Florida's Biscayne National Park encompasses 207 square miles, with 95 percent of this area taking in Biscayne Bay. The long string of Florida Keys begins just south of Miami and cuts through the bay. One small 32 acre island, Boca Chita Key, was once a private getaway for a Honeywell Corporation tycoon, Mark Honeywell, during the 1930s.
   Today the island is without power and freshwater and is part of the Biscayne National Park. Camping, a short hiking trail and picnicking are part of the attraction on this small key. Accessible only by boat, the highlight of an island stay is the 65 foot ornamental lighthouse. Made of coral rock, this sculpture lasted as a navigational beacon for less than a day. Built to guide the Honeywell family back to their island, the U.S. Coast Guard received no official request for this navigational aid, and quickly put an end to its tenure as a lighthouse. The Boca Chita Lighthouse has since been a wonderful landmark to the park area, as Honeywell had given up his plans for the land after a personal family tragedy.

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