What to do in key west?

[alexandlillie]

I have a 3 year old and a five year old. Last time we got off the boat at key west it was a snore. Walked around the tshirt shops and yards do beer.

Are there any day pass hotels you would recommend? The excursions are uninspiring.

Thank you.

 

[dcassetta]

If you're not interested in any of the small museums in town, I might recommend for Zachary Taylor State Park. The kids can climb around the Fort itself, which I find really interesting, and there's a nice little beach there. There are picnic tables and you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. It is a coral beach, so make sure and take water shoes.

 

[bumbershoot]

We took the conch train tour around the island, then went to Haagen Dazs and did some shopping at the Tervis store there. Not sure I would do those things with little bitties, but it was nice with my 10 year old.

 

[JMHDisney]

We did conch train with two 6 year olds and they liked it for maybe the first 3 minutes of the 90 minute tour. Then we went to a nice beach with a shaded playground only to discover a ton of jellyfish. Key west just isn't a great stop for little kids.

There is a shark tour - key west extreme adventures - that takes you out on a boat to see lemon sharks. We had planned to do that but they left without us when debarkation was delayed due to a medical emergency. There are a lot of boat tours available, although probably not that much fun for little kids.

If I went back and couldn't find a day pass at a hotel with a nice pool, I'd just get off the boat for ice cream or key lime pie and call that good. I don't know why Disney stops there. It's really more of an adult destination. Of course, you can always leave the kids in the kids club and have an adult day in KW!

 

[Sunburn107]

There is a Butterfly conservancy with tons of birds and butterflies that my kids loved. It's good for about 30-45 min if you want to get off the boat and do something for a little bit. We did that, walked to the Southernmost point to take pictures, and stopped for key lime pie.

 

[phinz]

Dante's has a restaurant, bar and very large pool. That's something to consider. It's mostly adults, but I don't recall them ever turning kids away. http://danteskeywest.com/

I think Westin Sunset Key (which will always be Tank Island to me) has day passes, but you can't reserve them ahead of time, so they may be sold out when you try. This was a few years ago, so they may not even do it anymore. I would call them ahead of time to find out. http://www.sunsetkeycottages.com/ You can also rent chairs/loungers at South Beach. At that rate, though, I'd just go to Ft. Zach. http://www.fortzacharytaylor.com/

The problem with going into Key West blind is that most people wind up following the tourists, and that means TShirt shops and drinking on Duval. There's so much more to see. If you guys ride bicycles and your kids can ride in a bike seat, you could always rent bicycles and really see The Rock. I personally love to ride a bicycle around the Key West Cemetery and explore some of the small lanes that most people don't even notice.

 

[wcw57]

I have been to Key West a bunch of times....

the thing that EVERYONE (well, almost) does there is DRINK. A LOT!!

 

[Donna3271]

I feel your pain!

We've done the Key West thing so many times. We will just stay on the boat this time and enjoy the pool.

 

[laceltris3]

Same dilemma here. Kids are 9, 6 and 4 at the time of the cruise. I was going to take the older ones on the White Knuckle Thrill Boat excursion, but it looks like they dropped it and I am having trouble finding recent information online. We may hit the aquarium and call it a day. We are there in December so hopefully if we skip it we can watch Star Wars.

 

[MUN]

Do your kids like Hemingway? The Hemingway house would be a fun visit. How about history? The Truman summer White House could be worth a visit. Have you been to the southernmost point in the continental United States marker?

 

[Quellman]

Do your kids like Hemingway? The Hemingway house would be a fun visit. How about history? The Truman summer White House could be worth a visit. Have you been to the southernmost point in the continental United States marker?

Not the OP - But I'm not sure Farewell to Arms or the Old man and the Sea are light bedtime reading for a 3 year old....

 

[Muskegon78]

We did a trolley ride and walked from the Southernmost point back toward the ship, stopping for snacks/drinks at a restaurant on the way. Watched the sunset before getting back on the ship

 

[MUN]

Not the OP - But I'm not sure Farewell to Arms or the Old man and the Sea are light bedtime reading for a 3 year old....

I agree with you on Farewell to Arms, but Old Man and the Sea is perfect for children.

MUN

 

[phinz]

We did a trolley ride and walked from the Southernmost point back toward the ship, stopping for snacks/drinks at a restaurant on the way. Watched the sunset before getting back on the ship

Rarely will a cruise ship be in port long enough to watch the sunset. When walking back to the ship from the other end of the island, I can't recommend Blue Heaven for pie (there will be a wait anywhere but the bar) enough. Their key lime pie is the second best I've ever found in Key West.

 

[AndreAggie]

We're going to have 2 5-year olds and an 8 year old on our stop in Key West. We've narrowed it down to either a quick visit to the aquarium and back on the ship or maybe a dolphin watching tour. Whatever we do, I'm not walking the kiddos down any streets in Key West! We're going to be there during spring break.

 

[dcassetta]

Rarely will a cruise ship be in port long enough to watch the sunset. When walking back to the ship from the other end of the island, I can't recommend Blue Heaven for pie (there will be a wait anywhere but the bar) enough. Their key lime pie is the second best I've ever found in Key West.

Okay, I'll bite (pun intended). What's the best?

 

[bbn1122]

My boys were a little older our first visit. We did the Aquarium, Shipwreck Museum and they went to Ripley's Believe Or Not. And had a great lunch.

Mallory Square is great right before sunset, but not sure if the ship is there till then.

The first time with DCL went to Zachary Taylor State Park Beach. It about a 20 minute walk, you could take a trolley or taxi. The beach area had a playground, sun and shade. There was a food service, the beach was a little rocky but it nice. We rent chairs and umbrella. There also were showers and pretty clean bathrooms. It was a nice park....the Fort also can be toured.

 

[phinz]

Okay, I'll bite (pun intended). What's the best?

Fausto's Food Palace in the bakery. It's usually sold out. I've only found it twice in my many, many times haunting their aisles.

 

[phinz]

My boys were a little older our first visit. We did the Aquarium, Shipwreck Museum and they went to Ripley's Believe Or Not. And had a great lunch.

Mallory Square is great right before sunset, but not sure if the ship is there till then.

The first time with DCL went to Zachary Taylor State Park Beach. It about a 20 minute walk, you could take a trolley or taxi. The beach area had a playground, sun and shade. There was a food service, the beach was a little rocky but it nice. We rent chairs and umbrella. There also were showers and pretty clean bathrooms. It was a nice park....the Fort also can be toured.

Part of the beach is also technically farther south than the "Southernmost Point".

 

[Muskegon78]

Rarely will a cruise ship be in port long enough to watch the sunset. When walking back to the ship from the other end of the island, I can't recommend Blue Heaven for pie (there will be a wait anywhere but the bar) enough. Their key lime pie is the second best I've ever found in Key West.

We were there on the magic from 1pm-8pm in February so we had plenty of time to see it