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HOMESTEAD, Fla.— To escape the busy Miami bustle for a leisurely afternoon, many South Floridians and tourists enjoy peaceful picnics at Biscayne National Park. “It’s a beautiful place,” said Interpretive Supervisor Bob Showler. “The picnic areas are located on the edge of Biscayne Bay, which is beautiful, clear water, withRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— Winter in South Florida provides the absolute perfect picnic weather: crystal-clear blue skies, a cool, but not cold, ocean breeze, and humidity low enough to keep the mosquitoes away. And this weather could only be accompanied by the perfect picnic spot: lush vegetation, a serene environment and breathtakingRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— Remember the phrase, “things aren’t always as they seem?” Check out Biscayne National Park. Set on a grassy area dotted with exotic plants and trees, this small, green landscape overlooks the majority of the park, which is 95 percent covered by clear, aquamarine water. Cheerful picnickers overlook theRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— “We have the third largest coral reef in the world,” said Richard Walkley, who has been a proud volunteer at Biscayne National Park for over 10 years. “The first largest being Australia, the second largest being Belize, and the third being us.” The fortress of coral reef thatRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— Learning about the Biscayne National Park and everything the environment has to offer is a great way to enhance a visit. The Ranger’s Choice Program allows visitors to spend time with a ranger and enjoy his or her planned program of the day. And, of course, the programRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— For many South Florida residents who visit Biscayne National Park, one of the main attractions is the opportunity to see the endangered aquatic wildlife that live within its 173,000 acres, of which 95 percent are covered in water. According to the 2005 Biscayne National Park Sea Turtle MonitoringRead More…

STILTSVILLE, Fla..— The pillars of Stiltsville shook on the day of March 18, 1999. On this day, the National Register of Historic Places declared that the houses, which are collectively referred to as Stiltsville, were less than 50 years old and invalid for consideration to be a historical place. TheyRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— Imagine standing on the shores of Biscayne Bay just as the sun is beginning to rise. The sky is painted with shades of purples, pinks, oranges and yellows. As the sun comes over the horizon, Easter-egg-colored houses begin to come into view out in the distance. Only theseRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— The clear blue water of the Atlantic Ocean was a welcoming sight, especially after having spent close to an hour on a school bus with nearly 40 high school students as we all made our way to Biscayne National Park. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and IRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— The bright sun shines overhead as a Cormorant spots a small fish for its lunch. The breeze moves the white clouds slowly, occasionally providing shade. Aquamarine waves lap alongside the stern of the large white boat as it drops anchor. Small clumps of seaweed drift along with theRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — When people think of a national park, they envision large stretches of wild and untouched land, packed with native plants and animals. At Biscayne National Park here, the story is different. Located in South Florida, about a half hour south of Miami, this park has little landRead More…

HOMESTEAD, Fla.— I’ve lived in South Florida for 18 years and, like most locals, I don’t take part in many tourist-type activities. But when I heard about a glass bottom boat tour of the coral reefs within Biscayne National Park, I thought, “I wonder what a glass bottom boat looksRead More…