What to Do When Visiting Key West with Kids
Exploring Key West with kids offers the perfect blend of education, adventure, and relaxation, ensuring a memorable family vacation. From visiting the Key West Aquarium to strolling along Duval Street, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this vibrant island paradise. Here are the top 10 things to do when visiting Key West as a family!
Ten Things Not to Miss When Visiting Key West with Kids
1. Visit the Key West Aquarium
Situated in the heart of Key West’s historic district, the Key West Aquarium offers a hands-on experience for kids to learn about marine life native to the Florida Keys. The aquarium is the ideal place to witness a diverse array of sea creatures in their natural habitat, while knowledgeable guides offer insights into the fascinating underwater world of the Florida Keys.
Located in the heart of Mallory Square, the aquarium offers hands-on exhibits like petting stingrays to encountering sharks up close. As Florida’s oldest aquarium, this historic landmark has been providing interactive exhibits that engage and educate visitors of all ages since 1934!
2. Explore the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Step into a tropical oasis at the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, where families can wander through lush gardens filled with thousands of butterflies from around the world. Colorful wings flutter overhead giving kids of all ages the chance to observe the butterflies and exotic birds from finches to flamingos while learning about their habitats.
Tip: The conservatory is located on the opposite end of the island from the aquarium, both on Whitehead Street.
3. Climb to the Very Top of Key West at the Lighthouse Museum
The Key West Lighthouse Museum, originally erected in 1825, stands as a testament to the city’s rich maritime history. Though it is no longer a working lighthouse, the museum preserves the legacy of Key West’s seafaring past. Families visiting the museum can climb to the top of the lighthouse, enjoying panoramic views of the island and its surrounding turquoise-blue waters.
4. Stand at the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.
The Southernmost Point buoy statue is an iconic landmark in Key West, drawing visitors from around the globe for a quintessential photo opportunity. Waiting in line to pose with the buoy, which marks the southernmost point of the continental United States, is a must-do activity when visiting Key West with kids! If you have just one day to spend on the island, don’t miss this renowned symbol of Key West.
5. Step Back in Time at the Key West Shipwreck Museum
Travel to the time of pirates at the Key West Shipwreck Museum, where interactive exhibits and live performances bring the island’s maritime history to life. Families can climb to the top of the lookout tower for panoramic views of the harbor, participate in hands-on activities like treasure hunting, and learn about the daring salvagers who risked it all to recover sunken treasure from the depths.
Tip: The Shipwreck Museum is also on Whitehead Street, just one block from the aquarium. If you are hungry for the best conch fritters in town after visiting the museum, walk two blocks to the Conch Shack. Also offering Main lobster rolls and shrimp baskets, this is a spot we make sure to visit every time we’re in Key West!
6. Take a Ride on the Conch Train
Hop aboard the Conch Train Tour, one of Key West’s oldest and most beloved attractions, for a guided journey through the island’s rich history and charming neighborhoods.
This 90-minute narrated tour takes families through historic Old Town and past landmarks like the Key West Lighthouse and the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum. The tour culminates in Mallory Square, where you can soak in the vibrant atmosphere and perhaps catch a famous Key West sunset.
7. Enjoy a Delicious Slice of Key Lime Pie
Whether you want frozen chocolate-covered Key Lime Pie on a stick, or out-of-this-world Key Lime with a mountain of meringue, Key West has it. This is not the place for restraint, visiting the Keys with kids is the best time to have over-the-top desserts with every meal!
Stop at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe by the marina for everything key lime. Of course there is the world-famous key lime pie, but they also have key lime cookies, salsa, & jams. Or get an almost-ostentatious slice of homemade Key Lime Pie at Blue Heaven. Not going to lie, this is how we started our morning and it was fantastic!
8. Shop and Stroll on Duval Street
Take a leisurely stroll (you’re on island time all the time in Key West!) along Duval Street, the iconic thoroughfare lined with colorful storefronts, lively bars, and eclectic eateries. Families can soak in the vibrant atmosphere, enjoy live music, and sample delicious seafood.
The shops range from touristy gift shops to eclectic items found nowhere else, making Duval Street the best way to become immersed in the island’s unique culture and charm.
9. Book a Boat Charter
The marina and historic waterfront in Key West offer every kind of charter or tour you can imagine. So if you are looking for a dolphin cruise, a family-friendly sunset sail on a sailboat, an epic fishing charter, or you want to go snorkeling in the Keys with the kids, the marina is the departure point.
10. Don't Miss the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
End your day in Key West at Mallory Square’s sunset celebration! Every evening, locals and visitors gather to witness the breathtaking sunset over Key West’s picturesque harbor. Enjoy live music, street performances, and the vibrant atmosphere as the sun dips below the horizon. Kids will enjoy the street performers and snacks available from fresh guacamole to popcorn and ice cream.
Tip: Most of the bars, vendors, and kiosks in Mallory Square only accept cash so it is good to have some handy.
These iconic places to see in Key West are all easily walkable, but if you have little ones it might be easier to see the highlights of the island (and more!) on the Key West hop-on hop-off trolley tour. The tour allows families to avoid the hassle of parking at each stop, and with 13 convenient stops at all of the various attractions the tour is designed for flexibility.
Plus with tickets valid for the entire day, visitors can enjoy the tour at their leisure, making it a convenient and stress-free way to experience Key West with kids. Other awesome cities that offer the same trolley tour include St. Augustine and Savannah, Georgia.
No matter which activity you choose, spending time in Key West as a family is sure to be a great way to make lasting memories.
More fun ideas for families in the Florida Keys:
Happy Travels!
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