• ABOUT
  • STORE
  • PRINTABLES
  • SPEAKING
  • BLOG
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Not Consumed

Homeschooling » Visiting Florida National Parks With Kids: Printable Pack

Visiting Florida National Parks With Kids: Printable Pack

July 13 By Kim Sorgius 1 Comment

13 Jul
South Florida Adventure Guide

When it comes to our homeschool, field trips are the backbone. There is nothing quite like a completely hands-on learning experience. Books and videos are great when you can’t be there in person, but there is no better teacher than life itself.

That’s why we make it a priority to stop in every possible education spot we can find! On a recent visit to Florida for a homeschool convention, we hit the road to the South Florida national parks.

Ready, Set, Go—South Florida National Parks With Kids

Alligators, manatees, and turtles—oh my! South Florida is a dream destination for wildlife lovers. You’ll learn about diverse habitats and ecosystems that will blow your mind. Did you know that South Florida is home to THREE National Parks? The Everglades is the most well-known, but you’ll also love Biscayne and the Dry Tortugas. PLUS, once you’re down there, you can’t miss Pennekamp State Park.

I’m going to tell you all of our favorite stops in South Florida, but first, you’ll want to download this awesome printable pack. Teaching your kids about the ecosystems, animals, and history you expect to see will give them a framework to better absorb the information when they get to learn it in person! Plus, you’ll love the daily travel log!

South Florida Adventure Guide

Our Top Tips for Visiting South Florida National Parks With Kids

We drove into South Florida from Orlando because we were here for a conference. Driving is the frugal way to go, and I think Florida is full of fun stops along the way like Crystal River, Rainbow Springs, and of course, Buc-ee’s in Daytona.

But, it takes forever to drive from north to south in Florida, so keep that in mind when planning. If you’re going to fly in, consider flying to Naples and renting a car. That way, you can see all the South Florida parks and not pay the higher prices from Miami. We stayed at Home2 Suites Naples 1-75 Pine Ridge Road on the way down. It was a perfect spot for an early morning airboat tour.

Everglades National Park With Kids

Our first official day started in the Everglades. We took this epic airboat ride out of Everglades City. The company is a Christian family-owned company and one of the few that has headsets so you can talk to each other.

I’m not going to lie—this airboat ride is not for the faint at heart. It was the first one my kids were old enough to remember, but having grown up in Florida, I’ve been many times. This ride was different. We were flying through the mangrove forest! My teens couldn’t stop talking about it.

We drove about 40 minutes from the airboat ride to the Shark Valley entrance of Everglades National Park. There are 3 different entrances, but this is the best in our opinion. Of course, we got our national park passport stamp at the visitor’s center first and learned about everything we’d see. We considered biking the path, but it was June and 150 degrees outside (OK, I’m exaggerating . . . a little.) There is a tram tour you can take, but you need to book tickets in advance. Do it!

Since we didn’t have tickets and it was so hot, we did the short loop, and in just that time, we saw a baby alligator, a few teenage-sized gators, turtles, and tons of birds. There is NO shade at this park, so work that into your plan. The tram is definitely the way to go!

Plan to bring hats, sunscreen, and bug spray when you come. You’ll need them all year-round, but especially in the summer months.

Because we had been to the Everglades many times, we kept moving pretty quickly. But you can easily spend a day exploring this park’s different visitor centers and trails. I highly recommend a boat tour, even if you don’t like the fast-paced airboats.

Biscayne National Park With Kids

The drive to Biscayne National Park is about one hour from Shark Valley, and it’s a BEAUTIFUL drive. Biscayne is a really unique park in that 95% of the national park is water! You can go on a number of tours to snorkel or view the lighthouse, but the weather was not in our favor for either. Instead, we asked lots of questions in the visitor center, played with the hands-on exhibits, and got our passport stamp. Then we headed out to the boardwalk for a beautiful walk.

Because the weather wasn’t great, our visibility wasn’t either, but we did see some fun fish and a few little creatures in the rocks.

Our journey continued south to Key Largo with a stop at Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm. This is a must-do on the journey to the Keys. I’d say it lives up to the hype. We had fresh fruit smoothies, bought some fruit, and even saw two giant tortoises mating in the petting zoo out back. (Just another day in science class! Ha!)

After a pretty full day, it was finally time to head to the hotel. We stayed at Hilton Curio in Key Largo, which I highly recommend. There was so much for the kids to explore, from hammocks to lizards to paddleboards. The kids had an incredible time.

Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park With Kids

Admittedly not a national park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park still wins some time on this list because of its incredible learning opportunities. We chose to kayak so the kids could get up close and personal with the mangrove ecosystem. The water is relatively clear, so you can see some pretty fun animals.

Somehow I didn’t get any pictures of wildlife, but we saw manatees, plenty of fish, a gator, and some pretty large lizards. The mangrove loop is really long and finishes off on the ocean side, so be ready for some tougher paddling on that side.

