19 of the best things to do in Key West with kids

It’s easy to think of the last of the Keys as more of a party location than a family-friendly destination, but with so many things to do in Key West with kids, it quickly became one of our favourite stops in our Florida Keys itinerary.

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Set right at the far southernmost tip of Florida at the end of the 113-mile Overseas Highway, there’s plenty of history to discover alongside boat trips in the National Marine Sanctuary surrounding the Keys plus some fun family attractions.

But one of the best parts of a visit to Key West with kids is how laid-back it feels: easy to stroll around the streets, nothing is ever too far away and the historic centre feels very walkable – here’s my pick of the best.

Key West Conch Train tour

One of the best ways to get your bearings, and a great way to explore Key West with kids when it’s hot or humid, the bright yellow and black Key West Conch Train putters around the streets with a guided commentary on the area.

There are four stops along the way, including one for some shopping, so you can hop on and hop off, or stay on for the whole 75-minute tour.

Along the way you’ll see quirky sights like the Southernmost Southernmost House – that is its real name, not me accidentally typing twice! So the story goes, its owner was determined to live in Florida’s Southernmost House… but when its owners wouldn’t sell up, she built a new property just across the street and claimed the title that way.

There are also stories of wreckers and pirates, including the fact that some of the earliest inhabitants of Key West made a living by simply claiming a share of profits from any wrecks off the coast – the rest of the time, they got to sit back and relax.

Add in links to Cuba and the Bahamas, tales of cigar-making and saloons, a chance to see Ernest Hemingway’s Home, Harry Truman’s Little White House and learn about Mel Fisher’s treasure hunting (read on for more about that!) plus the Key West Lighthouse, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and a whole lot more, it’s the perfect introduction to Key West for families.

Tickets are valid for one day, and give you free entry to the Sails to Rails Museum.

Key West Old Town Trolley Tour

If the Conch Train ride has whetted your appetite, or you want to explore further afield, check out the Key West Old Town Trolley Tour as well, which has 13 stops along its route, including a string of Key West hotels.

With trolley cars running around every 30 minutes, it’s easy to use it to get beyond the walkable centre of Key West, running from stops near the waterfront around Mallory Square to Bahama Village and all the way down to Fort East Martello Museum, as well as the Southernmost Point.

Tickets are valid for the day and give you free admission to the Sails to Rails Museum.

Take a boat trip

You can’t go to Key West without getting out on the water at least once – the biggest decision isn’t whether to take a boat trip, it’s which one to take as you’ll be spoiled for choice.

There are dolphin-spotting tours, snorkeling trips, as well as the chance to simply sail around and soak up the scenery.

One of the stand-out operators is Honest Eco, which uses Key West’s first electric-powered charter boat, Squid, charged by solar panels, including a dolphin watch and snorkel trip.

But you can also find similar trips with Sunset Watersports andFury Water Adventures, as well as a snorkeling trip from Sebago Watersports.

Or how about watching the sun set from the deck of a boat? Sunset cruises are better for older kids and teens than toddlers and little ones who are going to get a bit bored watching the scenery, but my 11-year-old definitely wasn’t the only child soaking up the sunset-inspired soundtrack on our trip.

We took a two-hour sunset sail with Sebago Watersports with an open bar (including staff topping up glasses with champagne) or you can also head out on a schooner with Classic Harbor Line, while Sunset Water sports has their own tour.

Key West Aquarium

The very first attraction in Key West, the Key West Aquarium first opened its doors in 1935 – admission 15 cents (and 5 cents for kids) back then!

It might cost a bit more these days, but it’s a lovely place to visit in Key West with kids, especially if you can catch one of the tours, sharing information about the marine life inside.

The aquarium isn’t huge, with a couple of main rooms and some outdoor space, but you can easily while away an hour or so looking at all the tanks lining the walls, home to reef fish, moon jellies, and tropical fish galore, as well as spotting eels and barracuda.

Don’t miss the touch tank too, which is fun with young kids, where you can get hands on with sea stars and more.

At the centre, some of the rescue sea turtles which make their home here and a chance to learn more about the different species. There are some open-air tanks too in the surrounding space, home to rays and sharks.

Book skip-the-line tickets with free cancellation here

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

There’s something about the words ‘treasure hunter’ that grip you, no matter how old you are. And the story of Mel Fisher, who spent 16 years hunting for the wreck of the Spanish galleon Atocha, makes for a great tale by itself.

The best part of the story, of course, is that he finally found the fabled treasure ship, still packed with riches centuries after it sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622.

And a visit to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum brings that story to life, with details of his long search, as well as putting some of the priceless pieces on display.

There’s also background on the Spanish conquest of South America, information about daily life and why the ships were sailing in hurricane season, but the most memorable part is seeing the astonishing finds, such as golden plates and fabulous jewellery.

