Enjoyable Issues To Do In Key West With Children

I really like visiting Florida, particularly the Florida seashores. However, up till lately, I by no means had the chance to journey to the Florida Keys.

On my first voyage on the Disney Magic, I used to be thrilled to see that Key West was our final port of name on the four-day journey. Then, a number of years later, I traveled to Key West on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Woman.

There’s a lot to do in Key West that you could possibly spend greater than at some point and have a good time. Listed here are among the greatest issues to do in Key West with youngsters, whether or not you’re visiting for simply the day, or an extended household trip.

Issues to do in Key West with Children

Key West is an island accessible by a bridge that’s the southernmost metropolis within the continental United States. It’s 4 miles by about one-two miles and is served by an airport in addition to a number of cruise ports.

The island is surrounded by each the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Of Mexico. In the event you don’t have a flight choice proper into the Key West airport, Miami is a couple of 3 ½ hour drive and Fort Lauderdale is a couple of 4 hour drive. Our cruise left and returned to the Miami cruise port.

There are many choices for getting across the island. In case you are arriving through cruise ship, as we did, you’ll discover just a few kiosks as you exit the ship. Golf cart leases are provided, as are hop-on hop-off trolley (Previous City Trolley Excursions) tickets.

We handed these and headed to the Conch Tour Prepare. I’d heard nice issues in regards to the Conch Prepare Tour and it appeared like a singular option to journey to the preferred sights.

The Conch Tour Prepare runs always and provides 4 stops alongside the 90-minute tour. We used the Conch Tour Prepare extra as transportation to varied factors on the island somewhat than a straight tour.

Regardless of that, we nonetheless acquired fairly a little bit of fascinating island historical past and data throughout our trip from our tour information. Children will possible love boarding the prepare as a result of it seems to be extra like an amusement park trip and fewer like a sensible type of transportation.

Tickets begin at $42.84 and embrace a ticket to the Sails to Rails Museum. It can save you by buying on-line. You’ll get a reduction on a second day on the prepare if you buy a two-day ticket.

Southernmost Level

Arguably the preferred photograph alternative, the Southernmost Level marker is a must-see and among the finest issues to do in Key West. Go early, as a result of a line types as vacationers wish to take their photograph by the marker. It’s a preferred spot.

Along with the mile marker, it’s additionally a beautiful space on the waterfront as nicely with turquoise waters. In the event you take the prepare, it’s a little bit of a stroll from one of many stops, so carry comfy strolling sneakers.

Ernest Hemingway Residence

After visiting the Southernmost Level, we determined to stroll a little bit additional to the Ernest Hemingway Residence and Museum. Whereas youngsters could not know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, they’ll actually love the 40-50 six-toed cats that make the home/museum their house.

Once I was there, it was money solely, so you should definitely carry some with you. Pay on the gate, and also you’ll be capable of enter the house and writing studio.

Guided excursions are provided at no extra value on a set schedule. We had simply missed one and determined to skip it. You possibly can simply stroll by way of the home your self, studying the reveals. Children will possible get pleasure from seeing all the cats situated all through the home and property. They’re cute.

Reservations are usually not provided and also you’ll have to buy your tickets on the gate. They’re presently $18 for adults, $7 for teenagers 6-12, and free for teenagers 5 and below. Remember that costs are topic to alter.

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters

Situated close to the Ernest Hemingway Residence and the Southernmost Level are the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters. This lighthouse initially opened in 1848 with a feminine keeper. Company can stroll up the 88 stairs to get a incredible view. When you are there, you can even see reveals that showcase life as a keeper.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Situated on Duval Road is the Butterfly Conservatory, the place you possibly can observe and study butterflies. Admission is $17.50 for adults and $12.50 for teenagers aged 4-12. Tickets could be bought upfront for a small low cost.

As you arrive on the conservatory, you’ll be capable of see a brief film about butterflies. Then, you possibly can stroll by way of the conservatory to see butterflies and birds – over 50 completely different species of them! Children will get pleasure from seeing them, and because it’s on Duval Road, it’s a handy location for outlets, Key West eating places, and different sights.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park provides a seashore in addition to excursions of the historic, Civil Struggle Fort. It’s on 54 acres and is a superb location for a household seashore day.