Wear lots of sunscreen and a hat. Kayaks aren’t fast, so this was a HOT tour in the afternoon.

The drive from Key Largo to Key West is about 2 hours without traffic (and there often is traffic.) But you won’t even feel the time because there are plenty of fun stops AND it’s absolutely beautiful.

You can stop at Bahia Honda State Beach, search for Key deer, visit the Turtle Hospital, and our personal favorite, stop at Robbie’s in Islamorada. If this place looks like a tourist trap, it totally is. But it’s the best ever. You can feed tarpon, and you must. It was thrilling. There is shopping and, of course, a great restaurant. It’s worth the hype.

Key West With Kids

I wouldn’t say that Key West is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, but there are many great things to do here besides the national parks we came for. There are places to learn history, geography, ecology, zoology, and pretty much everything in between. Some of our favorites were:

  • The Hemingway Home and Museum
  • Key West Shipwreck Museum
  • Sunset dolphin cruise Not only did we see a ton of dolphins, but our guide was full of history, geography, and more.
  • Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
  • Boca Chita Lighthouse

One tip for making the most of the island with little people is to rent a golf cart. We LOVED having the ability to hop in and ride up and down the streets, but note that you have to park legally, and parking isn’t easy in Key West.

Dry Tortugas National Park With Kids

I don’t want to play favorites, but our trip to South Florida was largely centered around this one park: Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s been a bucket list item for years, and it was well worth the effort. First, you should know that there are only two ways to get there: boat and seaplane. Because the trip is so long, you won’t find tours, but there are some private sailboat charters. I’ve been told the seaplane is epic, but the price tag didn’t fit our family size, so we went with the ferry. It’s not cheap, and it’s not short. The ride over is 3 hours, and you should be prepared if you get sea sick.

There was a guide on the boat giving facts, history, geography, and all kinds of things pretty much the whole way there. (Most of us slept in silence on the way back!)

The ferry provides snorkeling equipment, but you’ll want to bring towels, a change of clothes, sun protection, and a hat. Once you get off the boat, you are free to explore! We started with Fort Jefferson, learned about the island’s history, and got our passport stamp. That part was probably an hour and a half of our time on the island.

Then we headed down to the beach to snorkel. The best snorkeling was right up against the fort wall. It was easy enough, but the water is too deep to touch the bottom. It would have been nice to have a floatation device to help hold you up. If you are snorkeling with younger children, I’d definitely bring one along.

Be sure you wear sun-protective clothing and reef-safe sunscreen (apply every hour). The sun is very close down here, and you’ll get a sunburn easily. If you take the ferry, though, you won’t have terribly long. We snorkeled and played on the beach for about two hours before we headed back to change and get ready to return home.

South Florida National Park Printables

One of the most important parts of taking your kids on epic field trips is making sure they learn about what they plan to see. There is nothing cooler than a sea turtle floating by in the ocean unless, of course, you have no idea what you are really seeing! Take the time to help your kids learn a little before you go. We’ve made it super easy with our South Florida Adventure Guide. It’s a printable pack you can download and print before you go. You can even keep a little journal as you travel.

South Florida Adventure Guide
kim sorgius
Kim Sorgius

Through practical tools & Bible-based resources, Kim Sorgius is dedicated to helping your family GROW in faith so you can be Not Consumed by life’s struggles. Author of popular kid’s devotional Bible studies and practical homeschooling tools, Kim has a master’s degree in education and curriculum design coupled with over 2 decades of experience working with kids and teens. Above all, her most treasured job is mother and homeschool teacher of four amazing kiddos.

Comments

  1. Aliesha says

    July 13 at 6:54 pm

    You were in our neck of the woods! Sounds like a fun time! We plan to do a lot of Florida sightseeing this year so this pack will be a great addition!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Reader Favorites

Want help cultivating sibling relationships? Check out these resources. Helping kids develop devotional habits Want some help planning your homeschool year? Want to learn how to blog?

Some of our Favorite Printables

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer Policy
  • Terms of Service

Here’s What Others Are Saying about Not Consumed

profile-pic
Sheryl

Monthly Scripture Pages

Thank you for creating the monthly Scripture pages... especially the KJV one! It's the only Bible I use and hardly any bloggers use it on their stuff. I also really appreciate the products that you provide. I really appreciate the insights, laughter, and thoughtfulness put into your blog, emails, Facebook posts, etc.

profile-pic
Tara, single homeschooling mom

Brings courage to my heart!

I want to thank you for your transparency and dedication to blessing families with resources. Thank you for the life giving words that I read over and over. I cling to the hope I see in your story. Not only did you help me work through things that had happened, you prepared me for a situation that could have consumed me. God used your encouragement to strengthen me. I was so beaten down, discouraged, and tired from the long and difficult path I had been walking. It was a refreshing rain in the middle of a weary road, and it made me hope for a future that is victorious.

profile-pic
Paige L.

