Key West with 9 & 11 year olds

[bfamily5]

Haven't been yet, but the next cruise (after this next one) is stopping there. One thing that peaked my interest is an excursion I saw mentioned in a previous Key West thread. It was a shark tour where they chum the water and you stay on the boat but watch the sharks take the bait. I know my kiddos will love it!

 

[phinz]

Skip Jimmy Buffets they have those everywhere. Eat at Carolyn's on Duval street. It's so good. Get the fried shrimp appetizer and don't forget the key lime pie for dessert.

Just don't order the Cuban Sandwich. It's the worst Cuban Sandwich I've ever had. They didn't even press it, it was on a baguette instead of Cuban bread and it didn't have pickles or mustard on it. It was a complete fail. I chalked it up to an inexperienced cook.

That and the knife sticking out of the wall that almost jabbed me in the shoulder when I sat down. Turns out the kitchen is on the other side of the wall and the cook had stored the knife by shoving it through the wall. I told my server about it and shortly thereafter I saw the knife being withdrawn from it's "storage" area.

 

[psutrain]

We have a timeshare there so there is lots to do. Pirates museum is fun for kids. There is a small aquarium there at the square. The light house is cool to get a great view of the island. Hemmingway House is good also but may be crowded during a cruise stop. Fat Tuesdays is good for kids because they have non-alcoholic drinks also. There is also a pool table there as well for kids to play. Southernmost point is a tourist trip but you might as well go. I would take a taxi there to save time. There are plenty of restaurants. Conch Republic is a good spot in the A&B marina.


Also I agree with phins YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GROUPER SANDWICH AT B.O.'S FISH WAGON!!!!! IT IS A MUST

 

[MUN]

First, sightseeing buses are great ways to see a new city. A work friend of DH's gave me trouble for doing a HOHO in Dublin, but I didn't see him lining up to show me around!

Second, she said something different than what you said.

You're responding to "I didn't want to be part of the herd". But she said "I ate there bc I like it, not because I was paranoid the herd." Those have different meanings.


Op we intended to disembark early, ride one of the sightseeing buses, then go see one or two of the places we had gone by. We got off the shop late and it was hot so we rode a trolley (our guide was wonderful and knew everyone and everyone knew her), then went to shop at the Tervis shop (I had never seen such a shop before), got a tropical flavor ice cream at Haagen Dazs, wandered just a bit more and got back on our shop.

I personally wouldn't go to a dive restaurant in Key West with my son (who was 10 at the time) even if I went to them elsewhere. Though I should mention that our cruise was during Fantasy Fest but there was nothing too crazy. Just an advertised zombie walk that was happening after our ship left port. Everyone seemed to be sleeping it off.

The worst thing I saw in Key West last week was a t-shirt that read "I'm not Gay, but $20 is $20 - Key West" We thought that was kind of funny. However, I can see that shirt raising questions for younger children.

BTW, I didn't see any "dive" restaurants. We went to Sloppy Joe's, which is an iconic piece of Key West history. We all thought it was a lot of fun, and very kid friendly at 2pm.

MUN

 

[jburge12000]

Haven't been yet, but the next cruise (after this next one) is stopping there. One thing that peaked my interest is an excursion I saw mentioned in a previous Key West thread. It was a shark tour where they chum the water and you stay on the boat but watch the sharks take the bait. I know my kiddos will love it!

We stopped at Key West over Thanksgiving. Have a 9 and 13 yr old. Rented some bikes and rode over to the Southern most Point for a quick pic, then around town. Stopped at Sloppy Joes for lunch and really enjoyed the live music. Lots of families eating their. Then we went over to Kermits to try the key lime pie. The boat docks across the street from Kermits had what looked like some good restaurants. We went walking around the boats and the dock and the water was very clear, could see lots of fish. Had some fish food dispensers for 25 cents. When we started walking back, some of the charter fishing boats had come back and one guy was cleaning his catch and throwing parts back into the water. We sat their and watched the large fish and a few sharks come to the surface. Was my kids favorite part of the day.

