Daily Daydream: An American Tropical Park

Peanut Island was once a potential Presidential home—during the Cold War, John F. Kennedy had a top-secret bomb shelter built here. You can visit the camouflaged hideaway, nicknamed the Detachment Hotel, on a guided tour.

The island is more famous, however, for its snorkeling. There is a special guarded snorkeling lagoon, which is filled with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream twice a day during incoming tide. Take advantage of the floating swim platform and observe the reef and active marine life! The floating docks also attract lots of day-trip boaters who come to socialize and party.

Peanut Island was originally intended to be a terminal for shipping peanut oil, and although that never happened, the name stuck.

Where Is it? Just east of Riviera Beach, Florida. Fly to West Palm Beach Airport (check prices).

Where to Stay? You can camp on the island, but if you prefer not to rough it, the Sailfish Marina Resort is just a short boat ride away.

What Else Should I Know?: A round-the-island race is held on New Year’s Eve, where runners compete to see how many laps around Peanut Island they can run in a fixed amount of time

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Who’s it For?: Snorkelers, boaters, and campers.

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(Photo: Flickr/luvjnx)