Enjoyable Issues To Do In Key West With Children

I 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 Girl.

There’s a lot to do in Key West that you may spend greater than someday and have a good time. Listed here are among the finest issues to do in Key West with children, whether or not you might be 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. For those who don’t have a flight possibility proper into the Key West airport, Miami is a few 3 ½ hour drive and Fort Lauderdale is a few 4 hour drive. Our cruise left and returned to the Miami cruise port.

There are many choices for getting across the island. If you’re arriving by way of cruise ship, as we did, you’ll discover a couple of kiosks as you exit the ship. Golf cart leases are provided, as are hop-on hop-off trolley (Outdated City Trolley Excursions) tickets.

We handed these and headed to the Conch Tour Practice. I’d heard nice issues concerning the Conch Practice Tour and it appeared like a singular technique to journey to the most well-liked points of interest.

The Conch Tour Practice runs continuously and provides 4 stops alongside the 90-minute tour. We used the Conch Tour Practice extra as transportation to varied factors on the island relatively 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 probably love boarding the prepare as a result of it appears 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 are going to buy a two-day ticket.

Southernmost Level

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

Along with the mile marker, it’s additionally a stunning space on the waterfront as effectively with turquoise waters. For those who take the prepare, it’s a little bit of a stroll from one of many stops, so deliver snug strolling sneakers.

Ernest Hemingway Dwelling

After visiting the Southernmost Level, we determined to stroll a bit of additional to the Ernest Hemingway Dwelling and Museum. Whereas children could not know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, they may definitely love the 40-50 six-toed cats that make the home/museum their dwelling.

After I was there, it was money solely, so be sure you deliver some with you. Pay on the gate, and also you’ll be capable to enter the house and writing studio.

Guided excursions are provided at no further price on a set schedule. We had simply missed one and determined to skip it. You’ll be able to simply stroll by the home your self, studying the reveals. Children will probably take pleasure in seeing the entire cats situated all through the home and property. They’re lovable.

Reservations are usually not provided and also you’ll have to buy your tickets on the gate. They’re at the moment $18 for adults, $7 for youths 6-12, and free for youths 5 and underneath. Needless to say costs are topic to vary.

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters

Situated close to the Ernest Hemingway Dwelling and the Southernmost Level are the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters. This lighthouse initially opened in 1848 with a feminine keeper. Visitors can stroll up the 88 stairs to get a improbable view. When you are there, you can too 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 youths aged 4-12. Tickets will be bought prematurely for a small low cost.

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

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

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

The seaside is ideal for snorkeling, swimming, and fishing. Leases of umbrellas, lounge chairs, rafts, and snorkel tools are provided. You’ll be able to see the checklist of charges right here.

Along with the seaside, you can too 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 points of interest, 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 individual. 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 lovely seashores embrace Canine Seaside, Higgs Seaside, Relaxation Seaside, Simonton Road Seaside, Smathers Seaside, and South Seaside.

Smathers Seaside is likely one of 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 seaside, it could be a good suggestion to take a look at staying at a resort with a non-public seaside.

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 to 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.

Purchasing

As a cruise port, you’ll discover a number of purchasing choices on the island. As quickly as we walked off the ship, we noticed some shops – common 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 overlook to cease for some well-known key lime pie.

Key West Cruise Excursions

If you’re cruising to Key West, as we did, you’ll even have a number of tour choices to take. We opted to only get off the ship and take the Conch Practice round, however there are some selections provided by the cruise strains.

These will differ primarily based on the cruise line you might be 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 if you happen to’d favor to do one thing utterly completely different, you’ll have a number of choices.

Be aware: in case your cruise ship arrives at Key West from a international port, everybody must undergo US customs. On our ship, the Disney Magic, customs got here on board the ship. We have 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 in your cruise, be ready for an early morning wake-up.

Inns 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 (be aware 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 At present. 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’ll be able to guide Key West actions right here. 

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