Biscayne National Park – Florida
Just south of Miami’s skyline lies a park that is nearly entirely water.
Biscayne National Park was established in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter to protect one of the most fragile ecosystems in the country: mangrove shorelines, seagrass beds, coral reefs and the northernmost keys of the Florida Reef Tract. Nearly 95% of the park is underwater.
Below the surface of the water lies another world of tropical fish, coral formations, and shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Biscayne National Park safeguards what lies below, fragile systems that sustain life.

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Big Cypress – Florida
Big Cypress is not exactly a national park, but a national preserve. A national preserve allows certain traditional uses to continue while still protecting the land. When Congress established Big Cypress in 1974, it became one of the very first two national preserves in the country, Big Cypress protects nearly 729,000 acres of land, making […]
Grand Canyon – Arizona
I wanted to be someplace special on my 65th birthday, and my thoughts naturally turned to Grand Canyon National Park. My December birthday comes with some challenges as many of the majestic national parks have limited access that time of year, but the Grand Canyon felt right. I can still remember the first time I stood […]
Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Another spectacular National Park is Rocky Mountain National Park. My oldest daughter Emily lives in the foothills of this park, so we have enjoyed more visits than most. From the rugged alpine cliffs to the mountain lakes, this landscape reminds us how diverse this park is. Established in January 1915, when Woodrow Wilson signed the act […]