"The country's first underwater park, John Pennekamp is a scuba diver's dream—there are more than 250 species of tropical fish and 85 types of coral within its nearly 200 square nautical miles. Which means you’re going to want to plan an itinerary ahead of time: throughout the day, the park runs a number of snorkeling and scuba diving tours, and kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes are also available for rent. For less active types, a glass-bottomed boat tour will let you experience the park’s majestic underwater wonderland—all from a comfy, seated position. But the park’s most impressive, must-see feature is right there in its name: its coral reefs (they’re part of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and the park was established in part to protect that). The park’s snorkeling and scuba tours are the best way to get an up-close view of these marine wonders, but the glass-bottom boat is a nice option for guests who are less inclined to get wet." - Jennifer M. Wood, Terry Ward
