Key West’s vibe is a little edgy and un-restrained, so if that’s not your scene pick a different spot in Florida with a tamer atmosphere!
If you’re a National Park chaser like me, you might pass through Key West on your way to Dry Tortugas National Park! And if Dry Tortugas wasn’t on your initial Key West list, see if you can add it in! It’s an incredible place to visit. I’ve crafted a separate post with details on Dry Tortugas here. I hope you get a chance to visit this magnificent place and do some snorkeling!
Alright, let’s get to it! Let’s explore all the FUN, family-friendly things to do in Key West!
First off, I should warn you that prices in Key West are higher than in most places. So expect to spend more money on basic things and at restaurants and hotels.
To get to this iconic city you can fly into the Key West airport, drive down scenic Highway 1 or try out the Key West Express Ferry like we did! To my knowledge, the ferry only operates routes between Ft. Meyers —> Key West or Marco Island –> Key West. If you’re traveling to Key West from a different part of Florida the ferry might not be as convenient of an option.
Secondly, parking in Key West is an absolute nightmare. I would recommend parking your car at your hotel and renting a scooter or electric bike to get around the town. We opted to rent a scooter since parking spaces for scooters are FREE and plentiful around Duval Street and the historic district. We rented from Papa Scooters and they both delivered it and picked it up after we were done with it. $50 for 24 hrs –and it saved us a lot of walking and time! Extra bonus: it made my husband SUPER happy 🙂
Alright now that you’ve made it to Key West and you have a plan on how to get around, what should you make sure to see? Glad you asked! I’ve sorted out the activities by category so scroll down and find out what best suits your family’s interests!
Beach & Nature Recommendations:
Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory–$15 per person. This charming conservatory will wow you the minute you step into its tropical atmosphere. It has an incredibly diverse selection of butterfly species, larvae, birds, flamingos, and plants. If you’re looking for a unique place that’s out of the sun, add this to your list!
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park — $6 per vehicle. This state park has arguably the best sandy beach area on the island. Some shady trees to string up a hammock in, make this a really desirable place to spend the day.
Fort Jefferson on Garden Key (Dry Tortugas)— An 18th-century fort that was never fully completed. Visit it to learn about its rich military history and its complex modern immigration struggles. It’s an incredible place to snorkel, dive and stargaze! See my post on Dry Tortugas here.
Key West Kayak Eco-Tour: My husband surprised me with a fun guided kayak tour with Lazy Dog Adventures.
We spent a few hours meandering through the mangroves, learning all about the eco-system and its interesting wildlife. Our guide pointed out over 20 sharks, starfish, jellyfish, horseshoe crabs, iguanas and various birds along the two hour tour. It was absolutely incredible. If you like kayaking and wildlife at all, be sure to schedule a morning or afternoon tour with Lazy Dog!
Guided Kayak Tour: Lazy Dog Adventures–$55 per person for a 2 hr tour
Guided Paddleboard Tour: Lazy Dog Adventures–$55 per person for a 2 hr tour
Culture/Historic Sites:
I’m not sure there’s anything cooler than seeing a former president’s temporary home, a famous writer’s six-toed cats, or ancient Spanish riches that were once trapped at the bottom of the sea. I leave it up to you to decide which one (or all!) you venture to! Here are some of the details of each of those options:
Truman’s Little White House–$23 for regular entry. Truman suffered a heart attack in 1946 and his doctor ordered him to head to a warm climate to recover. This house was located on the Navy base, which made it a secure location for him to live and conduct his presidential affairs in. Many important decisions were made inside the white clad walls of this home–including how the US needed to respond to the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe after WWII and various Civil Rights issues. Not easy decisions to make, but Truman’s famous sign “The Buck Stops Here” still sits on his desk as a reminder to visitors that doing the right thing is always what’s most important.
Ernest Hemingway House–$18 for entry. 9am-5pm every day of the year. **Note: ADMISSION IS CASH ONLY** See the place where the Nobel Prize-winning author and his wife Pauline resided for many years. Catch a glimpse of the pool that took “every last penny he had” or one of his famous six-toed cat’s descendants.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum–$17.50 for entry. Open daily 10am-5pm. If viewing sunken treasure is your thing, then go check out some Spanish riches that hit the ocean floor in a hurricane in 1622. In July of 1985, diver Mel Fisher discovered the treasure including an emerald crystal worth $225,000.
