Key West Aquarium?

[plutospup]

We're thinking about going to the Key West Aquarium. Who has done this, and what are your thoughts. Will DD6 enjoy this?

 

[Michelemouse]

Our family absolutely loved the Key West Aquarium! It is very "hands-on" and I think your 6yo would love it.

We hadn't been planning on visiting the Aquarium but a very nice woman we met in town offered us tickets that her family couldn't use. All who went agree that it was the highlight of our Key West visit.

 

[Corryn]

We went on our honeymoon 12 years ago and it was nice. They had a tank with a bunch of nurse sharks in it where you were thisclose to them, but I don't remember if you could put your hand in to pet them. Like the other Dis'er said, there are a lot of hands-on exhibits. Key West is so beautiful, I would be happy just to take another walk around the downtown area.
They also have a sight-seeing "train" that travels throughout the island, but we didn't do that (now I wish we did) and one of the cemetary's are very entertaining - a lot of goofy tombstones in there.
One highlight of our trip was the mini-jet boats. It was a full day, but you take your own jet-boat (two people per boat) and you travel throughout the mangrove islands in the keys northeast of Key West, and then you have lunch on a deserted island. That was the best.
Have a great time in Key West!

 

[hughiedeweylouie]

The mini-jet boats sound so cool. How do you look into this?
Thanks,
Ann

 

[Diznut84]

My daughers (9 and 6) enjoyed the acquarium. It is a small acquarium with a neat hands-on tank. I thought the tour was very interesting. It was included in the price of admission and I think happened every two hours. Have fun!

 

[Tandyc]

How do I get more info on these. This is something my family would go nuts for. If anyone knows about these please post.

Thanks

 

[CVW]

The Key West aquarium was nice. My 7 and 4 yo's enjoyed it.

But candidly, it wasn't nearly as nice as a lot of the aquariums we been to throughout the country. It's just a large room with a few rays you can pet and mollusks you can pick up. There's a shark tank in the back.

If we did it over again, I think Key West would be the best place to either do a glass-bottom boat or jet skis. I would rather relax on the beach than jet ski in Cozumel. And you've GOT to take your kids to Stingray City. After the Stingrays, the aquarium felt like a waste of time.

You WILL have a good time at the aquarium, but I think there's better options.

 

[plutospup]

Your input is much appreciated.

CVW...is there a tank where DD6 could pet a stingray? She always talks about petting a stingray, however, when she had the chance about a year ago, she quickly pulled her arm back. This might be a good intro prior to going to Stingray City.

 

[MrsPete]

The aquarium sounds really nice. However, we have a nice one nearby and we've visited several stupendous aquariums in our travels. My family might miss the "wow" factor even in a really nice aquarium.

These mini-jets sound really cool! Can you give us more information, please? Where'd you rent them? Can children ride with an adult? How much did they cost?

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hey Jeff - your daughter will love the aquarium - it has been around for so long that I am surprise that it still draws interest, but I understand it has come a long way since I last was in there - the rates are real reasonable - now the butterfly farm is something that caught my interest - it is only about a year old now and it is something I wish they would have had down there when I was a child or even my kids, but it didn't exist - If anyone is interested in Jet Skis, speak to Shelly at Key Cat right there at Mallary square - if you tell her Shirley from The Perfect Gift recommened her, she will give you conch rates - honest and no strings attached - sometimes folks don't take me serious that I can help while you are in my hometown.
anyhow all stay warm - I understand we are going to get another cool spell ------
Always
shirley

 

[plutospup]

Shirley, you're right about the Butterfly museum. We stopped there last year (thanx for the brochure & coupon!), and had a great time! Children (and parents) will love this place. This month we're reading Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea", so we plan on stopping at his home, and the Aquarium. It should be a fun afternoon.

 

[max123]

We have vacationed in Key West for over 20 years, and throughout all of those years, we managed to visit the aquarium at least once each year.

Sure it is small and not like many of the state of the art aquariums around the country, but that is its appeal.

Key West is a unique city and unlike any other in the country, and I have come to expect and appreciate the differences and long to revisit them year after year.

The aquarium tour is well worth the time and money, especially if you have young children.

This is where my kids were introduced to sting rays and it made our Sting Ray city trip in Grand Cayman all the more exciting.

 

[KarenB]

I was there a few times in the early 80's and can still remember how much I enjoyed it!!!! I know it was a llooonnngggg time ago, but I remember that it was small, and the people that worked there were so personable. A great educational experience instead of a commercial experience.

I have heard that Key West has changed a lot since then......I guess I will just have to find out for myself in July!

Karen

oh....I am SO sick of winter here in central PA!!!!

 

[snelsonbrown]

Key West has changed 180 degrees (if I said 360, it would be back the way it use to be and all the conchs would be happier)
I can remember when our families would catch unusual fish either in the Gulf or Atlantic and they would donate it to the aqurium so there would be something different for us "conch" kids - going to the aquarium was neat and something to do other than skating and the movies, but you could only go so many times there - me I have seen such an improvement over the years - Key west is very unique - there is stuff that goes on down there that tears us up, but I guess it is what is called progress - my niece just spent 6 days there and was totally not prepared for the change over - she said traiffic was unbelievable so they walked everywhere - they did the tourist stuff like Mr. Hemingway house, lighthouse, the top of the La Concha Hotel, visited St Paul church on the corner of Eaton and Duval (there once was a big playground there about 60 or so years ago and it was fun for the local kids)
Anyhow another little tidbit about my hometown - Norm and I are going "home" on or about the 19th of this month so if you want to know anything, let me know.
Always
Shirley