Most visitors to Florida’s coasts plop down on the beach, soak up some sun and call it a day. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with taking a load off. If there’s a US state for that sort of relaxation, Florida is it. However, if you’d rather get a little more adventurous, there are plenty of ways to spice up waterfront activities in the Sunshine State. Diving, windsurfing, and epic paddles are all on the menu on both of Florida’s coasts, from the choppy Atlantic to the relatively serene Gulf of Mexico.
Diving at Biscayne National Park
The thing about Biscayne National Park, located near Florida’s southern tip on the Atlantic Coast, is that you can drive to it and not know you’re there. Sure, there’s the Dante Fascell Visitor Center and a parking lot, but the national park itself? All you can see is water. But that’s exactly the point. Biscayne National Park is 95% underwater, meaning you need to get out on a boat – or beneath one – to truly appreciate what this place is all about.
The most unique activity at Biscayne National Park is the Maritime Heritage Trail, a diving trail that connects six famous shipwrecks, all marked with mooring buoys. Park staff can provide brochures with detailed descriptions and plans of each wreck, but you need a boat to get there (and pretty much anywhere else in the park). The National Park Service keeps a list of authorized outfitters that can help you access Biscayne. Note that some wrecks are meant for divers, but a few, especially the Mandalay, can be appreciated by snorkelers.
Beyond the appeal of waking up on a subtropical island, there’s excellent snorkeling to be had among the mangroves on the nearby islands of Boca Chita and Elliott Key.
Snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is the largest reef in the continental USA. As with Biscayne National Park, the real draw at this state park isn’t the land (170 dry acres): it’s the water (48,000 wet acres). However, visitors will also find a mangrove trail and a visitor center with a small aquarium.
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular around Key Largo. If you want to get under the water, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park does not disappoint. There are numerous snorkeling and scuba diving adventures available, as well as a glass-bottom boat tour.
Windsurfing at Key Biscayne
Just offshore from Miami, Key Biscayne is an island with a small-town, residential feel just minutes from the frenetic pulse of south Florida. For all the tranquility available on Key Biscayne, the road connecting the island to the mainland—the Rickenbacker Causeway—is subject to high winds, making it a prime spot for windsurfing. If you’re looking to rent equipment, head to Hobie Beach, otherwise known as Windsurfer Beach.
Sailing the Panhandle and Florida’s “Forgotten Coast”
The Florida Panhandle, particularly the “Forgotten Coast,” encompasses Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla counties, and offers an off-the-beaten-path experience largely ignored by mainstream tourists. Sail between some of the most beautiful spots along this lesser-developed coastline, indulging in a true sense of discovery and adventure. Notable locations include T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and St. George Island State Park.
Paddling at Ten Thousand Islands
Most people hear “Everglades” and think “swamps and alligators,” but the western edge of the park features the Ten Thousand Islands, a fringe of coral cays and mangrove islands off Florida’s southern Gulf Coast. In Everglades City, visitors can find the Gulf Coast Visitor Center for Everglades National Park. Rangers provide tips on outfitters and advice for paddling Ten Thousand Islands, which includes the world’s great kayaking trips along the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway. Along the way, you can camp in chickees and enjoy breathtaking sunsets.
This article was originally published in May 2018.