Lasting Impression on My Entire Family

I wanted to write to encourage you and say, "THANK YOU!" I've been following your blog for years, and you have made such a lasting impression on my entire family. We've purchased many of your Bible Studies and a few other wonderful homeschooling resources, all of which we absolutely love!!! Still, I believe the greatest compliment I can give you is that because of your Bible Studies that my children and I have completed together, my oldest daughter has been so inspired, she's started creating her own daily devotionals, modeled after the ones you've made. They are absolutely precious (in her own little 12-year old way), and she prints one off each morning for our entire family to complete during our quiet time. When she finishes her first "study" (which is on the Fruits of the Spirit by the way), she plans to print a set to hand out to her small group at church. To see my daughter take ownership of her faith in this way and to bless others with a deeper study of God's Word is a precious gift to me, and I can't thank you enough for your inspiration and positive influence!

profile-pic
Julianne

My daughter loves it all!

I just want to write and let you know that my 13-year-old daughter loves, love, loves everything I have ever ordered from you and says that she wants your entire inventory of bible studies for her next birthday!

Thank you for making a positive difference in our lives!

profile-pic
Laura, homeschooling mom of 6

Love everything you do!

As far as the other things, I LOVE my brothers keeper and we've done it twice over the past year or two. I recommend it all the time on so many groups online. I type notconsumed.com almost daily somewhere on something. At times I will come across another resource you have created and it's like you are in my head. So much of what you create is exactly what I want but am not techy enough to do! I had googled a checklist for homeschooling recently and yours popped up. It was exactly the simple thing I wanted. I told my husband that you "get me" when I found it. :) I ended up buying it then hearing about the course and did that too. Even as a veteran homeschool mom I learned a few things from your course. I really love how you foster independence in your kids in stages. Again, exactly what I want to do!

profile-pic
Brittany, mom of 2

Like Being With a Girlfriend

Thanks for sharing a piece of your family. Your blog is, honestly, the only one I have ever subscribed to. I feel like I'm on the phone with a girlfriend every time I read your words. I love it! I often find myself spending hours clicking from one post to the next telling myself, "okay, one more and then go to bed!" It's all just so helpful!

profile-pic
Ferne Downs

Fabulous, heart-felt resources for parents!

Thank you, Kim, for continuing to offer such fabulous and heart-felt resources to us parents! I was not raised in a Christian home and feel like I’m floundering in the dark trying to raise my children to know and love the Lord. Your emails and bible studies are my lifeline! You should write a parenting manual!

May God continue to bless you and your family abundantly!

profile-pic
Christi, single homeschooling mom of 7

Life-giving Words

What an encouragement your words have been to me! The practical tips and realistic systems that you share are so super helpful, but what I have appreciated the most has been your genuine heart for the Lord and for the things of the Lord. What I sense through your words is a heart submitted to the Lord, clinging to Him instead of to bitterness. Walking a path that you never signed up for, painfully aware of your brokenness and inadequacies, but keeping your eyes focused on the only Giver of Life. You have a testimony of victory, of overcoming, Kim. Your life-giving words boast of the faithfulness of a God who hears and sees and knows and provides and comforts. A God who doesn't change.

profile-pic
Cathy, homeschool mom of 2

Bible Studies are Incredible!

I just ordered and am in the process of printing out so many of your amazing resources and I can't wait to get started! Your bible studies are incredible and so thoughtful, your planner is wonderfully laid out and your breakfast and lunch stations will save me so much time!! I don't know how you do it all, but I'm thankful you do!

profile-pic
Kimberley

You're in my head, sister!

I just wanted you to know that I LOVE your blog. I can’t tell you how much the homeschooling posts have meant to me. It’s like you’re in my head, sister!! Thank you so much for taking the time in your busy life to minister to struggling moms and making me feel as if I’m not alone.

profile-pic
Noel M.

Positive Impact in My Life

I've been following your blog for a couple years and I have enjoyed participating in your free bible studies/devotions as well as those I've purchased from you. I just wanted to let you know that you've made such a positive impact in my spiritual and home school life, as well as support and encouragement for motherhood. Thank you for being such a blessing to so many moms.

Want to share how you’ve been blessed by Not Consumed ministries?



OUR MINISTRY

About Kim
What We Believe
FAQ
How to Blog


GET CONNECTED

Contact Us
Visit our Blog
Get our Free Printables

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

WAYS TO HELP

Donate
Shop
Hire Kim to Speak
Affiliates

Copyright © 2022 · Not Consumed.

Not Consumed® is fully trademarked by Not Consumed Ministries, LLC. · All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy · CA Privacy Policy · Terms of Service

Site Design by Visibilia Media