Tired of crowds…try Dry Tortugas?
Due to my anti-social tendencies, I will go to some effort to avoid crowds. Regrettably, most National Parks just seem to have too many people. But, there are several National Parks that are much less visited than your average park. What is their secret for keeping crowds down? No secret at all…these parks are just a pain in the butt to get to. So, if you don’t mind some extra travel and are tired of crowds…try Dry Tortugas National Park.
Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson 
Scenery, beaches and snorkeling is available…
Although Dry Tortugas National Park is remote, its pretty pleasant travel to get there. First, you have to get to Key West, Florida. Then, you have to buy a ferry ticket to Dry Tortugas. The park is 70 miles WEST of Key West…its remote. The ferry ride takes over 2 hours each way. Tickets go fast, so get yours online in advance. You need to plan on a full day if you are going to Dry Tortugas. The main attraction at the park is Fort Jefferson (circa 1846). But, you can also spend lots of time on the beach or snorkeling around the Fort.
Fort Jefferson never saw battle, but it still has guns… 
Your snorkeling path
Just a bit of history on Dry Tortugas…the area was first discovered by Ponce de Leon back in 1513, so Ponce got to name the place. “Tortugas” due to the large turtles that he found on the island. And, “Dry” due the lack of fresh water. The heyday of Dry Tortugas started with the beginning of construction on Fort Jefferson 1846. Not surprisingly, Fort Jefferson was the southern most fort in the USA..and a Union fort. During the entire Civil War, the Union never lost control of the fort. That sounds impressive until you realize that the Confederate never took the Fort because they could not find a reason to bother with it.
No point, just a cool picture within the fort 
In the spirit of Dante’s Inferno, this phrase was originally carved by Dr. Mudd over the entrance to his prison
While the Civil War battle history may be a bit thin, there was one noteworthy story from the fort. On April 15, 1965, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. When Wilkes jumped to the stage of the Ford Theater, he broke his leg. Booth sought medical treatment from Dr. Samuel Mudd. Subsequently, the courts sentenced Mudd to life in prison at Fort Jefferson for helping Booth. However, due to aid that he provided during a yellow fever out break, President Andrew Johnson eventually pardoned Dr. Mudd. This high profile prisoner served about 4 years in prison at Fort Jefferson.
Carol Merrill enjoying the grounds and architecture…without the crowds 
Not your average national park
Take a picnic lunch…enjoy some beach time…do some snorkeling…walk the grounds and buildings of Fort Jefferson…read about the history…this remote national park is a diamond in the rough. When Florida is not so plague ridden, you should consider getting away from the usual national park crowds. Take a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. PT
Thank you for reading Tired of crowds…try Dry Tortugas on Traveling with PugsleyTonks
Some additional information if interested https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm
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