Happy Birthday Biscayne
National Park!!!
In the leadup to the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there are several more anniversaries worth talking about. And while these will come out on the days of note, the highlights beyond should be useful for anyone planning and adventure in some of our Nation’s Coolest Places.
So let’s talk about Anniversary #1:
October 18th of 1968, after a long, hard, and strong community effort to preserve Biscayne Bay, and the coastline and Keys fringing those waters, congress signed the bill establishing Biscayne National Monument. However, on June 28th, 1980, the park was expanded by 177,000 acres* and turned into a National Park.
*(mostly marine)
The upgrade came with expanded protections, more popularity, and more responsibility. It wasn’t the last time the park would expand, but it marked a significant step in preserving the the Bay for everything the original community organized to protect: History, Nature, and Recreation. And now’s a great time for recreation!
So, in honor of the Birthday Park, I thought I’d drop a few recommendations for my favorite Biscayne related activities.*
*(there’s 1 extra which is a little out of the way, but well worth mentioning, both here, and again)
All of these activities are Junior Ranger Investigative Club Approved. But some might be for older J.R.I.C. Members, or require parent/guardian supervision. And while all of these are available as of writing, that might change.
#1 Exploring the Dante Fascell Visitor Center! and the Jetty Walk
(30 min - 3 hours (if you fish))
After taking pictures at one of the more creative National Park Signs, take the short drive to the end of the road and discover Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Since one of the Marina’s servicing Biscayne Bay sits in its shadow, it’s almost a can’t miss activity! It’s named for one of the men who fought hard to protect Biscayne and get it the National Park status. You can check out, displays talking about the history and nature of Biscayne Bay. There are old shipwreck cannon, displays on the habitats and life of the bay, and even some aquariums set up with colorful living examples of what you can see throughout the park. You can even pick up a Junior Rangers Book from the rangers, and complete activities to get the Biscayne Junior Rangers Badge.
(There’s also a bookstore, which - I hope- soon will be carrying Treasure of Biscayne Bay.)
From the second floor, you can get a decent view of the Marina, and some of oceanic expanse of Biscayne Bay! But this is only, really, the 4th best view you can get in the park. Looking out, behind the marina, there’s a pathway which will take you along the jetty boats use to access Biscayne Bay. I’d highly recommend the Jetty walk too. It’s a short hike, and often there are people fishing, either from the bridges or along the shore. Sometimes the rangers even offer fishing lessons for Junior Rangers and anyone else interested. They provide the fishing poles and bait, and they even help get the fish off the line if you need.
In Treasure of Biscayne Bay, this is a central area to the book. and the J.R.I.C. spend a lot of time here.
#2. Park After Dark.
(a full day of activities, but usually only 1 time a month)
Once a month, Biscayne National Park comes together to put on one of the coolest programs I’ve seen in any park. (usually not that physically cool, it is a tropical marine park after all.)
These programs usually go on throughout the day. They typically end in a performance/talk, and some s’mores. They are always family friendly, and sometimes include free versions of tours which are offered throughout the year.
Frankly, it’s a lot of fun, and you get to learn more about the park, do fun stuff, and roast marshmallows. Highly recommend. Check Biscayne National Park’s social media to find out when the next Park After Dark happens.
While not featured in Treasure of Biscayne Bay, some of the night events like the sunset paddle echo things the J.R.I.C. members do in the book.
Image brought to you by the NPS.
(Authors note: There are sometimes mosquitos, so come prepared, and for the daytime events remember the sunscreen.)
#3 Paddling Jones Lagoon
(1/2 day adventure)
There are multiple paddling trails through the park. It’s one of the best ways to get out and see the 95% marine park. There are even several published paddling trail guides* for day trips and overnight camping.
*(This is just one link, there are several sites and published paddling guides)
But if I had to pick just one: Id recommend heading out to the area south of Elliot Key, and paddleboarding through Jones Lagoon. This is a great way to view a natural marine nursery, see the mangroves, and learn a bit about the history of the park! Keep an eye out for Caesar’s Rock!
While this is not the exact route the Junior Rangers Investigative Club took in Treasure of Biscayne Bay, it’s a great presentation of the places they paddled. If you want to follow one of their routes more directly, launch from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center and paddle north along the coast.
(It’s a good half-day adventure, so make sure to prep, and remember the sunscreen. During windy weather, it will be a workout. Junior Rangers Under 12 will have to ride with their parents.)
