A family vacation to the Southernmost point of the United States should be all you need to right your mind, body, and soul. Just the incredible 3 ½ hour drive from mainland Florida is enough to take your breath away. You’ll travel over 40 bridges spanning vast turquoise waters, with views of palm trees as far as the eye can see!
Traveling to Key West with kids is the pot of gold at the end of the Highway 1 rainbow. Let your babies run around all day long and burn off all their energy in nothing more than a diaper in the tropical island climate. The fun, adventurous, and relaxing destinations within this beautiful 7 square mile island in the Florida Keys will surely fill your memory bank!
Beachin’ in Key West with kids!
In Key West, beaches are measured in feet rather than miles. This is because much of the coastline of the Keys is a coral reef, so those long stretches of white sand are harder to come by. But don’t worry, you’ll find beautiful sandy beaches if you know where to look!
1. South Beach:
The shallow, turquoise waters of South Beach draw in families looking for a fun place for their little ones to keep cool. Load up on sunscreen, and don’t forget the water wings. Kids can play safely in the knee-deep water while you watch in close proximity with a frozen drink in hand.
2. Smathers Beach:
As the largest public beach in Key West, Smathers Beach is also an excellent choice for families. You’ll find helpful amenities like bathrooms, showers, and food, as well as beautiful sand and calm waters for the kids to play in.
3. Higgs Beach:
The popular Higgs Beach is another great option. As one of the few Key West locales that offer ample (and free!) parking, Higgs Beach provides many activities and amenities. There are tons of fun items to rent in the area like kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear. If the sun gets too hot, you are just steps away from a little shade in West Martello Tower. The nearby lush gardens were completely destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. However, it has been entirely rebuilt and will provide cool relief for an hour or two of exploring and relaxing.
When you go to Key West with kids, be sure to reach out to a local BabyQuip Quality Provider who you can rent items from that you can’t pack and bring with you. You’ll find beach staples like chairs, sand toys, umbrellas, wagons, and beach tents, along with everything you need to make your stay more comfortable, like cribs, high chairs, toys, and baby baths.
Water sports galore.
A beautiful year-round climate means it’s always a good idea to be playing out on the water! Water sport experience companies like Fury can bring your Key West with kids vacation to the next level, as long as you’ve got the courage (and budget!) to pull it off. Fury offers every water activity imaginable: parasailing, dolphin tours, snorkeling, jet-skiing, giant inflatable toys to climb and jump off… you name it, they’ve got it!
You can make reservations for any one of these individual adventures, or get crazy and purchase the full package deal, their “Ultimate Adventure,” which consists of six hours of all the fun stuff—a catamaran ride, parasailing, the most amazing floating water park you’ll ever see, and so much more. They even provide breakfast and lunch with the Ultimate Adventure, so you get the day off from packing the beach cooler!
If you’re traveling with really young kids this probably isn’t for your family, but older toddlers on up are sure to have a great time. Tickets are understandably pricey at almost $200 for adults and about $135 for kids, but 3 and under get in for free and you can find some deals online ahead of time.
What the locals do…
The hardest part of vacationing in Key West with kids is saying goodbye, so some visitors decide not to! Local mom Melody Tognan says, “My wife and I are originally from New York. We lived there our whole lives until four years ago when we moved down here.” After they vacationed in the Keys they pondered what life could be like if they permanently relocated. Mom to son Alaric, Melody blogs about her parenting adventures in Key West.
“As Key West locals, a few of our favorite, kid-friendly adventures include Fort Zachary Park, The Butterfly Conservatory, and a few choice restaurants. At Fort Zach, the kiddos can play at a newly built waterfront splash pad, two different playgrounds, and even spend some time at one of our beautiful beaches.”
According to Melody. “The Butterfly Conservatory is a fun little place to see different kinds of butterflies, baby quail, and even flamingos!” Be prepared to load up your smartphone’s storage. You won’t be able to stop taking photos and videos inside the Butterfly Conservatory! Don’t forget to dress like a flower; the brighter your clothing, the more butterflies you’ll attract.
