This comprehensive lead outlines 17 of the best things to do in Key West with kids. Having this number will guide you in keeping your children engaged during your time away while besides providing some entertainment to the parents .
Continue reading to find out more about all the offerings in Key West ! We ’ ve besides rounded up the best family resorts in Florida Keys is you ’ ve still to choose your accommodation, vitamin a well as recommending the best Florida Keys to visit with kids .
Key West Aquarium
It makes common sense that in an area like Key West, with a significant sealife presence, that there would be a ace aquarium to visit. The Key West Aquarium provides just that. It in the first place opened in 1935 but was closed just seven months later due to a hurricane that came through the sphere and wiped out the dragoon system. The aquarium didn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate reopen again until 1946 and has been a popular attraction ever since.
When visit, you will see a wide-eyed kind of marine life and can participate in the Touch Tank, which allows you to interact with :
- Sea Cucumbers
- Conchs
- Sea Stars
- Giant Hermit Crabs
- Slate Pencil Sea Urchins
- Horseshoe Crabs
With the number of different exhibits at the aquarium, every family extremity is bound to find an sphere of interest. A visit to see the ocean life housed there will entertain everyone in your group .
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Key West Aquarium on their official web site .
Dry Tortugas National Park
Hearing people talk about visiting the Dry Tortugas makes you think they are referring to some thirsty turtles. however, that is not the case. The Dry Tortugas is an sphere of small islands with some of the best beaches and historical artifacts in Key West .
When visiting the Dry Tortugas National Park, you can see Fort Jefferson, an old army post that once housed up to 1,000 soldiers. You can besides take advantage of the many nature activities available to visitors :
- Birding
- Snorkeling
- Camping
- Swimming
Dry Tortugas National Park is a fantastic opportunity to see Key West in its natural shape. When you visit, you can take in the built-in beauty of the area and the elements that make it such a singular destination .
If you ’ ra looking for things to do in Key West with kids, a day at Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park will provide non-stop entertainment and possibly even a learn opportunity or two .
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Dry Tortugas National Park on their official web site .
Southernmost Point
It is not often that you find yourself at the very bottom of the nation. however, in Key West, you can actually get your picture taken at the Southernmost Point of the United States. Standing next to a tall and vibrantly painted buoy, you can show all your friends and family that you made it to the border of the nation !
Located precisely 90 miles from Cuba, the Southernmost Point is a democratic attraction. many tourists flock to the designated spot for photograph opportunities and bragging rights. Often, the agate line for photograph has already begun at dawn and continues to get long as the day goes on .
The Southernmost Point is located within a residential vicinity and is not part of the cardinal sphere. Therefore, do not get confused if you find yourself navigate directions that take you past houses and side streets .
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Southernmost Point on the State of Florida official web site .
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
There is something about being surrounded by butterflies and nature that makes all of your tension melt off. key West provides an excellent opportunity for this at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory .
The Conservatory is a beautiful haven that has a large diverseness of native plants and flowers. You will be taken aback by the beauty surrounding you and the flicker butterflies overhead when you walk in. If you want a fink peek of what to expect, the Conservatory ’ s official web site has a know cam where you can see one of the fantastic scenes that the organization provides .
Are you looking for an extra unique experience when it comes to things to do in Key West with kids ? You can besides mingle with the Conservatory ’ s nonmigratory flamingo, which they refer to as the “ Flamingle. ” So as not to overwhelm the guests of honor ( known as Rhett and Scarlett ), groups are limited to six people and merely between the hours of 4:30 and 5:45 PM casual .
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory on their official web site .
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
In talking about the southernmost places, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is the southernmost state park within the United States. not only is it massive by that standard, but it is besides the site of many diachronic civil war activities that took place in the past .
Although Fort Zachary Taylor ( named for the President who died soon before structure ) didn ’ thymine see much violence during the war, they had their part in helping to keep issues at alcove. nowadays, visitors can visit the fort to learn the history of when it was in use .
In addition to the garrison, there are other activities to enjoy in the state park :
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Hut Rentals
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Bird Watching
- Sailing
Be sure to plan for an ample amount of clock when visiting the fortress. With so many activities, you will easily spend an integral day participating in all it has to offer .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Fort Zachary Taylor State Park on their official web site .
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
Want to learn more about the sea life in the Florida Keys ? A visit to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center will tell you everything about the different fish and plants that reside in the surrounding bodies of water and the challenges that present due to environmental conditions .
many visitors walk off from their time at the Eco-Discovery Center with a new perspective on what goes on daily within the world ’ second ecology and environment and what needs to be done to ensure the survival of the pisces, mammals, and plants that call it home plate .
