The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is named after the late John D. Pennekamp, a Miami newspaper editor whose efforts contributed to the establishment of the Everglades National Park and the preservation of today's John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

The park extends 3 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and is approximately 25 miles in length. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary cover approximately 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps.

People from around the world come to enjoy the coral formations, tropical vegetation, shore birds and marine life. The coral reefs at the park are among the most beautiful and diverse of all-living communities.

The coast of Florida provides the coral reefs with a shallow ocean of clear, warm water. The reefs have taken 5,000 to 7,000 years to develop - touching or standing on corals may kill them and is therefore prohibited.

What's there to do at the park? There's camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, boating and more. The park has a visitor center that features natural history exhibits, a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, and a theater where visitors can view nature videos between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., daily.