Things to do: Three of Florida's national parks and a national preserve in our 'backyard'

Did you know South Florida has three national parks and a national preserve right in our backyard?

What to know: Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve is located in eastern Collier County, about an hour's drive from Naples. This preserve is a remarkable destination for nature lovers, adventurers, and those interested in the cultural heritage of South Florida.

Characterized by its extensive swamps, wetlands, cypress trees, and wildlife, viewable from scenic vistas, the preserve offers hiking trails, locations for bird watching, fishing, camping, and ramps for watersports.

For further information on Big Cypress National Preserve, the Oasis and Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center has rangers on site to answer questions and have educational exhibits, films, and ranger-led programs. As a national preserve, entrance to Big Cypress is FREE!

Everglades National Park: What to know

Everglades National Park is split between Collier County, Miami Dade County, and Monroe County with three separate entrances to experience this unique ecosystem. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is one of the most significant wetlands in the world, supporting a wide range of unique or endangered plant and animal species.

To experience this wildlife, Everglades National Park offers hiking and biking trails, camping, fishing, and other watersports. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is the closest center to us, about a two-hour drive from Naples, and has a tram tour that allows you to experience the Everglades without having to bike or walk the 15-mile loop. The entrance into Everglades National Park is $35 per vehicle.

Biscayne National Park: What to know

Biscayne National Park is known for its unique marine and coastal environments. The park protects one of the largest coral reef systems in the continental United States and Biscayne Bay.

To experience the reef up close, visitors can snorkel the coral reefs and seagrass beds to see a variety of flora and fauna. The park also has mangrove trails and tunnels to kayak or boat through to fish or enjoy the wildlife up close.

There are no entrance fees to Biscayne National Park, but there is a docking fee of $25 at both Boca Chita and Elliott Keys. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Convoy Point can give further information on how to experience this park up close!

Dry Tortugas National Park: What to know

As the most elusive of the four parks, Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and is known for its pristine natural beauty, rich history, and marine life. To reach this National Park, you must take a ferry or seaplane.

The centerpiece of the park is Fort Jefferson, one of the largest brick masonry structures in the Western Hemisphere, once used as a Civil War fortress and a prison. Beyond the fort, there are snorkeling spots to see coral reefs and shipwrecks surrounding the island. The National Parks entry fee is $15 a person, but keep in mind there is also the cost of the ferry or seaplane ride to get there.

These four parks in South Florida preserve ecological diversity and history while fostering environmental stewardship in each visitor who stops by. I encourage everyone to visit and experience the benefits first hand because your perception of these parks will vastly change once you experience them in person.

The National Parks Service has three upcoming free park entrance days on Aug. 4, Sept. 28, and Nov. 11. If those dates do not work in your schedule, I implore you to get an America the Beautiful Pass to have yearly access to all sites across the United States.

For more information on park access, fees, and best visiting times I encourage you to visit the official National Park website. If you feel inclined to financially support the National Parks or want to learn about more ways to get involved with preserving our national parks for the future, visit the National Parks Conservation Association.

Celina Ceballos and Susannah Cogburn are graduate students in the Master of Science in Environmental Science at Florida Gulf Coast University, with thesis topics concerning red tide's impact on sea turtles and manatee physiology and anthropogenic pollutants' impact on juvenile bull shark salt balance, respectively. They both have an impressive list of accolades within the marine science field, as Ceballos was awarded a national Fulbright Scholarship and a Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education, and Cogburn is a current National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and Guy Harvey Fellow. With extensive research experience in several of Florida's habitats, educational backgrounds as camp counselors and nature guides, and years spent in Florida, Ceballos and Cogburn are eager to share their knowledge and wisdom about one of their favorite local ecosystems.