Not all of Florida’s eco treasures are above ground. The state also brims with attractions such as subterranean caverns and underwater coral reefs.
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In the Northwest Florida town of Marianna—or, rather, beneath it—visitors file past limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws and other dazzling formations at Florida Caverns State Park, the only state park in Florida to offer cave tours to the public. The ranger-led tours last about 45 minutes and entail some moderately strenuous walking. Above ground, the park also offers swimming, fishing, river canoeing and trails for hiking and bicycling.
North Florida is also known for its many spring-fed caves, though you must be a certified cave diver to explore the spectral beauty of the caves’ maze-like depths.
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At the other end of the state, off the southeast tip of the peninsula, Biscayne National Park is 95 percent underwater, with the other 5 percent comprising small coral reef islands and a mangrove shoreline. Unless everyone in the group is a certified diver, the best way to take in the park’s shallow reefs—home to colorful corals and over 500 species of fish—is by snorkeling, an easy-to-learn skill. The park’s concessionaire offers snorkel tours that include instruction by a divemaster and equipment. Glass-bottom boat tours also take in the striking underwater panorama.
