It took me two attempts to go to Indian Key Historic State Park before I had success. The first time I tried to go to the park I did not realize it was accessible only by boat. The GPS kept trying to take me there but I could not find the road. Finally it dawned on me that the park was in the water. During that first trip I did not schedule time to go on a boat ride so I knew a second visit would have to be planned another time. I found out there was a ferry service offered to go to that park and a couple of more in that area. Months later when I returned to purchase my tour, I was told they did not offer that boat ride in the summer. What in the world was I going to do?
I had purchased a raft months before which was actually in the back seat of my car, intending to be used at another park. I was going to raft over to that park but chickened out. So I drove over to a place where the water was shallow and no one was around and I threw my raft in the water and off I went… in circles. First of all, I gained a few pounds since purchasing that raft so the damn thing was pouring in water when I got in, and second of all, I had no clue how to even row a raft or use an oar! What was I thinking?
I was shoving that stupid raft back in my car when Quin, my boyfriend, called. There was no way I was going to tell him the experience I just had. I did tell him that the tours were canceled and he suggested that I just rent a kayak and go for it. Easy for him to say, he loved being on the water. I had only been in a kayak twice before. Once with him and he did all of the paddling, and once with George where I paddled a little at the end. I had never been in a kayak alone.
Back to Robbie’s I went. I talked to the guy renting kayaks and he seemed pretty confident I could get over to Indian Key, which was a little over a mile away. I guess that’s all I needed to hear because the next thing I knew I was paying for a half day rental, in the kayak, and getting some basic instructions.
Off I went to Indian Key, battling some pretty strong winds the whole way there. In no time at all I had arrived, I did it! I parked the kayak, feeling so damn proud of myself. I really could not believe I just did that. WOW. I took off on foot around the key and followed the trail. I read the plaques and learned it was the first county seat in Dade county. I thought, Dade must have been pretty small to have an island as their county seat.
I made my way through town and then over to the observation tower. I climbed to the top and looked all around. I had a small snack and a drink and decided to walk the perimeter. I stopped all along my walk enjoying every view, from all the angles. What a great park. I just loved it there. It was definitely worth the experience and I am so happy I stepped out of my comfort zone and paddled my way over to it. Way better then the boat ride I bet.
Before you visit, make sure you check out the parks website for all of the up-to-date park information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/IndianKey
