Key West excursions

[DisneyPrincess]

Hi there!
I'm sure this has been asked numerous times, but for time's sake, I thought I'd ask myself...

What should we do in Key West? I'll be with my DH, our kiddos (9 and 6) and my parents...we will be there in December.

Any advice? I'm not loving this stop. Was thinking of staying on the ship...

 

[Anonny]

My husband and I will be on the ship in ten days, hooray!
We plan on walking around Key West. Likely will tour Hemingway home, maybe the lighthouse museum.

Your family might enjoy the Conch Train or a trolley bus tour.

 

[Couchy]

Key West is a fun place. Just getting off the ship and walking around. There are some tours or trolley tours your family might enjoy.

 

[Otimon]

Hope you don't just stay on the ship - Key West is a great place to visit. Lots of interesting places to go - just check it out!

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

We were there in August but not on a cruise. Key West can be fun but there really is not too much to do for kids. As others said you can take a trolley tour which has a bunch of stops around Key West and one of them is the famous most southern point picture stop. If you do that you can also get admission to the aquarium. Pretty much anywhere around Mallory Square you can do a bunch of walking around and shopping. There is a really nice restaurant right on the pier but we couldn't eat there it was way too hot for that but we found a really nice Cuban restaurant really close by. Hopefully in December the stench of rotting seaweed will be less than it was in August

 

[jburge12000]

We just got back last night from the cruise from Galveston that stopped in Key West last week. I was also not thrilled with really any of the excursion offers from disney or from some other sites like Viator. We just got off the ship and rented some bikes and peddled around the island. Turned out to be everyone's favorite stop. Rented from Safari rentals about a block from were the shuttle from the ship drops you off. We had to take the shuttle, you cannot walk off the boat as its a naval base. Rode over and got our picture with the southern most point marker. Then locked up the bikes at Duval street and eat at Sloppy Joes and walk around, a good singer was playing and a lot of kids in the restaurant. Stopped off at Kermits for some key lime pie and then walked around the warf area next to Kermits. Saw a lot of fish and some neat shops but the highlight for my kids was watching the local charter boats that had returned cleaning their fish and tossing the scraps into the water at the dock. Saw a couple of sharks come to the surface and a lot of fish feeding. Spent a little time at the beach, just had a really good day.

 

[JenPinks]

Hi there!
I'm sure this has been asked numerous times, but for time's sake, I thought I'd ask myself...

What should we do in Key West? I'll be with my DH, our kiddos (9 and 6) and my parents...we will be there in December.

Any advice? I'm not loving this stop. Was thinking of staying on the ship...

We booked parasailing!!

 

[phinz]

We had to take the shuttle, you cannot walk off the boat as its a naval base.

That depends. You were at the Outer Mole but there are two other possible docks. Disney docks at all three, and the other two are walkable.

 

[disneyluvnmom]

We were just there last week. We were not too adventurous, just walked to Southernmost Point. Someone from our cruise walked to Fort Zachary Beach and posted pictures on our FB page. It looked like a nice beach and was not crowded.

 

[richmo]

Although I don't do it myself, I get it when people stay on the ship in Nassau. (Actually, we just get off the ship there for an hour or two, wander downtown, then back on the ship for lunch). But, I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to at least get off the ship and walk around Key West for a little while. I don't think its at all necessary to book an expensive excursion there, but I'd certainly want to take the time to check out the town for awhile.

 

[phinz]

We were just there last week. We were not too adventurous, just walked to Southernmost Point. Someone from our cruise walked to Fort Zachary Beach and posted pictures on our FB page. It looked like a nice beach and was not crowded.

And part of Ft. Zach is actually further south than the "Southernmost Point".

 

[over50visits]

I agree completely with the two general suggestions of (1) walk around and/or (2) take a trolley. Trolleys are available right in the heart of things (Mallory Square), they are inexpensive, the drivers we've ever had are talkative and funny, pointing out the sights. A couple of companies, really either one is just fine. You can hop off/on anywhere along the route.

Walking is also very, very, very easy, with plenty to see. I think an often overlooked sight is walking along where the boats are docked. From Mallory Square head "left" (maybe down Front Street) and walk a couple of blocks northeast. You'll come upon the dock area, and there are some great views of the water as well as a lot of really interesting and beautiful yachts. Places to eat along the way, as well as plenty of souvenir shops.

A safe, colorful, interesting port city.

 

[phinz]

I

Walking is also very, very, very easy, with plenty to see. I think an often overlooked sight is walking along where the boats are docked. From Mallory Square head "left" (maybe down Front Street) and walk a couple of blocks northeast. You'll come upon the dock area, and there are some great views of the water as well as a lot of really interesting and beautiful yachts. Places to eat along the way, as well as plenty of souvenir shops.

A safe, colorful, interesting port city.

Agreed. Some of my favorite places are on The Bight. Turtle Kraals, Schooner Wharf Bar, Shrimpboat Sound, Half Shell, Dante's. All places I know and love.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We found the Truman Winter White House quite interesting and historical

 

[poison ivy]

you guys are making me want to go back.

 

[phinz]

you guys are making me want to go back.

Hence the reason I canceled my February cruise that passed through Key West and booked a week at the Marquesa on Simonton in Old Town instead.

 

[egesicki]

We were just there last week. We were not too adventurous, just walked to Southernmost Point. Someone from our cruise walked to Fort Zachary Beach and posted pictures on our FB page. It looked like a nice beach and was not crowded.

We took our boys then 2 (in stroller) and 7, the walk was a bit on the long side, but worth it when we got there. They loved the fort, we saw iguanas, and there is a little snack shop where we had lunch. Not crowded. Visit the Florida state park website for info.
Just a note on the beach, I remember it was a bit rocky, not all sand.

 

[poison ivy]

Hence the reason I canceled my February cruise that passed through Key West and booked a week at the Marquesa on Simonton in Old Town instead.

Nice. we just booked the 4 nt Magic on 1/11/17. I think it's gonna be a bit cold but who cares.