Biscayne National Park, Dante Fascell Visitor Center

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center, named after the Florida politician who was instrumental in the creation of Biscayne National Park, is located on Convoy Point. It is the only mainland-based section of the park with amenities for tourists.The Visitor Center is where you can pick up a park map, ask a Ranger questions, and meet for excursions and Ranger-led programs.There is also opportunity to peruse an exhibit on the park’s natural history. 

Biscayne National Park encompasses aquamarine waters, coral reefs, islands and shoreline mangrove forest in the northern Florida Keys, Miami. Biscayne National Park's reefs and islands are accessible only by boat. Known wildlife such as dolphins, turtles and pelicans live in Biscayne Bay Lagoon. The underwater Maritime Heritage Trail links dive sites, most of them consisting of shipwrecks. On Boca Chita Key, Boca Chita Lighthouse has coastal views around Biscayne National Park. A museum at Convoy Point explains local ecosystem of Biscayne National Park.

There is 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents evidenced through the Biscayne National Park. Outdoors enthusiasts have opportunity for boating, snorkeling, camping, watch wildlife, or simply relaxing among the waters and shorelines.  At 172,000 acres, 95% of the park is underwater. This makes Biscayne National Park the largest marine park in the national system.

Biscayne National Park is a confluence of four distinctive ecosystems: the mangroves, Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys, and the coral reef. The Biscayne National Park’s entrance is located at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, less than an hour drive south of South Beach down the Florida Turnpike.The clusters along the park's shoreline are amongst the longest continual stretches of mangroves on Florida’s east coast. The park is open 24 hours a day, all year long.

Benowitz, Shayne. 2018. Exploring Biscayne National Park. Website. http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/featured-articles/biscayne-national-park

National Park Service. 2018. A Watery Wonderland. Website. https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm 

National Park Planner. 2018. Biscayne National Park: Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Website. http://npplan.com/parks-by-state/florida-national-parks/biscayne-national-park-park-at-a-glance/bisc...