I spent $220 to take a ferry to a remote oasis near the Florida Keys. The ride had drawbacks but was well worth it.

On the morning of our trip, we made our way to the Key West ferry terminal, a big green building next to the dock.

The weather was very windy, and the seas were rough, so the ferry company offered something called an "option day." That is, if we decided not to go, we'd be offered a full refund.

However, we were determined to make the trip and took advantage of the $1 Dramamine tablets the agents were selling at the terminal to avoid motion sickness.

Boarding began at 7:30 a.m., and a tour guide from the ferry gave us some basic information about our trip, including the onboard food options, what islands we'd be passing on the way, and a little bit about the Dry Tortugas themselves.

The air-conditioned ferry was spacious, clean, and comfortable. It had two levels: the main indoor cabin and an upstairs cabin with a sundeck.

Inside, there were plenty of tables with cushioned seats. Seating wasn't reserved, and most tables sat eight people.

There was no WiFi on the ferry, and we lost cellphone service about 30 minutes into the 2.5-hour trip. However, the ferry played music, and a few videos about the Dry Tortugas were shown on the TVs.

The tour guide also talked throughout parts of the trip, giving information about the small islands we passed and the Dry Tortugas themselves, which was interesting.

There was a galley in the main cabin that served food and drinks.

Breakfast was included in the price of our ticket and served buffet-style. There were lots of options for both food and drinks, including bagels, cereal, yogurt, fruit, hot coffee, tea, and juice.

About halfway through the trip, the crew told all passengers to stay seated until it was safe to move about the cabin again. My husband and I felt fine, but unfortunately, a lot of people started to get seasick.

However, the crew members were fantastic. They were literally running to give people bags, ginger ale, and ice packs.

I even saw some staff members helping people walk to the restrooms because the ride was so bumpy at times. I could tell they really cared about their passengers and enjoyed their jobs, even on the worst days.

After a long ride, we finally docked in Dry Tortugas National Park around 10:30 a.m. The boat's tour guide offered a tour of Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century fort that's one of the park's highlights.

The tour was optional and included in the ticket price, but my husband and I decided to explore on our own.

We walked through the ground floor of Fort Jefferson, climbed to the top, and took in the amazing views.

We also walked along the Fort Jefferson moat and out onto the moat wall, surrounded by crystal blue waters.

After a long walk, we relaxed on one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen.

Other than a small visitor's center, there are no amenities on the island itself. So, the boat provided lunch, which included subs, chips, pretzels, veggies, cookies, and bottled drinks.

We had the option of taking our lunch outside for a picnic or dining on the boat — we chose the latter so we could cool off in the air conditioning.

The staff also opened the bar in the galley and sold wine, beer, and frozen cocktails. Additional food items, such as pizza, burgers, and hot dogs, were also available for purchase.

Even though we took the Yankee Freedom III on a rough seas day, the trip was so worth the $220 each. In addition to exploring Dry Tortugas National Park, we also got two meals and the benefit of a tour guide on board.

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in an off-the-beaten-path adventure to a beautiful, historic, and virtually undisturbed part of the country.