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Special programs and discounted boat tours make April the perfect month to explore the park. Program highlights include: Guided Canoe and Kayak Trips - Saturday, April 11 and 25, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Take a two-hour, naturalist-led journey along the park's shoreline, with detours up side creeks and stops for viewing wildlife if the tides permit. Program is free; canoe and kayak rentals are available for those who need them. Call 305-230-1100 to reserve. National Park Week Boat Trips – Daily, April 20-24, 10:00 a.m. From Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon to Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, national parks each tell a part of the American Story. Miami has the distinction of having two national parks at its doorstep. Celebrate National Park Week by exploring the area's lesser-known national treasure with discounted prices on ranger-guided boat trips to the northern Florida Keys. All seats are $20, but space is limited – call 305-230-1100 for reservations. National Junior Ranger Day - Saturday, April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join Biscayne National Park rangers to complete requirements for earning a Junior Ranger Badge (the optimal age for the Junior Ranger program is 8 to 12 years old), then continue the day with a free boat trip out into the park. The day concludes with a formal ceremony swearing in the new Junior Rangers. Participants should bring a lunch or plan on purchasing food items on site. Pre-registration is encouraged by calling 305-230-7275. Maximum two adults per Junior Ranger; siblings are welcome. Tour boat seats are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis to the full-day participants. Facts and Folklore of Boca Chita Key – Saturday, April 25, 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Join the Dinner Key Cruising Club’s Beverly Yelen for a discussion of the history and folklore of Boca Chita Key. The sunset trip departs the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at 5:00 p.m., and also includes free time for a BYO picnic dinner, and an opportunity to climb the historic lighthouse. This evening trip is specially priced at $25 per person. Call 305-230-1100 for reservations and details. Boca Chita Key: Millionaire’s Retreat- Sunday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. "Enshrouded by palms and caressed by Caribbean tradewinds" is how one early visitor described Boca Chita Key, now Biscayne National Park’s most popular island. Stroll past the historic walls and pavilion, and get a great view from atop the lighthouse as you explore this former hideaway for the rich and famous with a ranger. Call 305-230-1100 for pricing and to make reservations. All activities begin at the park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center, 9 miles east of Homestead at 9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead. Boat trips are weather dependent and require a minimum passenger count. We recommend making reservations to ensure passenger minimums are met. For program information, call 305-230-7275; to make reservations call 305-230-1100. For additional information on Biscayne National Park and all the programs offered, log on to www.nps.gov/bisc. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015