Let’s just take a moment, and picture this in our minds. Imagine being dropped off in the middle of the ocean. The closest inhabited land to you is 70 miles away. But in this spot, is a massive fort surrounded by coral. It’s 8 am, and the only people on the island are you and a couple of campers who took the wonderful opportunity to wake up there. Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been. It’s literally just you and the ocean. You get to take a break from having cell service and staring at a blue lit screen for an entire day, and just be present. Your mind is free from all worries, and you’re just there to appreciate all the beauty and tranquility that is surrounding you. You can close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the waves lapping up against the building, and taste the salt in the air as the wind blows. It’s truly a tranquil place that is perfect for practicing clearing your mind, just being, and living in the now. It takes a lot of work to get to that place, but once you’re there, you will strive to return. It has been a beautiful fight. Still is.
Less than 1% of Dry Tortugas National Park is on ground. The best way to see it all? Snorkeling! The Dry Tortugas were named by Ponce DeLeon after the heaps of Sea Turtles (Tortugas) he caught, and the fact that there is no fresh water at all found on these islands. They were originally used as an American Naval Base from the Colonial times all the way to the 20th century. What’s really crazy about this park is that it became a landing point for immigrants who were escaping Cuba. At times you could walk around this park and see an abandoned boat built out of tin panels and shack walls that they used to escape their country and fare the 90 mile trek of ocean.
Key West Seaplane Adventures
And what an adventure they took you on. Because the fort is 70 miles off the coast, your only options to get there are by boat or plane. The seaplane was probably the best part of the entire trip. Not only did you arrive in under an hour, but you also arrived before the ferry that carried 300 people did, so you had the entire island to yourself for the whole morning. 100% worth it if you ever go. The pilot does two trips a day, and he can point out everything. We saw dolphins, tons of sea turtles, and plenty of sharks. The water is clear enough, and you’re flying low enough, that the wildlife is super easy to spot and follow.
The pilot even flew over some old sunken ships. One of which was an old 1700’s Spanish ship with its mast still sticking out of water, and the other an old war ship. you can see how massive it is when comparing it with the small white sailboat that is floating next to it.
Fort Jefferson
Believe it or not, Fort Jefferson is actually unfinished. It’s the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. It’s composed of more than 16 million bricks. I feel bad for whoever had to ship out all these brick, unload them one by one, and then build this fort in the brutal Florida sun with no shade or fresh water whatsoever. Construction eventually stopped after the American Civil War, and the fort was used instead as a federal prison. It even housed Dr. Samuel Mudd and the three others that were charged with conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. After that, it eventually became a coaling station for US Navy ships, until 1935 when it was declared as a National Monument.
Key West
We came for 4th of July Weekend, and I forgot how much fun this place is. Especially Duval Street! I love Key West so much. The sunsets are really what makes it. Because when your heart is made of liquid sunsets, the only thing that feels like home, is to watch one.
No matter what happens, we’ll always have Key West.
