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Review: Dry Tortugas National Park

The park is home to incredible marine life and birds, and visitors can camp, dive, snorkel, and swim.
  • United States, Florida, Key West, Park, Dry Tortugas National Park
  • Image may contain: Building, Castle, Architecture, Water, Waterfront, Fort, Human, Person, Dock, Port, and Pier

Photos

United States, Florida, Key West, Park, Dry Tortugas National ParkImage may contain: Building, Castle, Architecture, Water, Waterfront, Fort, Human, Person, Dock, Port, and Pier

Amenities

biking
diving
fishing

Let’s start big picture here.
Dry Tortugas is one of the only national parks that exists primarily over open water. The park is home to incredible marine life and birds, and visitors can camp, dive, snorkel, and swim.

Any standout features or must-sees?
This is one of the least-visited national parks in the country, meaning that everything you can see and do is pretty special—no dodging selfie sticks. Standouts, however, include Port Jefferson, built as a line of defense following the War of 1812, and the Windjammer wreck site, where experienced divers can get close to the wreckage of an early 20th-century iron-hulled ship.

Was it easy to get around?
It's all over water and best accessible by boat. If you don't have your own, there are park tours and other trips that will take you into the park.

Any other perks?
Unlike other national parks, here you can actually see most things in a day.

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