Key West...what to do?

[disneyhoppers]

We are trying to decide what to do in Key West. Do we do the presidential tour, trolley tour, or do it ourselves? What is there to do for the 4 hours we have there? What are your must sees at Key West?

 

[bumbershoot]

You're only there 4 hours??? Wow. That's really short. I'm being honest when I say I personally probably wouldn't do anything outside of walking distance from the port. And I mean EASY walking distance.

 

[belac]

Wow that is a short time, get off ship, get a drink and a slice of Key Lime pie, get back on ship.

 

[cmph]

We're there for 4.5h, and I'm not bothering to book anything. Sounds like the trolleys are easy to catch day-of, right where you get off the ship. I found this map on another thread, to give you an idea of what's nearby and where the trolley can take you. http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/key-west-map.html

I figure if we decide to devote an hour to the shipwreck museum or something else, it's Florida - so we can use our smartphones to buy tix online if something is cheaper that way. But my basic plan is 1) buy trolley tix 2) get off wherever looks interesting at that moment. It's the least planning I've ever put into any trip!

btw, not sure if OP is on the same cruise as me... but mine is at Key West on New Year's day. I suspect that's why we only have the afternoon off the boat.

 

[dcassetta]

Either the conch train or the trolley tour will give you a nice overview of the island. You can stroll around Mallory Square Or down Duval or Whitehead Street. You would probably have time to visit one of the attractions such as Hemingway, Truman, or butterfly house. Make sure and have a slice of Key lime pie while you're there.

 

[Dug720]

We're there for 4.5h, and I'm not bothering to book anything. Sounds like the trolleys are easy to catch day-of, right where you get off the ship. I found this map on another thread, to give you an idea of what's nearby and where the trolley can take you. http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/key-west-map.html

I figure if we decide to devote an hour to the shipwreck museum or something else, it's Florida - so we can use our smartphones to buy tix online if something is cheaper that way. But my basic plan is 1) buy trolley tix 2) get off wherever looks interesting at that moment. It's the least planning I've ever put into any trip!

btw, not sure if OP is on the same cruise as me... but mine is at Key West on New Year's day. I suspect that's why we only have the afternoon off the boat.

The trolley or conch train tour are not HOHO. I think there is one stop midway through, but the rest of the time it's going.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Trolley if you have enough time as you get to see more of the island..but honestly, it's so walkable off the ship, I would just walk to Duval St. and check out the cute shops, stop for a drink at one of the many bars and get a piece of key lime pie.

 

[dcassetta]

The trolley or conch train tour are not HOHO. I think there is one stop midway through, but the rest of the time it's going.

This is true if you book the conch train or trolley through Disney. However, if you book it on your own, and you should because it's much less expensive, both are hop on hop off. The conch train has three or four stops, and the trolley has like 10 or 12.

Here is a comparison. http://www.oldtownmanor.com/key-west-tours

 

[Dug720]

This is true if you book the conch train or trolley through Disney. However, if you book it on your own, and you should because it's much less expensive, both are hop on hop off. The conch train has three or four stops, and the trolley has like 10 or 12.

Here is a comparison. http://www.oldtownmanor.com/key-west-tours

Interesting. We did the conch train tour on a non-cruise family trip and it only had one stop.

 

[dcassetta]

Interesting. We did the conch train tour on a non-cruise family trip and it only had one stop.

If you're looking for multiple stops, the trolley is a better bet.

 

[rwcmath]

I would definitely do one of the riding tours. They take you down some very pretty streets.

 

[cmph]

The trolley or conch train tour are not HOHO. I think there is one stop midway through, but the rest of the time it's going.

http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/customer-service-tour-works.asp

It is HOHO, specifically stated on their site, with 13 stops.

And free for kids if you buy tix there, rather than through DCL.

 

[egesicki]

Been several times. Key West has many things that are walkable. We've done Mel Fisher's, ft Zach Taylor, Hemingway house, Southernmost point and Truman annex. Depending what you like you can certainly find something to fit in four hours. Google is your friend! Our next visit I'm planning Mel Fisher's, Kermit's and the key West winery. If we were adults only we'd probably spend the day at the green parrot.

 

[Dug720]

http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/customer-service-tour-works.asp

It is HOHO, specifically stated on their site, with 13 stops.

And free for kids if you buy tix there, rather than through DCL.

Gotcha. The Trolley and Conch Train are different then. People always seem to mention them together.

 

[phinz]

There are also two different trolley companies. One focuses on Old Town, while the other will take you around past the Martello Towers, Smathers Beach, etc. Old Town Trolley (a misnomer if ever there was one) goes all the way around the rock, using Truman/N. Roosevelt/S. Roosevelt. Cityview Trolley uses White Street (the basic dividing line between New Town and Old Town) to cross the island instead, keeping it in the Old Town area. This is important with limited time, because you may not want to ride the trolley all the way around the island if your time is limited. By only visiting Old Town, you'll see the better part of Key West. I don't much care for N. Roosevelt unless I'm going grocery shopping. I do like S. Roosevelt (A1A) because it's like a Key West Malecon, but it's not important enough to a short-time visitor to justify riding the trolley all the way around the island.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We were scheduled for about 4.5 hours too. We actually had a bit more time than that. We got off the ship and walked down to Southernmost Point (straight down Whitehead). This will also allow for a picture of the Mile 0 sign. We then continued over about a block and walked back up Duval, stopping for key lime pie at Kermit's and conch fritters at the Conch Shack. We easily could have stopped in several different bars, but we decided we were hot and tired and got back on the ship about 2 1/2 or 3 hours later and went straight to the Buena Vista Theater to see a movie. Note: we were a party of 2 adults.

 

[cgolf]

We're there for 4.5h, and I'm not bothering to book anything. Sounds like the trolleys are easy to catch day-of, right where you get off the ship. I found this map on another thread, to give you an idea of what's nearby and where the trolley can take you. http://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/key-west-map.html

I figure if we decide to devote an hour to the shipwreck museum or something else, it's Florida - so we can use our smartphones to buy tix online if something is cheaper that way. But my basic plan is 1) buy trolley tix 2) get off wherever looks interesting at that moment. It's the least planning I've ever put into any trip!

btw, not sure if OP is on the same cruise as me... but mine is at Key West on New Year's day. I suspect that's why we only have the afternoon off the boat.

The aquarium by the shipwreck museum was a lot of fun and you could go back in after you left. There was some hands on stuff like feeding of rays and they also had various feedings throughout the day. We did not go to the shipwreck museum, but overheard a couple of families not recommend it.

 

[cmph]

The aquarium by the shipwreck museum was a lot of fun and you could go back in after you left. There was some hands on stuff like feeding of rays and they also had various feedings throughout the day. We did not go to the shipwreck museum, but overheard a couple of families not recommend it.

Oh eek, thanks for the feedback. I actually had read on a thread from I think 2015 that the shipwreck museum was fun! I'll look into the aquarium but we just went to one in Hawaii and have been to the national aquarium in Baltimore numerous times, so we may be "aquarium-ed" out.

 

[phinz]

The Key West aquarium is different than any other aquarium I've been to. We love it. A lot of it is open air. I got to feed nurse sharks on one of our visits. They actually let you use one of those reacher claws, designed for getting cans off of a high shelf, to hold the fish pieces.

 

[EASchechter]

We are trying to decide what to do in Key West. Do we do the presidential tour, trolley tour, or do it ourselves? What is there to do for the 4 hours we have there? What are your must sees at Key West?

Hemingway's house. Go play with the polydactyl cats.