Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park

To the east of Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park brings forth a pristine, magical, subtropical Florida. It is the nation's largest marine park and the largest national park within the continental United States to have living coral reefs. A small portion of the park's 172,000 acres consists of mainland coast and outlying islands, but 95% is under water. Of particular interest are the mangroves and their tangled masses of stiltlike roots that thicken the shorelines. These "walking trees," as locals call them, have striking curved prop roots, which arch down from the trunk, and aerial roots drop from branches. The trees draw freshwater from saltwater and create a coastal nursery capable of sustaining myriad types of marine life. You can see Miami's towers from many of the park's 44 islands, but Biscayne is virtually undeveloped and large enough for escaping everything that Miami and the Upper Keys have become. Come here to see what lurks in the coral reef by donning scuba diving or snorkeling gear and going under.