John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a Florida State Park, located in Key Largo in Florida. It includes approximately 70 nautical square miles (240 km²) of adjacent Atlantic Ocean waters. The park is approximately 25 miles in length and extends 3 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. It was the first underwater park in the United States. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The primary attractions of the park are the coral reefs (such as Molasses Reef) and their associated marine life.

This Key Largo destination welcomed over a million visitors back in 2004, a number that made it the most popular park in the Florida State Parks system ever—and for good reason: the coral reefs here are spectacular. You can peek at them while scuba diving, from a boat or when going snorkeling. Make sure to also catch a glimpse of the renowned "Christ of the Abyss," a 4,000-pound statue of Jesus Christ found underwater. And is one of the best secluded getaways from Miami.

Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, United States

Official site: www.floridastateparks.org

Phone: 305-451-6300

Entrance fee: $2-$8

Google rating: 4.4/5.0

Everglades National Park is an American national park that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River. Everglades is the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States after Death Valley and Yellowstone. UNESCO declared the Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and listed the park as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

It doesn't get much more isolated than this: 1.5 million acres of wetlands, where you'll find the largest tropical wilderness in the United States alongside hiking trails, tram tours, canoe trails and—brace for it—dark sky observation areas. The park is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America and contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. Thirty-six threatened or protected species inhabit the park, including the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee, along with 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles. And if you want to see the Milky Way in all of its glory, come to the Everglades when it's dark out.

Address: Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, Florida

Official site: http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Phone: 305-242-7700

Entrance fee: $10 per private vehicle

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Lion Country Safari is a drive-through safari park and walk-through amusement park located on over 600 acres in Loxahatchee (near West Palm Beach), in Palm Beach County, Florida. Founded in 1967, it claims to be the first 'cageless zoo' in the United States. In 2009, USA Travel Guide named Lion Country the 3rd best zoo in the nation. The original park in Florida consists of over 1,000 animals, throughout seven sections in the 4-mile preserve as well as the 33-acre Amusement Park.

Visitors who purchase a ticket enter the park in their own vehicle (no convertibles or soft top covers), driving slowly at their own pace, and view the animals while listening to a recorded narration on audiotape or CD. Many of the animals, such as giraffes, southern white rhinoceroses, and zebras, are allowed to roam freely throughout the preserve, even crossing the road in front of vehicles. Others, such as lions or chimpanzees, are segregated behind fences or water barriers. Visitors are warned to drive slowly and carefully, to avoid stopping too close to animals, and not to open their car doors or windows.

Address: 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee, FL 33470, United States

Official site: www.lioncountrysafari.com

Phone: 561-793-1084

Entrance fee: $37 for guests ages 10 to 64; $33 for ages 65 and older; and $28 for ages 3 to 9. Ages 2 and younger are free

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

The Ten Thousand Islands are a chain of islands and mangrove islets off the coast of southwest Florida, between Cape Romano (at the south end of Marco Island) and the mouth of the Lostmans River. Some of the islands are high spots on a submergent coastline. Others were produced by mangroves growing on oyster bars. Despite the name, the islets in the chain only number in the hundreds.

The chain of islands off the coast of southwest Florida will feel like a world away from Miami. Although almost all of the islands are currently uninhabited, visitors can take kayak trips or boat tours around the masses of land and gaze at dolphins swimming in the waters below. Some of the Ten Thousand Islands are suitable for overnight visits, as dictated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Since this is a wilderness area where wind, weather and lack of fresh water can become threatening, the Wildlife Service recommends only seasoned canoeists and sea kayakers attempt the trip. To sum up, this site is one of the best secluded getaways from Miami.

Address: 1401 County Rd 951, Marco Island, FL 34145, United States
Official site: visit1000islands.com
Phone: 239-298-4443
Entrance fee: $40 for adults. Children 5 to 12 are $20.
Google rating: 4.9/5.0

The Peace River (French: rivière de la Paix) is a 1,923-kilometre-long river in Canada that originates in Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in the Peace-Athabasca Delta to form the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Finlay River, the main headwater of the Peace River, is regarded as the ultimate source of the Mackenzie River. The combined Finlay–Peace–Slave–Mackenzie river system is the 13th longest river system in the world.

This is a popular destination among fossil hunters. What better way to spend some time alone than dig—quite literally—into the past and find some shark teeth? There are campgrounds to settle into and canoes to rent, plus airboat tours and real life alligators to, well, stay away from.

Address: 1239 East Main Street, Bartow, FL, 33830, US

Official site: www.peacerivercenter.org

Phone: N/A

Entrance fee: Seniors (65+): $15, Adults: $18, Students (6-17): $9, 5 and under: Free

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

This one's a cool one: the coastal city is known as the home of loads of Florida manatees. You absolutely must visit the animals at Three Sisters Springs and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, a protected habitat established back in 1983 over 80 acres. Crystal River is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1903 and is the self professed "Home of the Manatee". Crystal River is at the heart of the Nature Coast of Florida. The city is situated around Kings Bay, which is spring-fed, so it keeps a constant 72 °F (22 °C) temperature year round.

Kings Bay can be home to over 400 manatees during the winter when the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico cools, and is the only place in the United States where people can legally interact with them in their natural conditions without that interaction being viewed as harassment by law enforcement agencies. Tourism is based on watching and swimming with manatee is the fastest growing contribution to the local economy. In 2005 there was a movement to dissolve the city which did not succeed, and the city has since grown by annexation. Spend the rest of your day at the Crystal River Archaelogical State Park, where you'll gaze at the remains of an early human settlement. And Crystal River promises to be one of the best secluded getaways from Miami.

Address: 123 NW HWY 19 Crystal River, FL 34428

Official site: www.crystalriverfl.org

Phone: (352) 795-4216

Entrance fee: $7.5 - $20

Google rating: 5.0/5.0

Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. This remote part of the Florida Keys is accessible only by seaplanes and boats. There is no road that connects these islands to Key West. The park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area. Visitors are drawn to this spot by its fascinating history as well as its gorgeous beaches. The trip to the stark, yet stunning islands crosses incredibly clear waters where shipwrecks and sea life are usually visible.

You've got a whole lot of sightseeing to do here. You can travel to its remnants today in America’s most remote and least visited national park. Divers, snorkelers and nature lovers flock to the area for its coral formations, loggerhead turtles, French angel fish and many rare birds. With remarkable snorkeling, thousands of migratory birds, and endless ocean vistas, you will never forget the sense of wonder that comes from visiting a sight seen by only a lucky few.

Address: Florida, United States

Official site: www.drytortugas.com

Phone: 305-242-7700

Entrance fee: $15.00 per person

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, Marco Island offers access to both the Gulf of Mexico and the mangrove-lined estuaries of the Ten Thousand Islands. Marco Island's mood shifts from sophisticated resort area to historic and funky fishing village. Boating is a way of life here; many homes and rentals are on the water. Bring your appetite for seafood, which you can catch yourself or find at a local restaurant. For hidden gems, seek out the picturesque waterfront restaurants in the communities of Goodland and Isles of Capri. Visitors have their choice of beachfront resort hotels, vacation rental properties and more.

Marco Island, just a short ride from the Florida Everglades and close to Naples, is the largest and only developed land in Florida's Ten Thousand Islands. Come here for the sunset and stay for the beach, of which there is a ton. Lovers of golf will particularly like this destination, as will paddle-boarding and kayaking fiends, who will likely take up camp at Tigertail Beach Park. Truly encapsulating the essence of relaxation and ease, the island is where most Miami folks escape to when in need of a break from the hustle of the city. This Gulf Coast retreat offers luxury resorts, beautiful beaches and unspoiled parks. Marco Island's tropical climate and proximity to the ocean are huge lures.

Address: 50 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145

Official site: www.cityofmarcoisland.com

Phone: (239) 389-5000

Entrance fee: $8.00 Parking Fee

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge was established September 30, 1969. It is a coastal refuge bisected by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1000 acres. The 735 acre Jupiter Island tract provides some of the most productive sea turtle nesting habitat in the United States, and the 300 acre sand pine scrub mainland tract is valued because more than 90 percent of this community type has been lost to development in Florida. Sand pine scrub habitat is restricted only to Florida and an adjacent county in Alabama.

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge contains the largest contiguous section of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida and is considered one of the most productive sea turtle nesting areas in the Southeastern United States. The beautiful natural expanse is enough of a reason to visit this park but be sure to check out the wildlife when here as well. From seabirds to amphibians and reptiles, there are a whole lot of animals to meet at the local Visitor Center. Bonus points: sport fishing is allowed here, as long as you follow guidelines, of course.

Address: 13640 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, FL 33455, United States

Official site: www.fws.gov

Phone: 772-546-6141

Entrance fee: $5 per day

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Learn all things Japanese at this beautiful center in Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. Be sure to check out the Morikami Museum as well, but it's the Japanese Gardens that will likely take your breath away. Because this site is considered to be one of the best secluded getaways from Miami. The six gardens were established in 2001 and designed by Hoichi Kurisu as inspired by similar styles seen throughout Japanese history. Walk through them all and then, perhaps, consider planning a trip to Japan?

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a center for Japanese arts and culture located west of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The campus includes two museum buildings, the Roji-en Japanese Gardens: Garden of the Drops of Dew, a bonsai garden, library, gift shop, and a Japanese restaurant, called the Cornell Cafe, which has been featured on the Food Network and Vizcaya Television. Rotating exhibits are displayed in both buildings, and demonstrations, including tea ceremonies and classes, are held in the main building. Traditional Japanese festivals are celebrated several times a year.

Address: 4000 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach, FL 33446, United States

Official site: morikami.org

Phone: 561-495-0233

Entrance fee: Adults (18+): $15. Seniors (65+): $13. Children (6-17): $9.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0