Florida’s Underwater Playground

By Linda Tancs

Encompassing nearly 70 nautical square miles in Key Largo, Florida, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the United States. As the name implies, the coral reef (the only living coral reef in the continental United States) is a key draw. The reef can be viewed via glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling or scuba diving. Be sure to stop by the visitor center, which has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. The park is named for the late John D. Pennekamp, a Miami newspaper editor whose efforts contributed to the establishment of Everglades National Park and led to the preservation of the reef system bearing his name.