Key West with 9 & 11 year olds

[darnheather]

Ok had to post these. There really is so much more to do than the Butterfly Garden! KW is an experience for young and old

We will be studying butterflies when we return and since I homeschool I feel it's important to at least slide a little bit of education in here and there without them noticing. Plus we are only there for 4 hours which is enough time for us to walk down leisurely, take photos at southernmost, go to the butterflies, and then walk back up (probably on Duval (the horror!) because I'm not a prude). My girls have been all over the world and experienced a lot of incredible things in their short lives. Having thirty minutes for them to relax and have butterflies land on them is one thing we've never gotten the chance to do.

 

[Kimberly9701]

T

We will be studying butterflies when we return and since I homeschool I feel it's important to at least slide a little bit of education in here and there without them noticing. Plus we are only there for 4 hours which is enough time for us to walk down leisurely, take photos at southernmost, go to the butterflies, and then walk back up (probably on Duval (the horror!) because I'm not a prude). My girls have been all over the world and experienced a lot of incredible things in their short lives. Having thirty minutes for them to relax and have butterflies land on them is one thing we've never gotten the chance to do.

That sounds perfect then . I didn't mean to sound like the butterflies are not a neat experience, bc they definitely are. We have a conservatory here that has an annual butterfly show which we attend and love!
My main point is that it is not only an island of drunk and inappropriate people...there really is a lot of great and educational things to do with kids there... My son still constantly brings up the Flagler railroad and asks me to tell the story (although I told him a more 5 year old appropriate version lol), and I know that cruise people don't have the time, but we went to Dry Tortugas as well, and he loved it as much as I knew he would!
Bottom line- Yes, KW hosts such crazy events as Fantasy Fest. No, that is not the heart and soul of the island. No one should skip Duval street with children bc of the inappropriate things they may see..unless it's Halloween night, then yes, skip it.lol

 

[Kimberly9701]

T

We will be studying butterflies when we return and since I homeschool I feel it's important to at least slide a little bit of education in here and there without them noticing. Plus we are only there for 4 hours which is enough time for us to walk down leisurely, take photos at southernmost, go to the butterflies, and then walk back up (probably on Duval (the horror!) because I'm not a prude). My girls have been all over the world and experienced a lot of incredible things in their short lives. Having thirty minutes for them to relax and have butterflies land on them is one thing we've never gotten the chance to do.

That sounds perfect then . I didn't mean to sound like the butterflies are not a neat experience, bc they definitely are. We have a conservatory here that has an annual butterfly show which we attend and love!
My main point is that it is not only an island of drunk and inappropriate people...there really is a lot of great and educational things to do with kids there... My son still constantly brings up the Flagler railroad and asks me to tell the story (although I told him a more 5 year old appropriate version lol), and I know that cruise people don't have the time, but we went to Dry Tortugas as well, and he loved it as much as I knew he would!
Bottom line- Yes, KW hosts such crazy events as Fantasy Fest. No, that is not the heart and soul of the island. No one should skip Duval street with children bc of the inappropriate things they may see..unless it's Halloween night, then yes, skip it.lol

 

[phinz]

The heart and soul of the rock is the people. Without them it would be just another drinking town with a tourist problem. I've been trying to get the wife to move there for years. She doesn't get it as much as I do, but I cry every time I see the Saddlebunch Keys from the window of the plane, and I cry every time I walk across that tarmac to climb another ladder out of Paradise.

 

[DHSbutcher]

Love Key West, its great during the day, definitely bit more adult at night but theres plenty of family friendly places too. Love taking the conch train around, it covers a lot of great history, and gives you a feel for the place. We have a timeshare at the Hyatt down there, right next to the Westin where the ships often dock, and if you dock there it's very easy to get around walking, plenty to do in the immediate area.

 

[darnheather]

T

That sounds perfect then . I didn't mean to sound like the butterflies are not a neat experience, bc they definitely are. We have a conservatory here that has an annual butterfly show which we attend and love!
My main point is that it is not only an island of drunk and inappropriate people...there really is a lot of great and educational things to do with kids there... My son still constantly brings up the Flagler railroad and asks me to tell the story (although I told him a more 5 year old appropriate version lol), and I know that cruise people don't have the time, but we went to Dry Tortugas as well, and he loved it as much as I knew he would!
Bottom line- Yes, KW hosts such crazy events as Fantasy Fest. No, that is not the heart and soul of the island. No one should skip Duval street with children bc of the inappropriate things they may see..unless it's Halloween night, then yes, skip it.lol

Awesome. When I first read that people wouldn't go on Duval I thought it was because of open drug use and naked pictures in the windows or similar. But once I found out it was mainly bars, cross-dressing (is that the proper term don't want to offend anyone!), and some pot I honestly don't think it's a big deal. I'd rather be with my kids the first time they see a bong so we can talk about it later than not. LOL As for cross-dressing my girls have friends of all types. And bars are everywhere. I would love it if we had more time to go to the Hemingway house and Winter White House but maybe some other time.

I went to Key West when I was around 13 and my dad took my sister and me on a 10 day tour of Florida. All I honestly remember is sunset with some jugglers, southernmost point, seeing gold bricks in a museum and my father talking about how heavy each one was, and my sister forgetting her bathing suit when we left.

 

[suzu]

Rent an electric car and drive around the island!

 

[Kimberly9701]

Awesome. When I first read that people wouldn't go on Duval I thought it was because of open drug use and naked pictures in the windows or similar. But once I found out it was mainly bars, cross-dressing (is that the proper term don't want to offend anyone!), and some pot I honestly don't think it's a big deal. I'd rather be with my kids the first time they see a bong so we can talk about it later than not. LOL As for cross-dressing my girls have friends of all types. And bars are everywhere. I would love it if we had more time to go to the Hemingway house and Winter White House but maybe some other time.

I went to Key West when I was around 13 and my dad took my sister and me on a 10 day tour of Florida. All I honestly remember is sunset with some jugglers, southernmost point, seeing gold bricks in a museum and my father talking about how heavy each one was, and my sister forgetting her bathing suit when we left.

The Sunset Celebration is fantastic!

 

[czmom]

I am looking for ideas to do with the kids in Key West. Was wanting to walk around town and see some highlights and maybe grab lunch. Would love any input on great restaurants (we love dive places with awesome food), things to not miss or things the kids might enjoy.

We did the shark feeding tour and parasailing. Both were great!