#4: The Heritage Boat Tour
In Caesar’s Creek, Checking out Adam’s Key, (where the J.R.I.C. stays in the book)
(1/2 day adventure)
But if you really want to learn about the history and nature of the park, and see many, many of the places highlighted and mapped in Treasure of Biscayne Bay, then there is no better tour than the Heritage Boat Cruise.
On this cruise, you’ll get to ride through Biscayne Bay, stop at Boca Chita, check out Caesar Creek and Caesar’s Rock, and learn a lot about the history, and nature of Biscayne. When it comes to The Treasure of Biscayne Bay, there is no better tour to get the most of the experience. You’ll learn things I didn’t have time or words to mention in the book. You’ll get to see many of the sites the J.R.I.C. focused on throughout thier investigation. Without getting in the water, this is the best way to immerse yourself in the depths of Biscayne National Park!
You can practically bring the map in Treasure of Biscayne Bay with you and follow along, this tour passes by, or stops at so many of the highlights. I cannot recommend this tour enough as one of the best ways to see the most of Biscayne in a short amount of time! I, of course would recommend the tour which leaves from Dante Fascell Visitor Center, but there is also a tour which leaves from Coconut Grove.
(Again, I’d recommend sunscreen. Keep your eyes peeled on the ride for wildlife, and be sure to check underwater too!)
#5: Boca Chita Lighthouse
(5-30 minutes)
When you take the Heritage Tour, or if you find yourself on Boca Chita for any other reason, (you can camp there. Although, for camping I’d recommend Elliot Key.) You should climb the Boca Chita lighthouse. (it’s not really a lighthouse, but learn more about that on the tour.) This is the absolute best above water view in Biscayne National Park.
No real notes, no ad ons. Just, check it out.
M.V. Horned Devil not included.
(Not for those who avoid heights, but the railing and fence around it, make it fairly safe.)
#6: Snorkel in Biscayne Bay!
(2 hours - ½ day depending upon the trip)
Biscayne National Park is 95% water. And the rich biodiversity beneath the surface is a highlight, and absolutely one of the reasons the park was established in the first place. Biscayne protects one of the northernmost section of the biggest coral reefs in the western hemisphere! There are tons of fish, lots of coral, and even many shipwrecks!
Unfortunately, most of the snorkel adventures are weather dependent, so, unless you bring your own boat, the captain will be deciding where you snorkel, but whether it’s the coral reefs, the shipwrecks, or the mangroves, there will definitely be a lot worth seeing.
I’m going to go a bit off formula and recommend a trip that leaves from Coconut Grove, but there are snorkel adventures which leave from Dante Fascell Visitor Center too. However, the Coconut Grove Snorkel, will take families out to two different snorkel sites, so you get to see some of the variety offered in the park. No matter where you end up, you’ll get to see some of the same underwater sites highlighted in the Treasure of Biscayne Bay.
(Only for Junior Rangers and parents who are confident of their swimming/snorkeling experience. Strong swimming is highly recomended, and the best way to practice snorkeling is to spend some time at a swim beach first. (although, after getting sand in your mask and flippers, jumping into the open ocean might actually feel easier! Also, again, sunscreen!)
These are only a handful of recommendations, the website is undergoing a bit of an overhaul, and in the future, I’m preparing an entire section devoted to park tips, focused first on the growing number of national parks featured in the J.R.I.C. And there will be more information there soon. But, in the meantime, I hope that these recommendations help the next time you, or your Junior Rangers consider traveling to the awesome park just below Miami.
Of course, like the Junior Rangers Investigative Club, the longer that you spend in Biscayne National Park the more you will be able to do, and on top of these 6 suggestions, there are a host of others including but not limited to:
7: bringing your own boat: If you have a boat or a know someone who does, then you can design and choose your own adventure in Biscayne. Just make certain you follow the rules, stay out of closed areas, use mooring buoys not anchors, and mind the depths. (Seagrass and other marine environments take a long time to recover from groundings and prop damage,)
8: Camping, you can camp on Elliot Key, and Boca Chita. Grilling out on the water, and sleeping next to the sea. (heavily suggest you keep this to the cooler months to limit the insects and the temps inside your tent.)
9: Fishing. Snorkeling isn’t the only water activity in the park Fishing is allowed too! (Just keep up with licensing, take limits, and closed areas.)
10: Hiking: The Jetty Walk isn’t the only trail. You can hike Boca Chita, and Spite Highway on Elliot Key. I like all of these, but be prepared for bugs!
No matter what adventure you choose to have in Biscayne, I hope that you have fun!