This park is unique in that it  is the only national park that is mostly underwater! It must be explored by boat or by snorkeling. You can pay for a boat tour, rent kayaks, or bring snorkel gear to explore this park. 

Unfortunately, the day we scheduled to visit this park the weather was not in our favor and boats tours were canceled. Instead, we explored the Dante Fascell Visitors Center, which was packed with interesting, touchable things. We plan on visiting again in the future when our boys are stronger swimmers and the weather is better for kayaking.

Since Biscayne is better explored by boat, we hopped on over to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to snorkel. According to locals the state park was better for what we were looking for. The boys had a blast playing on the beach, snorkeling in the shallow water, and exploring the mangroves. 

Don’t overlook State Parks! They are plentiful, inexpensive, and less busy than National Parks.  We brought our own snorkel gear and explored underwater habitats at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State park. 

What to Study

History/Culture

• The Seminoles by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
• Treasures of the Sea by Robert McClung
• Miami – Key West (Gypsy Road Trip Guide) 

Geography + Nature Study

Before and after our trip we studied estuary, wetland and ocean biomes along with a few special study topics, like alligators and shells. You could also study water birds, reptiles, coral reefs, fish, trees (palm and fruit), and gastropods (clams, snails, etc.). 

• Rebecca Johnson Biomes of North America Series: Tropical, Estuaries, Wetlands and Ocean. 
• Everglades by Jean Craighead George
• See Along the Shore by Millicent Selsam (Digital)
• Shimmer and Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life by Jim Arnosky
• The Moon of the Alligator by Jean Craighead George
• Black Jack: The Last of the Big Alligators by Robert McClung (Digital)
• Sea Star by Robert McClung (Digital)
• Scoop: Last of the Brown Pelicans by Robert McClung (Digital)
• Here Come the Dolphins by Alice Goudey (Digital)
• First Look at Fish by Millicent Selsam (Digital)
• Animals of the Sea by Millicent Selsam (Digital)
• Along the Seashore by Margaret Waring Buck (Digital)
• A First Look at Shells by Millicent Selsam (Digital)