Private Boats Visiting Fort Jefferson

Three private boats visiting Fort Jefferson and Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas

 

 

 

 

 

From on top of Fort Jefferson we can see three private boats that are visiting Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

These are very fortunate people on those boats. Most people have to catch the Yankee Freedom II National Park Ferry in Key West to get here.

 

The Yankee Freedom II Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry with two private boats in background

 

 

 

Since Garden Key and Fort Jefferson are located in the Dry Tortugas 70-miles west of Key West the only way to get here is by boat or sea plane.

We opted for the "boat" option and took the Yankee Freedom II ferry from Key West to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.

The 70-mile ride each way on the Yankee Freedom II is a special treat itself.

It takes you past other islands in the Florida Keys chain of islands. However, these islands are not connected to the mainland by bridge. Once you leave Key West Harbor on the Yankee Freedom II you are heading into an area only accessible by boat or sea plane. Thirty miles from Key West the Yankee Freedom II takes you past the Marquesas Keys and thousands of lobster trap buoys and the boats working these lobster traps.

The Yankee Freedom II is the ferry service that transports visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park every day.

Some visitors arrive at Fort Jefferson by sea plane

 

 

 

While we were on Garden Key at Fort Jefferson another group of visitors arrived on this sea plane that is taxing to its designated anchorage.

These fortunate individuals are visiting Fort Jefferson on private boats

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is certainly a beautiful anchorage for these private vessels visiting Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

This is a nice trawler complete with dingy visiting Fort Jefferson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't this a beautiful anchorage in the middle of paradise?

 

 

Three private boats anchored out at Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas

 

 

These people are going to enjoy a beautiful sunset this afternoon.