John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

When we arrived at the Key Largo, we stopped at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for a glass bottom boat tour of the coral reefs protected by the park. The park was established in 1963 as the first undersea park in the United States, and covers, with the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, approximately 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps. Nonetheless, the boat tour turned into disaster at sea. When it reached the coral reef, the Spirit of Pennekamp bobbed and rocked in the rough waves, and Clare and Conor, who were experiencing their first small boat ride at sea, were more than a little queasy and were unable to enjoy the spectacular views through the glass bottoms of the boat. Needless to say we were disappointed in this experience (though the swift ride out was endurable and actually somewhat pleasant), and we all wished that we had simply headed to Cheeca Lodge & Spa for some much needed rest and relaxation. I did manage to snap a few photos of Clare and Conor before their seasickness took hold.