We spent the day at Pennekamp without doing the paid tours this time, just spending the day wandering around the park, snorkeling and relaxing. This park is a must-do for nature lovers. They do a wonderful job helping people understand the reef system and how we can do things to help save it from destruction.

Try the snorkeling or diving (or glass-bottom boat) to really see the great aquatic life at this very special park.

John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo—The trip to Key Largo is by way of a two-lane road that is sometimes called the Overseas Highway. The Highway goes all the way to Key West but we only went to Key Largo, John Pennekamp State Park. We took a glass-bottom boat out to a magnificent coral reef teeming with tropical fish of all colors. The seagrass swayed dreamily beneath the boat and seemed to be magnified by the V-shaped glass bottom. Various shapes and kinds of coral made a fascinating scene.

We went on the 12:15 PM tour and had not eaten lunch beforehand. I have a few suggestions if you plan to go. Call ahead for reservations and be there to pick your tickets up an hour before tour time. If you go on the 12:15 P M tour take your lunch and drinks to eat on the way out to the reef as it takes about 45 minutes. Do not worry about trying to get a good seat when you first get on the boat, because you will not stay in the same seat when you get to the reef. Riding on the front of the boat for the trip out or back is exhilarating with the wind blowing in your face and an occasional salt spray. We could see the different colors in the water—turquoise, dark blue and other variations. Egrets sat on poles and watched us go by.

About 2 hours south of Ft. Lauderdale, Pennekamp park is the first undersea park in the United States. It extends 3 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and is about 25 miles long. The area was established to protect and preserve a portion of the only living coral reef in the continental United States. While the portion of the park that is on land offers tropical vegetation, shore birds, mangrove swamps, beach and picnicking areas, most visitors come for the sea life.

The park offers SCUBA dive boat tours as well as full instruction courses and gear rental. Snorkeling tours will take you out to the reef on a motor boat or you can sail on a 38 ft. Catamaran. You can even rent fishing boats!

We took the snorkel sail, which cost just under $40 per person including fins, mask and "souvenir" snorkel. The tour takes about 4 hours, which includes 1-1/2 hours of snorkeling time at the reef. We sailed to Garrett's Reef. The water in October was a very comfortable 80 degrees, though one hour in the water was about my limit before I got too cold. Stern instructions are given before jumping in the water about protecting the reef. You are especially cautioned about keeping horizonal in the water, because if you're vertical you're probably kicking (and killing) a portion of the reef. Even the grass and sand on the bottom of the ocean here are protected and subject to fine if disturbed!

Read more about this beautiful park on their website: pennekamppark.com/

This was not the most spectacular snorkeling we have ever done, but we saw some very cool fish. The first thing we saw was barracuda, which was a little unnerving. My favorite was the large boxfish. Others on the boat said they saw a small ray and a nurse shark.