Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote National Parks in the United States. The park is only accessible by either a 2-hour (one way) boat ride or a 40-minute (one way) Seaplane ride. Opting for taking the boat, I boarded the Yankee Freedom, the National Park’s contracted transportation service. Thankfully, aboard the boat early, breakfast of a bagel and a drink were provided. The sea was relatively gentle as I stood at the front of the ship watching the land disappear. Approximately 2-hours later, the walls of the fort became visible arising out of the water.
Getting off the boat, you are greeted by the park’s withered sign and the bridge over the crystal clear ocean water inviting you in. Once inside there was a massive field with some unique trees littered across the courtyard. Opting for a shadier route, I ducked under the fort walls and began exploring. There were old wagon parts, the iconic windows with beautiful scenery and more. The second level being similar to the ground floor, I made my way to the top of the fort. At the very top were turrets where soldiers once stood and cannons that have long since been retired.
The view from the top was stunning. Looking down, you can see the beautiful Caribbean blue water where I noticed a barracuda swimming among a school of fish, lots of pelicans and magnificent frigate birds, and a few others. Off in the distance was the Loggerhead lighthouse as the only other visible structure for miles.
Around lunchtime, I had made my way back towards the boat to get some of the provided lunch of sandwiches, chips, a cookie, and a drink. With the offer of free snorkel gear, courtesy of the Yankee Freedom, I could not miss the opportunity to explore the stunning ocean that I had been photographing. While the water had the initial cold shock for my Native Floridian self, It was well worth seeing the different coral and wildlife that lied just beneath the fort. With little time left, I used some of the fresh water showers available on the boat and changed into nice, clean, dry clothes in the changing room that was near the dock. With one final look and a couple final pictures, I made my way back onto the boat and journeyed back on the now rocky sea for the 2 hour ride back to the mainland. Later, when scrolling on Instagram, I saw a picture featured on the Yankee Freedom page that looked familiar and reminded me of this trip, then quickly realizing it was one of my pictures! This was an unforgettable experience and I would be very interested to try the plane ride next time.