 

[mkmommy]

We stopped at Key West over Thanksgiving. Have a 9 and 13 yr old. Rented some bikes and rode over to the Southern most Point for a quick pic, then around town. Stopped at Sloppy Joes for lunch and really enjoyed the live music. Lots of families eating their. Then we went over to Kermits to try the key lime pie. The boat docks across the street from Kermits had what looked like some good restaurants. We went walking around the boats and the dock and the water was very clear, could see lots of fish. Had some fish food dispensers for 25 cents. When we started walking back, some of the charter fishing boats had come back and one guy was cleaning his catch and throwing parts back into the water. We sat their and watched the large fish and a few sharks come to the surface. Was my kids favorite part of the day.

Did you reserve bikes in advance or just rented when you got off the ship?

 

[Heidiatmn]

Best dive restaurant in key west....Mr Zs....best Philly I ever had! In Key West...go figure....we spent five days on the island and ate there 3 times!

 

[phinz]

Best dive restaurant in key west....Mr Zs....best Philly I ever had! In Key West...go figure....we spent five days on the island and ate there 3 times!

My favorite very late night haunt. Either a cheesesteak wit or a slice does a great job of soaking up the root beer shooters from Green Parrot.

 

[phinz]

Did you reserve bikes in advance or just rented when you got off the ship?

No need to reserve. There are more bikes than there are people on the rock. I like Pirate Scooters to rent, but there are a ton of others.

 

[jburge12000]

Did you reserve bikes in advance or just rented when you got off the ship?

We got bikes when we arrived. It was from Island Safari Rentals. We asked when we got off the trolley that took us from the ship to Mallory Square and they directed us to them. Short walk. They included bike locks that we used when we stopped to do things.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

If they are into History, I would strongly suggest the Truman Winter While House! It just 2 blocks from the Hemingway House.

AKK

 

[phinz]

If they are into History, I would strongly suggest the Truman Winter While House! It just 2 blocks from the Hemingway House.

AKK

It's more than two blocks (closer to 8 or 9) but it's still a *really* cool place to visit, and the walk there is beautiful once you turn the corner on Southard and walk through Truman Annex.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It's more than two blocks (closer to 8 or 9) but it's still a *really* cool place to visit, and the walk there is beautiful once you turn the corner on Southard and walk through Truman Annex.

OK phinz, I bow to your 8 or 9 blocks, I seem to remember it much closer! but my memory is getting bad!.......AKK

 

[phinz]

OK phinz, I bow to your 8 or 9 blocks, I seem to remember it much closer! but my memory is getting bad!.......AKK

LOL. The walk is so nice that it seems like a short walk. It *is* about 2-3 blocks from the port if the ship is moored at the Westin. Either way, it's worth the time to see it. I was privileged to attend a dinner on the grounds at night a couple of years ago and loved it.

 

[arespirate]

Question: I am planning a trip in April on the Magic with a stop in Key West. I have reserved the glass bottom boat tour and when it gets back there will be about 2 hours before the ship leaves. I am a stickler for the rules and when the ship says get back 1 hour before it leaves I WILL do that. I was wondering if it is possible to get to the southernmost point and back in one hour just by walking? Will crowds be an issue slowing me down? Advice?

 

[MUN]

Question: I am planning a trip in April on the Magic with a stop in Key West. I have reserved the glass bottom boat tour and when it gets back there will be about 2 hours before the ship leaves. I am a stickler for the rules and when the ship says get back 1 hour before it leaves I WILL do that. I was wondering if it is possible to get to the southernmost point and back in one hour just by walking? Will crowds be an issue slowing me down? Advice?

Do you know where your ship will dock? When we in Key West last month on the Wonder, we docked at the navy base and took a tram to get to Mallory Square. The Magic was there on the same day we were and docked at Mallory Square. From Mallory Square you can walk to the southernmost point and back in 1 hour if you walk quickly and don't stop too much and you don't plan on getting a proper photo at the marker. So yes it's doable.

