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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a truly unique Florida park, and you could almost call it an attraction. Instead of roller coasters, it has a glass-bottom boat tour; instead of splash rides, it has a coral reef perfect for snorkeling and diving. With gorgeous weather and calm, clear waters, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is in a class by itself. Pennekamp's pleasures are mostly underwater, though -- want to take a peek? Be on the Lookout For...You've just got to stop in at the Visitor Center while you're at Pennekamp. The showpiece of the Visitor Center is a 30,000 gallon saltwater aquarium -- how cool is that?! For those of you who don't want to dive or snorkel, this gives you a glimpse of the undersea kingdom that awaits those who dare to get wet. There's also a small theater where you can watch short videos of the park and the area. The Visitor Center hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Pennekamp is a Florida State Park with tons of things to do and see:
Underwater Awaits - A Kingdom of Coral! John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is mostly underwater, and it's underwater that you will find the most awesome sights and sounds. Sounds? Believe it or not, every year there is an underwater music festival! Still, it is the sights that draw most people to Pennekamp State Park. The magical, mysterious underwater coral reef is the attraction, and it is famous world-wide.. Okay, snorkelers first: You can take a snorkeling tour out to the coral reef for an awesome experience. Take a 38-foot sailing catamaran out to the calms waters of the reef for about 1.5 hours of snorkel time. The whole tour is about 4 hours total. For reservation and fee information, check out the information in the tours section of this page. The advantage to taking a tour is that you'll get to go to the best places for snorkeling. The downside is that there might be a lot of people with you. Still, it's a wonderful experience, so I do recommend it.
Now for those who have always wanted to take a diving lesson, here's your chance. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park dive shop offers two options:
If you are already a PADI certified diver, there are also some options for you at Pennekamp:
Time to Go Swimming! There are three swimming areas at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Two are on Largo Sound and one is in more of a lagoon area. The calmness and clarity of the water is totally wonderful, making it great for swimmers of all skill levels. Just follow the signs to the swimming locations. Anchors Aweigh! For those who want to bring their boat, there is a boat ramp in John PennekampCoral Reef State Park. In addition, boat slips and moorings are available at the marina for overnight rental. Slips include electricity and water, and you also have use of the bathouse and all normal park facilities. Mooring buoys are located in Largo Sound with dingy dockage at the marina. Reservations are recommended; contact the marina for more information at (305) 451-6322 or on VHF channel 16. For those of you who don't have a boat of your own (or if you didn't bring it along), you can still get out and about on the water. Pennekamp has a concession with boat rentals:
If you choose to rent a powerboat, keep a few things in mind:
Here Fishy, Fishy...Come to Dinner First off -- you need a Florida saltwater fishing license in the following instances:
Hey, how about a fishing charter? True, they are kind of expensive (starting at around $400 for a half day), but they are also awesome!!! Whether out by the reef for some bottom fishing or out towards the Gulf Stream for dolphin and marlin, a charter is something you'll never forget. Know the rules! You can catch all you like, but you can only keep what is legal. What you can keep varies by species, size and time of year. Click for current rules and regulations for saltwater limits. A Walk to Remember John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has two nature trails:
Campground Tales John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has a total of 47 campsites in the park, all of which have electricity. Both tents and RVs are welcome. Tent campers -- bring an air mattress or padding of some sort. The ground is gravel, which is not the most comfortable for sleeping. The gravel also makes it challenging to put up your tent. There are two bathhouses (with hot water!) in Pennekamp State Park, spread evenly through the grounds. All sites include the following:
There is a dump station available for RVs. It is highly recommended that you make a reservation for camping at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and it can be made up to 11 months in advance. To make or change a reservation call Reserve America at 1-800-326-3521. Don't call the park - Florida State parks no longer handle the reservation booking themselves. Now here's some not-so-good news. The main reason to camp here is to take advantage of the glorious snorkeling and diving. If you don't plan to do either, think about camping a little further down in the Keys, at either Bahia Honda Sate Park or Long Key State Park. Both offer a more scenic and comfortable campground. Picnics - What Did You Bring Me? There is a lunch/snack bar concession in Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Otherwise, bring what you want to eat and drink. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the grounds, as are grills. There are 11 small pavilions located in the park. They are $33 per day (plus tax) to rent them, and they are usually first come, first served. The small pavilions have two picnic tables, but no water or electricity. There is one large pavilion available for rental, at $54 per day, plus tax. It has eight tables, but no water or electricity. You can reserve a pavilion if you desire, however. Call the park at (305) 451-1202 to check on the date you have in mind. Ranger Programs Pennekamp State Park offers several interesting ranger programs. They include:
Tours John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Pak offers several concession tours out to the reef - yay! Please note that the times and costs are subject to change - call ahead if you have your heart set on a specific date.
A Notice About Water, Weather and Insects As always when in natural Florida, be aware of the strong sun, plentiful insects and possible rainshowers. Make sure to bring sunblock, sunglasses and at least have some insect repellent available. (If all you do is plan to be out on the water, the insect repellant isn't necessary.) A hat is also suggested -- it is so very easy to get a sunburn on your scalp, full head of hair or not. Time and Place Pennekamp State Park is open year-round from 8 AM to sunset. The entrance and other fees are as follows:
Pennekamp State Park is on US 1, also known as the Overseas Highway on Key Largo, Mile Marker 102.5. However, the official park address is P.O. Box 487, Key Largo, Florida 33037. The phone number is (305) 451-1202. To make camping reservations, please call Reserve America at 1-800-326-3521 -- they handle all the reservations. And reservations are a necessity -- this is a very popular park. Florida Pieces-Parts John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is in Key Largo, in the Florida Upper Keys. The closest city is Key Largo. The closest airport is Miami International. Top of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park page. Florida State and National Parks
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What Is There To Do at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park?
Scuba divers, it's your turn. Taking a dive tour out to the reef
really is your best option. While you can certainly dive around the Cannon
Beach area (see what's left of the Spanish galleon), you won't see the
underwater fantasy that the reef offers. So, visit the PADI dive shop and
book a tour on Reef Adventures, which holds up to 35 divers at once.