The Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West, Florida, is one of the countless breathtaking national parks in the United States that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Over the years, tourists have reached Dry Tortugas via seaplane, private boat, or the official ferry of the park, the Yankee Freedom. Jim Feldkamp.
Just like some of the more majestic parks in the U.S., Dry Tortugas has a number of intriguing areas to visit. Being an archipelago makes the park even more enchanting and mysterious.
For visitors who are into nature, there are the Loggerhead, Garden, and Bush Keys to visit. The Long, Hospital, Middle, and East Keys, though appealing as well, are closed on occasion. Jim Feldkamp.
Garden Key is second in terms of island sizes. It’s also usually the first place tourists visit. There are a number of things to do, from camping to snorkeling, to visiting the park’s main offices. Garden Key also houses Fort Jefferson which served as a detention center during the Civil War. Jim Feldkamp.
Some guests may be more interested in the uninhabited Loggerhead Key though, which is home to the Dry Tortugas Lighthouse. This lighthouse stopped operating in 2015.
Bush Key, on the other hand, is an exquisite nature sanctuary that’s home to rare birds and other exotic wildlife. However, visitors here must be cautioned from touching or moving anything that could upset the fragile ecosystem of the island. Jim Feldkamp.
Jim Feldkamp 