best keys island for familys

[bex7583]

so after my previous post and the general suggestion that key west is very adult orientated which island is the most family friendly with also the best beaches?

wil still have to make the journey as far south as we can get but just a day trip rather than staying there

 

[Kath2003]

so after my previous post and the general suggestion that key west is very adult orientated which island is the most family friendly with also the best beaches?

wil still have to make the journey as far south as we can get but just a day trip rather than staying there

Avoid Key West, it's very adult-oriented.

The Middle Keys are nice - Marathon etc.

The Keys are not renowned for their beaches. Many are artificial. They are usually quite small.

 

[wayneg]

Not sure what you are trying to achieve.
Sounds like you are wanting a good beach in a day trip then why the Keys? Far better going to the West coast, a beach like Clearwater or St Petes etc great beaches within 90mins-2hrs away. If you want something with history then St Augustine on the east coast.

Our first trip to Key West was when DS was aged 10, more than enough for his to see and do in the day, but it depends what ages your children are and what they enjoy doing.

We have loved our days at Key West but never driven down, our trips there have been a stop on cruises. The keys are about 7 hours drive each way, most I have done for a 1 day trip is 5 hours each way(6 hours coming back with traffic) to Savannah in Georgia, 11 hours driving in 1 day was too much to be safe, I wouldn't do it again without a night(or 2) in a hotel.

 

[Elise79]

so after my previous post and the general suggestion that key west is very adult orientated which island is the most family friendly with also the best beaches?

wil still have to make the journey as far south as we can get but just a day trip rather than staying there

Do you really want to drive that far for an hour or so? is it fair on the kids to be stuck in the car for that long? I wouldn't do it to DD as it wouldn't be any fun for her.

If you want a beach you are better off heading to the Gulf coast - we are taking DD to Longboat Key in December which is 2 hours away and that's as much as I would want to do in a day.

 

[dixonsontour]

Agree with above that if you want a stunning beach head for west coast - only a couple of hours drive.

Anne's beach is nice at Islamorada but not in the same league as clearwater etc.

if you are wanting quirky/non commercial have you thought about Anna maria island on the west coast?

 

[Kath2003]

I agree with the above, didn't realise you were doing a day trip. 12+ hours in the car sounds like hell to me. What a way to spend your holiday! I would either stay for at least one night or I'd go somewhere closer. If you want the beach, there are plenty of nice beaches within 2 hours of Orlando.

 

[bex7583]

nope i want to drive over the bridge , a nice beach would be a bonus but i can live if they are a bit crap

realisticly have accepted thats its too far to go in teh day so an overnight stay somwhere will be needed

so would stay on the nicer family island and just drive down to key west then back up to the island we have decided to stay overnight on

 

[igk]

A big attraction of the keys is the drive itself - so wanting to drive over the bridges is a valid reason in itself.
Key West IS adult oriented, but we have been there with kids and they have enjoyed it, there are some nice hotels/resorts (not cheap) to stay and they're not all full of drunkenness and debauchery! Avoid Fantasy Fest though (end Oct)

We have been a couple of times and stayed a couple of nights in Key Largo, then 2 or 3 in Key West.

If you're driving from Orlando then the Upper Keys e.g. Largo would be far enough in one day, then you would be fresh to appreciate the spectacular drive to Key West (and possibly back again!)