My Dry Tortugas National Park Experience

I may not be the most active person in the world (I'm working on it), but I do appreciate all the beauty that our National Parks have to offer in America. From April 20-28, the National Park Service and National Park Foundation encourage everyone to celebrate our nation's most treasured spots. While I have not yet experienced popular attractions such as Yellowstone and Jackson Hole (you can see my friend Melanie's awesome posts about Yellowstone and others here), I did experience one of Florida's most remote and truly beautiful National Parks on my honeymoon to Key West.

Dry Tortugas National Park is a tiny island located 70 miles (130 km) west of Key West. Access to this park is only possible by boat or seaplane, which allows for its crystal clear turquoise water and abundant marine life. In addition to the natural beauty, the island was also used as a fortress during the Civil War. The remains of the Fort have been well-preserved on the island and are an awesome exploration and learning opportunity for history buffs. 

Arial view of Fort Jefferson / islands of the Dry Tortugas

We booked our day trip to the park on the Yankee Freedom III, which included breakfast, lunch, and bar service on the trip back. The trip between Key West and Dry Tortugas is about 2 hours by boat- but the journey is well worth it. We passed many remote islands including the Marquesas, a favorite fishing spot of Ernest Hemingway. The crew was very knowledgeable and attentive, and they also provide dramamine for those who may be prone to seasickness. I am truly blessed to not be one of those people- I am so relaxed when I'm on a boat that often doze off from the motion of the waves! 

Once we docked at the National Park, we have several hours to really do as we pleased. They offered free guided tours of the fort or you could walk around on your own. They also provided free snorkeling gear for guests to snorkel in the designated areas around the island. We definitely took advantage of this - the water was beautiful and we saw colorful fish, crabs, and stingrays. I honestly could have spent all day swimming. 

After snorkeling, we toured the fort. It was awesome to walk around the top of the walls- you could see everything! Pictures really do not do it justice. This fort was ideal during the civil war due to its natural deep water harbor and was important post for ships patrolling the straights of Florida and Gulf of Mexico. Despite it not being used for many years, the fort has been well-preserved. On the way home, we enjoyed beer and frozen cocktails (minus the plastic straws so we can help protect our oceans and undersea friends!) and watched the famous Key West sunset. 

I highly recommend booking this tour if you are in Key West. Not only are you supporting the National Park, there are a lot of perks included in the price and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our National Parks are gifts and we should enjoy them while we can. Our efforts and donations help keep this parks beautiful, so any way you contribute is helpful. One of my favorite brands, Free People, has released a line of National Park themed clothing that contributes to the company's donation to the National Park Foundation- not to mention that the pieces are super cute. 

Let's all do our best to contribute to keep our National Parks beautiful!