Key West, FL was a place that I experienced for a day at a time years ago when Mary and I did a couple Caribbean cruises. Obviously this is a popular spot for the cruise ships to dock for the day. I love this quirky little island and always wanted to go back. So during Spring Break in 2018, we were looking for a warm destination to take the kids and decided Key West was going to be it after some research.
First thought was is this a “kid friendly” destination since it’s definitely a party town. The answer is an absolute YES. There is so much to do for families and children here and the weather is nearly perfect every single day.
- Fort Zachary Taylor State Park: Explore the historic Civil War fort and enjoy the beach, great for snorkeling.
- Key West Aquarium: See a variety of marine life.
- Hemingway House: Wander the grounds and try to spot the famous six-toed cats.
- Key West Butterfly Conservatory: Immerse yourself in a beautiful butterfly garden.
- Conch Train Tour: Take a guided tour of Key West on a fun “conch” train.
- Truman Waterfront: Cool off at the splash pad and playground.
- Higgs Beach: Relax on the beach with shallow water and playgrounds.
- Eco Discovery Center: Learn about the local ecosystem.
- Shipwreck Museum: Discover the history of shipwrecks in the area.
- Mallory Square Sunset Celebration: Watch a beautiful sunset with street performers.
- Bike riding: Explore the town on a bike.
- Snorkeling tours: Discover underwater reefs on a guided snorkeling trip.
We did many of these activities during our week there. Most days were spent enjoying Higgs Beach and the warm water. We definitely explored the Shipwreck Museum, Hemingway House, Fort Zachary Taylor, the Key West Lighthouse, Little White House, USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum, and of course every day ended with watching the street performers at Mallory Square during sunset (and for the record, I actually was pulled in to help one of the groups perform…ok…I held a rope to steady a ladder but that makes me an honorary Mallory Square street performer!)
The restaurants and the food there are amazing and if you’ve never had Key West Pink Shrimp, it’s worth that alone! Shout out to the Conch Republic Seafood Company (https://conchrepublicseafood.com) as I think we ate there several times and Mikey discovered his love for clams there as well.
So as the weather here in the NE United States is reaching sub freezing temps daily and you may need a tropical destination to warm up….definitely consider taking the family to Key West for a getaway. And don’t forget to bring me back a piece of Key Lime Pie!!
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