 

[phinz]

It's possible, but that can be a heck of a walk. In April you may have crowds for Spring Break, so getting in line to take a picture may be difficult and cutting it close. This also assuming your boat tour gets back on time. It's a bit over a mile to the buoy from Mallory Square. If you're at the Outer Mole you'll have to get from Mallory to the buoy (20 minutes, give or take), get in line to take a picture (Can take 5 minutes. Can take an hour.) Then you'll have to hoof it back to Mallory Square and then catch the tram back to the ship. If you're at the Westin or Mallory piers this is much more feasible, but at the Outer Mole it will be tight.

 

[krisinparis]

it was SOOOOO hot the day we went..like 95plus..very hot in the sun. My kids just wanted to go back to the ship and swim. There is plenty of walking around to do and lots of little stores and a ship museum to go into. But again, my kids just wanted to swim.

This was our experience. Also, there were like 3-4 ships in port that day and you literally couldn't walk it was so crowded. We ended up heading back to the boat to go swimming also and enjoyed the less crowded ship.

 

[antkim]

Look for other threads about Key West. If your kids have not been exposed to raunchy, off-color or poor humor and you wish to keep it that way, do *not* go on Lower Duval St. Spend your precious time seeing the good stuff in Key West. I'm a frequent visitor to the rock and never recommend Lower Duval St. unless you just want $5 TShirt shops, junk souvenirs and over-exposed, poor quality bars. Don't get me wrong. Duval St. has its place for those who long for Mardi Gras all the time and prefer to drink overpriced drinks in the same places that everybody else drinks them. There's just so much more to that 8 square mile island than Lower Duval.

Hemingway House, Conch Train (or one of the trolley services), the Bight, Shipwreck Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Audubon House, Truman Annex (and the Truman Little White House), Key West Cemetery, East Martello Tower, Butterfly Conservatory, Mallory Square, Fort Zachary Taylor, San Carlos Institute. These are all better things to see than a shopping and debauchery district.

Food: Pepe's, B.O.'s Fish Wagon, Blue Heaven, Garbo's Grill, 5 Brothers, Bien, Eaton Street Seafood, Santiago's Bodega, Kojin, The Cafe, Sarabeth's, Rum Barrel, Turtle Kraal's, Dante's (where you can even go for a swim in their massive freeform pool), El Siboney, Louie's Backyard (and Afterdeck if you eat at the bar). These are but a few of the much better places you can eat than Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's or Hogs Breath. You only have a short time there. Take the opportunity to go where the herd doesn't.

I am looking for options for my family for next Feb when we stop in KW. It will be myself, dh, ds (18) and ds (13). I saw you mentioned Dantes and since it has a pool I thought my 13 year old would love it. I just googled it and saw some BEYOND X rated photos...gross really. I am not a prude in any sense but even without my kids I would be offended if this were to be going on when I was there. I think it must have been Spring Break or that celebration in October but just want to be sure! LOL It would be late Feb (23rd I believe) that we would be in port. Should we stay away? That being said, if Duval St. area is OK during the day for families we might try. My kids have been to P town down the Cape several times so "drag queens" etc will be nothing new. I don't think girls flashing would be something I would want to encounter though! LOL

 

[MUN]

I am looking for options for my family for next Feb when we stop in KW. It will be myself, dh, ds (18) and ds (13). I saw you mentioned Dantes and since it has a pool I thought my 13 year old would love it. I just googled it and saw some BEYOND X rated photos...gross really. I am not a prude in any sense but even without my kids I would be offended if this were to be going on when I was there. I think it must have been Spring Break or that celebration in October but just want to be sure! LOL It would be late Feb (23rd I believe) that we would be in port. Should we stay away? That being said, if Duval St. area is OK during the day for families we might try. My kids have been to P town down the Cape several times so "drag queens" etc will be nothing new. I don't think girls flashing would be something I would want to encounter though! LOL

Duval Street is fine during the day. My kids (17, 15, 11) got a kick out of walking down the street as we headed to the Southernmost beach, Southernmost marker, Hemingway House, etc. We stopped for lunch on the way back at Sloppy Joes for lunch and had a great time. Many of the bars/restuarants have live music during the day and are very family friendly.