The seashore is ideal for snorkeling, swimming, and fishing. Leases of umbrellas, lounge chairs, rafts, and snorkel gear are provided. You possibly can see the checklist of charges right here.

Along with the seashore, you can even take a guided tour of the fort.

Key West Aquarium

Situated proper by the port is the Key West Aquarium, a public aquarium. The aquarium is inside strolling distance of Duval Road and different sights, so you possibly can mix your go to to the aquarium with different issues to do in Key West.

On the aquarium, you’ll discover a number of interactive reveals, together with contact tanks, a shark exhibit, an alligator exhibit, a jellyfish exhibit, and sea turtles.

Tickets can be found each on-line and in particular person. You’ll get a slight low cost by buying on-line. There are additionally combo tickets provided that embrace a go to to the aquarium with a go to to the Shipwreck Treasure Museum.

Public Seashores

Along with the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, there are different public Florida seashores in Key West. These stunning seashores embrace Canine Seaside, Higgs Seaside, Relaxation Seaside, Simonton Road Seaside, Smathers Seaside, and South Seaside.

Smathers Seaside is among the largest and hottest. It provides restrooms and bathe amenities, in addition to free parking and volleyball courts.

Along with these public seashores, most of the resorts on Key West have personal beachfront entry. If you wish to spend a lot of your trip time on the seashore, it could be a good suggestion to take a look at staying at a resort with a personal seashore.

Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park

Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park is situated about 70 miles west of Key West. Seven small islands comprise the Dry Tortugas in addition to the Nationwide Park, however the spotlight is Fort Jefferson. Along with exploring the Fort, there are many issues to do, together with snorkeling, swimming, touring, geocaching, and boating.

You received’t be capable of entry the Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park, however there are a number of completely different choices to get there. These embrace the Dry Tortugas ferry, personal boat charters, and seaplanes.

Buying

As a cruise port, you’ll discover numerous procuring choices on the island. As quickly as we walked off the ship, we noticed some shops – standard cruise port chains like Cariloha and Del Sol, in addition to unbiased reward retailers and boutiques.

Alongside the bustling Duval Road, nestled among the many bars and eating places, you’ll discover bigger chains like a Banana Republic Outlet Retailer and Coach. There’s additionally Mallory Sq., which provides retailers like Life is Good, Ron Jon Surf Store, Crocs, Diamonds Worldwide, and Shell Warehouse. Don’t neglect to cease for some well-known key lime pie.

Key West Cruise Excursions

In case you are cruising to Key West, as we did, you’ll even have a number of tour choices to take. We opted to simply get off the ship and take the Conch Prepare round, however there are some decisions provided by way of the cruise traces.

These will differ primarily based on the cruise line you’re on however could embrace the next: glass-bottom boat excursions, bike excursions, catamaran sails, snorkel excursions, dolphin watches, water sports activities, and snuba journeys. We did have an incredible day simply exploring on our personal, however in the event you’d favor to do one thing utterly completely different, you’ll have numerous choices.

Be aware: in case your cruise ship arrives at Key West from a overseas port, everybody should undergo US customs. On our ship, the Disney Magic, customs got here on board the ship. We had been all given time to go to the theater with our passports – primarily based on the deck our room was on. This all occurred fairly early within the morning (our time was at 7:15 am). If that’s the case on your cruise, be ready for an early morning wake-up.

Motels in Key West

Planning on staying in Key West? There are many inns for households, together with many with beachfront entry. Listed here are some choices (notice that we haven’t stayed at these, as a result of we solely visited for the day:

Key West Eating places

There are such a lot of fabulous and scrumptious Key West restaurant choices, together with chain eating places just like the Onerous Rock Cafe, in addition to unbiased eating places.

Throughout our day in Key West, we determined to eat at Sloppy Joes, an off-the-cuff restaurant with stay leisure and scrumptious bar meals. Different choices embrace:

• Sarabeth’s Keywest
• Caroline’s
• Garbo’s Grill

When reserving a Disney Cruise, I like to recommend reserving with Get Away Right now. Plus, once you point out Household Journey Journal, you get an additional $25 on board credit score! Give their brokers a name at 877-510-2929.

You possibly can e book Key West actions right here. 

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