"People often forget that 100 years ago, South Florida was an inhospitable wasteland of alligators, mangroves, and palmetto shrubs. The best way to see old Florida like an early explorer is by renting a kayak at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound. Here you’ll traverse the Loxahatchee River, ducking under mangrove canopies and paddling by alligators sunning on the shoreline. They won’t bother you as long as you don’t bother them. Gliding through the black water of the swamp, you’re transported back to another century — and it’s the best way to truly get a feel for what this land was before it became America’s vacation land.Despite the brutal storms of 2017, the Florida Keys are pretty much back to normal, and are some of the most beautifully unique places in the world. A little over an hour from downtown Miami, Key Largo is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, one of the best places in America for snorkeling. For divers, Key Largo and the upper Keys are home to beautiful coral reefs, with dive shops literally lining the overseas highway. Take the road a little further and as you cross bridges connecting the little tropical islands, you’ll feel like you’re driving on the ocean. At the end of the highway, you’ll come to Key West. Though we wouldn’t recommend driving to Key West and back in a day, as the drive is three to four hours each way, it’s worth a night there to experience the raucous nightlife of Duval Street and the sunset over Mallory Square." - MATADOR_NETWORK
