Best National Parks in Miami: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

Miami is waterfront paradise with strong Cuban influence. The weather of this place is warm where you can walk freely. There are many food trucks available in parks and throughout the area where you can have great food to enjoy with your family. Apart from that there are also epic clubs, pristine beaches and great diving sites and lots of other places to visit in this magical city.

Miami is home to some of the great National parks. Travelers can discover undeveloped white sand shorelines, mangroves, warm lagoons, hardwood forests, swamps and an archipelago of coral-ringed islands. This wild world here is inhabited by green sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles and Florida panthers. If you’re planning a trip with family, then National parks in Miami is the best place to visit in Miami.

Top 5 National Parks in Miami

Here is a list of top 5 Famous National parks in Miami which will give you astonishing views of wild and marine life.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the third largest National Park in America after Yellowtone and Death Valley Park. It is an international treasure as well as World Heritage Site with vast subtropical wilderness in country. This park has largest mangrove ecosystem in western Hemisphere. Arguably, this park possessed an International Biosphere Reserve and Wetland of highly importance. This area is specially protected Under Cartagena Treaty.

Biodiversity of Everglades National Park is sensational, offering patchwork of mangrove, marsh and small forests of palm and oak trees. Inhabited by crocodiles, panthers and wide variety of wading birds this park is paradise for wildlife watchers. While having a visit at park you can have a whole new experience of wildlife.

Additionally, its great network of waterways, wetlands and its intense forests is exceptional in the world. Nicknamed as “River of grass” it is a perfect place for feeding and breeding countless birds like cormorant, anhingas, white bibs, osprey and hawks. It is a habitat for fresh and saltwater fish.

Biscayne National Park

Covering 172,971 acres, Biscayne National Park has largest reef system in the world. Traces of 10,000 years of human history are preserved here. Biscayne National Park protects offshore Florida Reef, coral limestone keys, shoreline mangrove swamp and shallow waters of Biscayne Bay.

Stretching over 270 square miles southeast of Miami to Florida Keys is home to several endangered species including green sea turtles, crocodile and manatees. It comprises several islands like Elliot key and Florida key. Florida Key Island possesses the only living coral barrier reef in United States which is also one of largest in world.

In the late 19th century Elliot key island was home to pineapple plantation and in 1960 it served as CIA training ground. Now it offers walking trails, fishing opportunities, campgrounds with warm water and cool breeze. Unlike others 95% of Biscayne National Park is water. Fitting and boating are perfect way to explore this park. If you love swimming, scuba diving, cruising around boats, you will love this marine wonderland.

Dry Tortugas National Park

It is located 68 miles from Key West in Gulf of Mexico. This park includes 100 square miles of water and seven small islands. Dry Tortugas National Park is surrounded by pristine blue water and only way to reach this park is via seaplane or boat. This park preserved Fort Jefferson, the biggest masonry structure in western Hemisphere. Fort was designed to guard over America’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, but it was never completed due to civil war.

Snorkeling around fort walls is magical. Dry Tortugas National Park stands out for its vibrant coral reef, thriving tropical bird breeding ground, abundant marine life, as well as its intriguing shipwrecks and sunken treasures. Many visitors come here for camping. The Garden Key campground, located south of the fort, restricts overnight camping to just eight sites. Other activities at this park include kayaking, saltwater fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and birdwatching.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Located near Everglades, Big Cypress National Preserve was established in 1974 covers an area of over 720,000 acres and is part of greater Everglades ecosystem. This preserve is also home to plant species including cypress swamps, pine rocklands, hardwood hammocks, endangered ghost orchid and royal palm. You will find many wildlife animals including alligators, black beers, Florida panthers and hundreds of species of birds.

Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, Canoeing and kayaking. In addition to leisure activities this place also provides opportunities for research and education. Researchers examine wildlife and ecology of this place while rangers led programs provide opportunities for understanding park history. This park preserve has several hiking trails like broad walk style, Gator Hole Trail and Swamp walks.

Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore stretching over 57000 acres is longest natural beach in Florida. This reserve encompasses a very vast range of coastal habitats including beach, dune, salt marsh and scenic environments. This place is filled with marine life and serves as habitat for 305 bird species. There are lots of fun activities for you like swimming, hiking, fishing and boating.

Visitors can also explore ancient Playalinda Beach and historic Timucuan Indian village at Shell Mound. Take a tour of castle’s breezy trail or just kayak into beautiful lagoons to explore the beauty of this park. Exploring Canaveral National Seashore will undoubtedly be a memorable and educational experience for all visitors enjoying Florida’s magnificent coastline.

Conclusion

Overall, National Parks in Miami are best to experience biodiversity, wildlife, marine life and scenic beaches. You can do swimming, fishing, hiking, scuba diving and snorkeling. There are so many picnic spots and camping sites at these parks. These parks also provide educational opportunities for researchers and scientists with evidence of 10,000 years of human history. With a lot of activities to do, National Parks in Miami is best to visit with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest National Park to Miami?

Biscayne National Park is located south of Miami. People can even see Miami skyline from certain places in this park.

What is the most famous park in Miami?

Bayfront Park is the most famous park in Miami. With an extremely beautiful, versatile environment you will have a great time visiting this park.

Are there any National parks in Miami?

There are a lot of national parks in Miami Florida. Some of which are given below:

• Everglades National Park
• Biscayne National Park
• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Canaveral National Seashore
• De Soto National Memorial
• Big Cypress National Preserve