas under the Cartagena Treaty. For more information visit https://nps.gov/ever.

Even further south and almost 70 miles west of Key West you’ll find Dry Tortugas National Park. This unique park is only 100-square miles in size and is mostly open water with seven small islands. The park is home to Fort Jefferson which is almost the size of the island it was built on, amazing coral reefs and marine life, sparkling blue waters, and a diverse assortment of bird life. Dry Tortugas is accessible only by boat or seaplane, making it a challenging and remote site to visit, but well worth the effort.  For more information visit https://nps.gov/drto.

Remember, from August 25 through 28, 2016 all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm