(This article by Colorado-based writer Judy Christie originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

If some traveling companions want unspoiled beaches and snorkeling and others prefer museums and history, Florida might just make everyone happy. And perhaps no place combines the two more dramatically than the remote Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West, with its magnificent 19th-century Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, astonishing coral reefs, and a vast assortment of bird life.

“The area’s just gorgeous. It’s there to preserve nature,” said Florida native Angela Masciulli, both the spouse and daughter of Air Force retirees and owner of Beautiful Tomorrow Travel. “And there’s so much military history there.”

The 100-square-mile park is mostly open water, with seven small islands, and is accessible only by boat or seaplane, which makes trip planning essential.

Garden Key, the second-largest island in the Dry Tortugas at about 14 acres, houses park headquarters, a visitor center, and campgrounds and offers swimming and snorkeling areas. Bush Key closes every year from February to September so that sooty terns and brown noddies can breed there undisturbed.

To get to Dry Tortugas, consider booking a ride on the Yankee Freedom, which travels to the park year-round on a trip that takes a little more than two hours. The ferry might sell out, so make your reservations ahead of time. More fun: Included will be the option of a 40-minute guided tour of the fort led by an expert naturalist.

Beach lovers, be prepared. You can experience all sorts of beach activities nearby, including dry camping. Yes, that means bring your own water. The park recommends two gallons of water per person per day, and bring an extra day’s supply of food and water in case of ferry cancellations. Bring food items in hard-sided containers for protection from rats and crabs.

Whatever your schedule, be sure to allow time to explore the fort, one of the nation’s largest 19th century forts and a central cultural feature of Dry Tortugas National Park. Built to protect one of the most strategic deepwater anchorages in North America, the fort’s design is a work of art. Casemates, or gunrooms, form the backbone where large cannons could fire through special openings.

Then there are the massive guns. The fort featured some of the largest and most advanced weapons of its age, and its largest guns weighed 25 tons a piece. With a crew of seven men, they could fire a 432-pound projectile a distance of 3 miles. Several original guns remain on top of the fort’s walls, well worth a look.

As you wander, imagine life here during the hectic 1860s when up to 2,000 people — including soldiers, prisoners, women, and children — lived within this remote city on the sea. Also crowded onto the island were long walkways flanked by lush trees, impressive brick buildings, large wooden storehouses, and numerous tents.

If you hanker to stick a toe in sparkling water not as far south, consider Fort Pierce Inlet State Park on the Treasure Coast, where coastal waters provide an abundance of recreational opportunities.

“That part of Florida is a lot less developed and congested,” said Lt. Col. George Wright, USA (Ret).

Wright has visited the Fort Pierce area often through the years and recently vacationed further north on Amelia Island. He finds the beaches a great stress reliever for those with busy city lives.

“They’re lovely. They’re wonderful ... . It was very nice for our family to unplug,” he said.

At the Fort Pierce park, a half-mile beach offers swimming, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, beachcombing, picnicking, or just relaxing on the sand. Dynamite Point, once the training site for World War II Navy Frogmen combat divers, is now a haven for birdwatchers, and the inlet is a popular fishing spot. Jack Island Preserve, a mile north of the park, has trails for hiking, bicycling, and nature study.

While you’re in the area, consider a stop at the popular National Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors.

Starting with a collection of artifacts donated from attics and old trunks, the Navy SEAL Museum now displays vehicles, vessels, tactical equipment, and weaponry from the earliest days of Naval Special Warfare to today’s multifaceted global operators and headline conflicts.

For more beach time, Masciulli recommends one of her favorites, the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Florida, from where you might see an unobstructed rocket launch or a nesting sea turtle.

“It’s an absolutely gorgeous area,” she said.

Wherever you go, Masciulli, who organizes travel for military and veteran families, reminds you to ask for discounts, which can be substantial.

“I look for those myself,” she said.

And enjoy the slower pace of being on vacation. As Wright said, “There’s a certain amount of learning that comes with travel, a certain amount of freedom.”

Military Site: The Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West was constructed in 1890 as naval officer housing and has had numerous brushes with military history, including housing Thomas Edison in World War I while he worked on depth charge research for the U.S. Navy.