Everyone in your travel party will appreciate this fantastic experience due to its unique determination and the many exhibits to explore. Although learning international relations and security network ’ triiodothyronine typically acme of mind during vacation, mixing fun and education is quite simple and enjoyable with a visit to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center on their official web site .
Mallory Square
The central hub of Key West is known as Mallory Square. This area has a wide diverseness of options for shopping, boom, and entertainment. not only can you grab a sting to eat or pick up a memento, but you besides have easily access to a majority of the area ’ s hotels and rentals .
Those in Key West celebrate the area arsenic frequently as they can. The celebrations include a nightly Sunset Celebration. Two hours before sunset, residents and tourists flock to Mallory Square to listen to live music, consume dependable food, and celebrate the fantastic sunsets that the area offers .
The restaurants in Mallory Square offer something for everyone. During your inflict to the square, you can partake in cuisine such as :
- Seafood
- Mexican
- Ice Cream
- Fritters
- Cuban
- Italian
- Pizza
- Barbecue
In summation, you can find several pubs and bars to stop into for a quick beverage or to get out of the hotness .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Mallory Square on its official web site .
The Overseas Highway
Known as the “ highway that goes to sea, ” The Overseas Highway does equitable that. Going from Key Largo down to Key West, it utilizes 113 miles of roadway and 42 bridges .
Taking a force down the entire highway will provide you and your family with a look at the Keys area and give breathless views and a glimpse into the tropical coral and limestone islets that reside along the road .
In accession to the beautiful drive, there are plenty of opportunities to pull off to the slope of the highway for far exploration. many road stops have trails and literature describing the history and importance of the different areas, allowing you to experience first hand while learning the setting of what lead to the situation .
Find Out More
You can learn more about The Overseas Highway on its official web site .
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum
As a national memorial to those killed in action during World War II and the Vietnam War, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum offers a look into the period with an up-close and personal look at the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham.
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During your visit, you can tour the ship and all the components that made it run during its time of consumption. Among the different areas to explore, you have access to watch :
- The Gun Turret
- Handling Room
- Auxiliary Machine Room
- Engine Room
- Mess Deck
- Bridge
- Radio Room
- Captain’s Cabin
- Captain’s Stateroom
- Ward Room
You and your family will enjoy the insider opinion you get at this historical maritime museum. You all will talk about the memories you make for years !
Find Out More
You can learn more about the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum on its official web site .
Key West Garden Club
What may come across as a beautiful outdoor garden with every flower and corner conceivable is actually a historical site. The Key West Garden Club once operated as a fortress but was by and by declared a historic site and made into a beautiful garden for everyone in the area to enjoy .
The space that occupies the Garden Club is huge. There are areas throughout the fort with unlike styles of plants and flowers. Some of the varieties include :
- Fragrant
- Croton
- Cactus/Succulent
- Roses
- Orchid
- Lilies
- Bromeliads
- Butterfly Garden
- Fruit Trees
- Spice Trees
- Palms
- Xeriscapes
- Bonsai
- Natives
- Prehistoric
You could wander the Garden Club for hours and placid not see it all. If you are looking for a break from the beach and water, this is a fantastic opportunity that you and your family won ’ t want to miss .
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Key West Garden Club on its official web site .
Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum
Whereas the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum offers a expect into the nautical inheritance with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum provides a glimpse into the naval history of Florida and the Caribbean .
Outside of learning about Maritime archeology and the conservation efforts being put in space, you can besides learn about specific areas and situations of the region through extra exhibits. Some of those offered include :
- The Mariana, a Cuban Chug that Traveled from Cuba to Key West
- Cuban Rafters and Immigration to the United States
- Mel Fisher and the Atocha
- The 1622 Fleet
- Spanish Coins from the Golden Galleons
- The Search for the Atocha
- The Science of Shipwrecks
- Piracy in the New World
- The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie
- The Last Slave Ships
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum on its official web site .
Sheriff’s Animal Farm
Have you ever heard of a pet menagerie at a sheriff ’ mho office ? Well, that is what you will find at Sheriff ’ s Animal Farm. The grow has a bang-up report, in that it started as a dispossessed animal protection when the department rescued some ducks and chickens who were taking up residence at a local golf course and being killed by cars on the road nearby .
soon after, the SPCA asked if they had room for an abandoned blind cavalry. Following that, the animal grow continued to acquire a variety of pets, including :
- Miniature Horses
- Steer
- Chicken
- Pigs
- Goats
- Rabbits
- Kinkajou
- Alpacas
- Albino Python
- Peacocks
- Tropical Birds
- Mo the Sloth
- Kelsey the Lemur
today, the farm is operated by full-time employees a well as local inmates. The inmates gain have in farming and animal worry that they can use in the future. The farm is an excellent option for your trip to Key West .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Sheriff Animal Farm on its official web site .
Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
There is a fascination that people have with shipwrecks. Learning the history of the ships, the people on display panel and the reclaim artifacts is an experience that people crave. The mystery of the events and the astonishment of what took station brings people in .
You and your kin can have this experience at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum. A museum entirely devoted to shipwrecks and items recovered from them allows people an at heart attend at biography on the ship and what took identify .
When you enter the museum place, you will see replica of some of the ships featured. additionally, there will be costumed narrators representing the period of the wrecks and explaining the stories of the people onboard .
If you ’ re specifically searching for things to do in Key West with kids, this singular experience will captivate the attention of everyone in your class. Visiting the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum is an opportunity that you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate want to miss !
Find Out More
You can learn more about Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum on its official web site .
Climb the Key West Lighthouse
once the United States Navy established a base in Key West, they realized a need for a beacon. To properly monitor the events taking home and provide security for the area, it was necessary to erect a beacon .
From that realization came the Key West Lighthouse. During those times, a custodian would be appointed to run and care for the beacon, and they would have their living quarters within or near the establishment .
As the beacon was late deemed unnecessary due to technical advances, the city closed down the build. today, visitors can tour the beacon and the custodian ’ s quarters to see what life was like when it was in practice. People can besides climb the 88 steps to the circus tent to get a birds-eye horizon of the city and the water surrounding it .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Key West Lighthouse on its official web site .
Ride on the Key West Conch Tour Train
A alone way to see all that Key West offers is on their Key West Conch Tour Train. Although not shaped like a conch, this train takes tourists around the area to all the top destinations in Key West .
The alfresco streetcar prepare gets its name from the conch husk, which has historic significance to the region. once on the prepare, you can visit the surveil destinations :
- Mallory Square
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
- Key West Aquarium
- Harry S. Truman Little White House
- Sails to Rails Museum
- Cayo Hueso y Habana Historeum
- Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry
- Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
- Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
- Mel Fisher’s Maritime Heritage Museum
- Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden
- Audubon House and Gardens
- Key West Art and Historical Society
- Key West Lighthouse Museum
- East Martello Fort and Museum
- Key West Garden Club
- Oldest House Museum
- Nancy’s Secret Garden
- Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
- Pride of Key West Glassbottom Boat
- Fury Catamarans
Find Out More
You can learn more about Key West Conch Tour Train on its official web site .
The Turtle Hospital
With a mission to treat, educate, and release, The Turtle Hospital works to make healthy environments for the many types of turtles in the Key West area. When an hurt or ghastly turtleneck comes to the hospital, they are housed and cared for until they can safely rehabilitate back into the water system .
While the turtles are under the hospital ’ randomness concern, the administration allows for educational tours to educate the public on the effects of urine befoulment and dangerous beaches and help guide legislation in its privilege .
While vacationing in Key West, it is worth it to arrange a visit to the Turtle Hospital. Seeing the different species and learning about their stories is one thing, but understanding the vital cultivate behind the hospital and the efforts put in place is inspiring deoxyadenosine monophosphate well .
Find Out More
You can learn more about Turtle Hospital on its official web site .
Fury Water Adventure
Fury Water Adventure is your target if you are looking to take on any water activity known to man. not only that, but they offer an ocean water park ! You can choose to participate in one or two activities or make an entire day out of it with meals included .
Some of the activities offered at Fury Water Adventure include :
- Snorkeling
- Parasailing
- Private Charters
- Eco-Tours
- Dolphin Watches
- Sailing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Jet Skiing
- Bike Rentals
- Golf Cart Rentals
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour
You can bundle options or choose them individually. There are activities for everyone, so cipher in your family will feel left out. Select an choice for everyone and have a smash on the urine !
Find Out More
You can learn more about Fury Water Adventure on its official web site.
Conclusion
An island among islands within the beautiful state of Florida, Key West has made a name for itself with its tropical conditions, gorgeous landscape, and big activities. Taking a vacation to the southernmost city in the United States will provide your kin with unforgettable memories that will last a life .
Although parents often worry that there are few activities available for young children in Key West, that is not the encase. The city offers a variety of options for all ages. With many museums, conservatories, entertainment, water sports, and national parks, cipher in your change of location party will experience a infinitesimal of boredom .
Book your tickets and plan your travel guidebook ; Key West is awaiting !