Key West Lighthouse Museum and Keepers Quarters: $17 for entry (or $15.50 if you purchase it online). Open daily 10am-5pm and if you’re needing a good spot to catch the sunset–this is your place! This unique sunset spot does come with a heavy price tag though and you will have to book it ahead of time for your party.
Custom House–$15– Open daily 10am-5pm. Step into a former Navy office building that housed reconnaissance airplanes used to spy on Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Now preserved by the Key West Art & Historical Society it contains art pieces and photographs detailing Key West’s colorful history.
The Southern-Most Point Marker: Go get that iconic Instagram photo! 😉 You’ll find the famous red, black, and yellow buoy at 1400 Whitehead Street. If you’re having trouble finding it–look for the line of selfie-takers (although I have to say I waited for one too!)
Food Recommendations:
Best Place for Key Lime Pie: Key West is home to some amazing culinary delights—including Key Lime Pie. If you’re ready to try a slice of this famous pie, I recommend heading directly to it’s birthplace: The Key Lime Pie Bakery. Try an original slice, or one topped with coconut! If you want a cooler treat on a hot day, go for the chocolate-covered “Key Lime Pie On A Stick”.
Throughout Key West, you’ll find other Key Lime pie shops like Kermits Key Lime Shop & Southernmost Point Key Lime so try out a few to find your favorite!
Best Breakfast Spot: Banana Cafe offers an incredible breakfast to its tasters. Strawberry-Nutella Crepes and Seafood Stuffed Omelets make this a hard place to beat. We were the second ones in the door one morning and scored a nice window seat in this Parisian-themed cafe. Go for the crepes 😉
Best Cuban Lunch Spot: Alright, how about some authentic Cuban food? You’re also in the right spot! Ana’s Cuban Cafe for a great original Cuban sandwich. While we enjoyed a bite on the yellow-painted porch, I saw many locals on their lunch breaks coming and going from this little cafe—a good sign! Go where the locals go and check out Ana’s little cafe!
Best Seafood Lunch Spot: My vote for this category has to go to Eaton Street Seafood Market. As far as the building goes– it’s nothing glamorous, but the food is AMAZING. I had some incredible fish tacos and my husband loved his fish sandwich. This a great spot if you want a cheaper, quicker meal!
Best Seafood with a View: Gosh, I love seafood sooo much and Key West is packed with great places, but there’s one place that absolutely stole my heart: Seaside Cafe at the Mansion. This quaint, ocean side cafe is located on the quiet end of Duval Street next to the Southernmost House Hotel. Upon arriving, we were given the option to sit near the ocean or up on the veranda of the mansion. We opted for the veranda because the hostess told us there’s actually a better view up there! I think she was right (check out the photos for yourself).
I treated myself to my all-time favorite food–coconut shrimp and my husband enjoyed the wood-fired caprese. Both were delicious and honestly, this was THE BEST coconut shrimp that I’ve ever had! You won’t be disappointed!
Best Fancy Seafood Dinner: If you’re downtown in the Historic District looking for a good spot, I recommend Conch Republic Seafood Company. The view here isn’t as good (tables overlook the marina) but the food is fantastic! I devoured the bacon-wrapped, crab-stuffed shrimp and Chris ate every crumb of his fresh-caught snapper (the waiter said its the best thing on the menu!).
Best Coffee Spot: Last but not least, “where can you find the best coffee”? Coffee Plantation & Banana Cafe both have great selections but my favorite stop had to be the Cuban Coffee Queen. There are a few different locations around Key West, so do a little research to figure out which one is closest to you. **Special Note: they also had a great breakfast menu and smoothie options!
Key West is an amazing place that I hope you get to enjoy someday soon! Its sunshine, laid-back atmosphere, food, and FUN make it a great place to spend a long weekend.
**Special Note: My one warning when visiting Key West would be to not bring your children until they are older. As you probably have heard, the vibe around Key West is loose and free which means your kids could potentially be exposed to some activities that you’re not ok with.
If you do decide to head down to America’s southernmost point, I hope this guide is helpful in deciding what activities you should invest your time and money into. If you can only do one thing in Key West—go sample some great iconic pie! I promise you won’t regret it. 🙂
Quick Details:
How we got there: Key West Ferry Express–runs from Ft. Meyers & Marco Island to Key West daily.
Where we stayed: Best Western Hibiscus Motel
Scooter Rental: Papa Scooters