Family vacations make memories that last a lifetime but after a while, you might be looking for someplace new and exciting to visit. Key West, Florida, is the place to give you and your family a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that blends the familiar with the unexpected. A jewel that sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it has a long and storied history dotted with pirates, literary legends, and adventure.
Outdoor Adventure
It’s easy to think of the beach when you think about the Florida Keys, and Key West offers several that are open to the public. Smathers and Higgs Beaches are easily accessible on the south side of Key West; Higgs Beach has a dog park if you like to travel with your pooch. Swimming is also possible at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, on the western side of the island.
For more dramatic swimming and snorkeling experiences for novices and pros alike, book a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. You’ll need to take the ferry to get there but once you arrive, it’s a wonderland of underwater magic. Explore coral reefs and long-sunken wrecks, go birdwatching or kayak around the smaller keys that make up this small chain. If you can, stick around for night snorkeling off the moat wall and catch a glimpse of the nocturnal sea life you’d otherwise miss.
Key West is known the world over for its abundant fishing, and booking a charter makes participation easy. The fishing charter takes care of all the fishing gear and licenses you’ll need; all you need to do is pack your sunscreen and lunch. Charters can be customized for half- and full-day trips, and you can specify the type of fishing you’d like to do. Try fishing off reefs or wrecks; head out for deep sea fishing or stay closer to shore with flats fishing.
For outdoor adventures without leaving land, check out the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Stroll the walk-through habitat and get an up-close view of butterflies and rare birds. Book in advance for special programs such as tours by twilight. At the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, take a leisurely walk among an expensive collection of naturally growing native trees, plants, and shrubs. Bring a picnic lunch so you can take your time.
Explore Old Key West
Throughout the city of Key West, there are places where you can still easily imagine what life must have been like 100 or 200 years ago. The open-air Conch Tour Train does a loop around Front Street, Truval Village, and Flagler Station while tour guides share a local’s view of the landmarks, famous people, and culture that makes Key West what it is today. Hop off and visit shops and galleries or grab a bite to eat before hopping back on at any of the three stops.
Challenge your kids to a climb up the 88 steps it takes to reach the top of the Key West Lighthouse at the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum, and picture yourself as a lighthouse keeper, knowing that the safety of nearby ships was up to you. Head back to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park for historical reenactments or walk the same trails Civil War era soldiers stationed at the fort used. Picnic and swimming areas are open to the public, as are walking and biking trails.
Tour the Key West home of American literary giant Ernest Heminway, who lived in the city almost a century ago. Now a museum, it’s gardens are nearly as legendary as the homeowner, and known for the beautiful trees and flowers that bloom. Inside the home, many family heirlooms are displayed, and you’re sure to see the famous 6-toed cats that live there, some of which are descended from Hemingway’s own cats.
Eat Well in Key West
Key West is a crossroads of flavor, with cuisine influenced by Southern American, Caribbean, French, Latin American, and Asian cooking, and of course, oriented around seafood. Book a food tour for the best opportunity to enjoy a variety of food, drinks, and desserts from well-known and up-and-coming establishments. Food tour guides share insight and engaging tales about city movers and shakers from the famous to the infamous.
If the walking around of a food tour isn’t your thing, adapt the idea for your family by choosing a different restaurant to dine in every night. Frasom the Victorian mansion that is Grand Cafe Key West to the seaside Southernmost Beach Cafe, you can create a culinary tour that best matches your family’s style. But you can’t miss the Eaton Street Seafood Market. Step inside for an amazing array of freshly caught seafood that you can take to go or have prepared on-site for al fresco dining; you can even enjoy the best of Key West at home with their online order service. Enjoy stone crab claws prepared at home any time of year and reminisce about your vacation in Key West.
It can be hard to find a vacation spot that isn’t like the places you’ve been before yet still feels accessible. Key West is practically in your backyard and a world away. From picture-perfect sunsets to striking culinary delights, cultural landmarks, and natural beauty, Key West has something for every family so you can make it a vacation to remember.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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