Melody also suggests, “…finishing your days at the Waterfront Brewery where your kids can play arcade games while you enjoy dinner right next to the water.”
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The Hemingway experience.
While you may not have set out with the intention of spending time soaking in American literary history while in Key West with kids, many of the hidden gems of Key West have Ernest Hemingway’s name and spirit attached to them. Bahama Village boasts many Hemingway memories and honors him even in the present day. The author spent time as a resident of Key West. Many of his famous novels written during the decade he spent calling this place home are filled with settings and characters inspired by the area.
Your tour de Hemingway can include his house, where he and his wife lived with their six-toed cat, Snow White. Today, more than 40 cats with the polydactyl trait (some direct descendants of Snow White) reside there. Catch live music and dine on sauteed yellowtail snapper at The Blue Heaven Restaurant which was known as The Blue Goose Arena during Hemingway’s day. The celebrated author refereed boxing matches there.
Take care of your feet!
If you are doing Key West with kids, forgo the rental car and rent a stroller instead. Parking is limited on the island. Traveling on foot or by bicycle are the preferred methods of transportation, but all that walking and peddling can do a number on your feet…and your little ones will tire out fast.
Reward your tootsies with famous Kino Sandals from the Kino Sandal Factory. Yes, you can buy them online, but visiting the actual factory where the sandals are handmade with quality leather makes for an experience unique to Key West. Many locals and visitors swear that these are the comfiest sandals available, and they come in styles for the whole family. For less than 20 bucks a pair, you can walk in comfort all day and even knock out some of your Christmas shopping!
Hop aboard the Conch Tour Train!
When your feet can’t take any more walking, check out this fun guided tour a la motorized choo choo train! Sit back and enjoy 75 minutes of old town Key West sightseeing and storytelling from the Conch Tour “engineers.” The open-air seating makes you feel like you’re up and close and personal with this fun and historic little town.
You’ll start right by Mallory Square and head up Duval Street, Key West’s lively main drag. You’ll see the Key West Lighthouse, the marker for the “Southernmost Point” in the US (Instagram photo op alert!), and the quaint neighborhoods full of “conch house” architecture that makes this place special.
The train departs every 30 minutes throughout the day and kids three and under are free. Buy tickets online ahead of time for substantial discounts!
It’s a pirate’s life for me.
The history buffs in your family will enjoy learning of the island’s origins at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum. It’s a great rainy day activity, which you will probably need during a visit to this tropical climate, and the kids will totally dig the artifacts and treasures from actual shipwrecks.
It’s pretty small and quick (probably only about 45 minutes of self-guided entertainment), but it packs a good punch. Get your souvenir coins and jewelry for your trip home at the gift shop. The Shipwreck Museum finale is a tower climb for the ultimate view of Mallory Square and the gorgeous turquoise waters that the Florida Keys are so famous for.
Catch the sunset in Mallory Square.
You might have to keep the family out past bedtime, but a sunset celebration in Mallory Square is a fun and beautiful part of the experience when you do Key West with kids! During the day you’ll find that this is a fun and touristy little area to explore, but as the day winds down, this place really starts up!
Bring some small bills and let the kids tip the incredible street performers. You’re likely to see acrobats, fire breathers, and a wide variety of other amazing acts. It’s a great place to walk, shop, and just hang out while you wait for the sun to dip into the ocean. Children will love watching the boats go by and get a good dose of late-day energy from the fun buzz in the air.
Enjoy the sunsets, people watch, stroll the streets, take selfies, and above all spend plenty of time with your toes buried in the sand. A vacation to Key West with kids will do wonders for everyone’s state of mind!
Angela is a hardworking wife and mother. She is a radio personality and a BabyQuip Quality Provider. She lives with her husband, Scott who also works in radio. Their five children are Lincoln, Sunny, Anthem, Braddock and Loxley. She lives in Lebanon, Oregon.
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