For anyone who knows how magical the ecosystem of Florida it is, knows how exciting taking their Florida vacation and spending it outdoors. Although Florida, and the Florida Keys are filled with relaxing activities for a vacation, the real treasure lies within the state and national parks. These are some of the most beautiful places in the world, with clear and turquoise waters, exotic wildlife, and awesome activities to enjoy. Enjoy the great outdoors, and the tropical air of the Florida Keys at these hidden gems of state parks.

The Dry Tortugas National Park

This elusive national park is 70 miles off the coast of Key West. The most exciting thing about this park is your choice of transportation of getting there: by a seaplane or by the ferry. Either way, guests are given a snorkel to enjoy a couple of hours of observing the underwater wildlife, and get the chance to walk around and learn about the history of Fort Jefferson and how the Dry Tortugas National Park came to be what it is today. One of the coolest options for this park is to go camping. Think about it, an uninhabited island, 70 miles away from the nearest town, and having a cookout underneath the stars. We hear that campers see more stars in the night sky out there then they could have ever imagined possible seeing with a naked eye.

The Bahia Honda State Park

There are some places you go in life and it sweeps you off your feet like a breath of fresh air. The Bahia Honda State Park is just this. Consistently rated high in the top ten beaches of Florida to see, this beach is awesome for snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, or just plain lounging the beach. The old bridge is re-used as a spectacular look-out point, and visitors can spot stingrays, sea turtles and fish in the clear water. There's even a nice little lagoon area that is great to bring the kids to. The park is located on Bahia Honda Key, at mile marker 37, about 35 to 40 minutes away from Key West.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

This huge state park was the first official undersea park in the United States, covering about 70 square miles. This area includes mangroves, swamps, and some of the best coral reef and marine life in the country. This park is famous for it's scuba diving opportunity, and snorkeling is another favorite of visitors. It's another state park that offers camping as well, and is great to enjoy during the Florida winter when the mosquitos die off, but is still warm enough to enjoy the park. And they also have a great glass-bottom boat tour!