Explore the Florida Keys Fantastic State Parks from Your Vacation Rental

Florida's well-known for its award-winning state parks, and some of the best are located in the Florida Keys. Staying in a vacation rental is a great way to explore these unspoiled gems. You can settle in and plan out your visits, returning to the comforts and amenities of your home away from home each evening. And all the other tourists will be shopping or at some attraction, you'll likely have a lot of room to yourself. Here are three you should check out, though they're all worthy of your time and interest.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. You'll find one of the largest tracts of hardwood hammock trees in the United States, as well as 84 protected species of plants and animals. Wild cotton, mahogany and mistletoe abound. There are plenty of trails and lots of quiet places to relax, reflect or bird watch. There are also paved roads for cyclists -- and they're handicap accessible for those in wheelchairs or needing walkers.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. If you're planning on exploring Pennekamp in your RV, you might want think again. This is the first undersea park in the United States, encompassing 70 nautical -- not square -- miles. Take heart, there are land areas where you can see native mangrove swamps and hardwood hammock groves. But visitors come primarily for the coral reefs and their marine life. Of course, scuba and snorkeling are two popular activities in the park, but so are tours in a glass-bottomed boat.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Located at the very end of the Florida Keys, this park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Fort Zachary Taylor was important during both the Civil War and Spanish-American war. It's also home to Key West's most popular beach, where you can swim, snorkel, fish or just sunbathe. You'll find this must-visit park at the end of Southard Street on Truman Annex.