Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Biscayne National Park
PARK
( 786-335-3612, 305-230-7275;
www.nps.gov/bisc
;
9700 SW 328th St)
The park itself offers canoe rentals, transportation to the offshore keys, snorkeling and
scuba-diving trips, and glass-bottom boat viewing of the exceptional reefs. All tours re-
quire a minimum of six people, so call to make reservations. Three-hour glass-bottom boat
trips ($45) depart at 10am and are very popular; if you're lucky you may spot some dol-
phins or manatees. Canoe rentals cost $12 per hour and kayaks $16; they're rented from
9am to 3pm. Three-hour snorkeling trips ($45) depart at 1:15pm daily; you'll have about
1½ hours in the water. Scuba trips ($99) depart at 8:30am Friday to Sunday. You can also
arrange a private charter boat tour around the park for $300.
Offshore Keys
ISLANDS
Long
Elliott Key
has picnicking, camping and hiking among mangrove forests; tiny
Adams Key
has only picnicking; and equally tiny
Boca Chita Key
has an ornamental
lighthouse, picnicking and camping. These little islands were settled under the Homestead
Act of 1862, which gave land freely to anyone willing to take five years at turning a
scratch of the tropics into a working pineapple and Key-lime farm. No-see-ums (tiny flies)
are invasive, and their bites are devastating. Make sure your tent is devoid of minuscule
entry points.
Maritime Heritage Trail
DIVE SITE
The Maritime Heritage Trail takes 'hikers' through one of the only trails of its kind in the
USA. If you've ever wanted to explore a sunken ship, this may well be the best opportunity
in the country. Six are located within the park grounds; the trail experience involves taking
visitors out, by boat, to the site of the wrecks where they can swim and explore among
derelict vessels and clouds of fish - there are even waterproof information site cards
placed among the ships. Five of the vessels are suited for scuba divers, but one, the
Man-
dalay,
a lovely two-masted schooner that sank in 1966, can be accessed by snorkelers.