Upstairs there are more rooms linked to the history of the Florida Keys, including tales of piracy (and the pirate’s code for any small buccaneers), as well as exhibits on slavery and on the Cuban Missile Crisis. One of our favourites in Key West, it’s a great place for the whole family.

Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum

Key West’s history is tightly linked to the seas surrounding it – not least all those inhabitants who made a living from the waves, from pirates and smugglers to wreckers, helping make Key West the richest city per capita in the whole USA by the mid 1850s.

Because while the reefs surrounding Key West make it a fantastic place for snorkeling and swimming today, they have been lethal for ships over history – and this quirky little museum is dedicated to all the shipwrecks in the Florida Keys.

The family friendly Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum is set over two floors in a recreation of 19th century wrecker tycoon Asa Tift’s warehouse, with genuine finds recovered from wrecks around the Florida Keys,

There are costumed storytellers as well as audio and video to help you discover more, plus some fun interactive exhibits, like trying to lift the 64 pound silver bar from the 1656 shipwreck of the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas.

And to finish the visit, head up the 65 foot lookout tower for some of the best views of Key West.

Key West Lighthouse

The first lighthouse in Key West was completed in 1825, shortly after the US Navy established a base here, to try to keep all vessels safe among the reefs in the shallow water of the Keys

Just over 20 years later, the current lighthouse was opened, half a dozen blocks from today’s seafront, to replace the original 65ft tower.

Decommissioned half a century ago, it’s now a museum and visitors can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light (again, not the best option if you’re visiting Key West with toddlers!) and learn more about its history.

That includes tales of some of its Keepers – the first to be in charge of the current lighthouse was a woman, almost unheard of at the time – as well as seeing some of their belongings, photographs and even read the words of some who lived here.

There’s a discount if you book online in advance and it’s included in the Key West Museums Culture Pass along with Fort East Martello.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

A great option for kids who love animals and nature, there’s a chance to walk among the 50-60 different species of butterflies which live at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.

A quick flap of the wings from the Southernmost Point market, over on Duval Street, the conservatory houses butterflies from around the world under its glass domed climate-controlled habitat.

Starting with a 15-minute film sharing information about the life cycle of butterflies, as well as some fun trivia, you can also learn more about the amazing Monarch migration and see caterpillars feeding along the way.

There are exotic birds to spot as well, along with two pink flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett. Flamingo fans can even book to flamingle with them once a day at 4.30 – with a maximum of six guests, you must prebook to join this.

Sails to Rails Museum

There’s another chance to learn about life at sea around the Florida Keys at the Sails to Rails Museum – included in tickets for the Old Town Trolley Tour and Conch Train, so it’s easy to stop in for a quick visit.

Discover how sail power brought treasure fleets from Mexico and South America past the Keys on their way back to Europe, as well as the 19th century Navy attempts to rid the Caribbean of pirates, plus the way shipping helped Key West boom.

Then there’s a chance to learn more about how steam power took over and the Age of Sail came to an end, as railroads opened up new frontiers across the country, its growth through the Civil War years, and how sail endured in Key West despite it all.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

If your kids are fans of Ernest Hemingway’s works, getting to set foot inside the house where he lived in the 1930s is unbeatable.

Realistically the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is going to appeal more to teens than preschoolers, although exploring the house is still fun for younger kids who’ve never read any of the author’s books. There’s a short tour of around 20-30 minutes included in the visit.

Look out for the swimming pool in the grounds too: created at huge expense, it was an enormous luxury back in the days before Key West even had fresh running water.

If your kids aren’t a fan of Hemingway’s work, there’s another temptation for younger children – cats! Around 60 live on the museum grounds – and look out for some with six toes, descendants of the author’s own six-toed cat Snow White.

Harry Truman’s Little White House

Another chance to walk in the footsteps of the great and good with a visit to Harry Truman’s Little White House – also better with older kids than little ones.

The 33rd president spent 175 days at this site in Key West during his presidency, and you can take a guided tour to learn more about its history – which started long before Truman set foot inside.

Built in 1890 as quarters for the Naval Base Commander and Paymaster, it was also visited by President William Taft, while Thomas Edison lived here for several months. President Dwight Eisenhower recuperated here after a heart attack, and John F Kennedy met the British Prime Minister here during the Bay of Pigs incident – to name just a few famous names.

And it’s here that President Truman worked on the Marshall Plan and the Truman doctrine, while also making the most of any time away from his duties to enjoy the Key West lifestyle, with history tellers sharing some more about him personally as well as the house’s place in history.

Visit the Southernmost Point marker

Take your place at the southernmost point in the continental United States – which interestingly is also the lowest latitude of land in the continguous North American states, at just about 18 feet above sea level.

The brightly painted concrete buoy is a reminder that you’re only 90 miles from Cuba here, far closer to the Caribbean islands than Washington DC.

If you just want a glimpse, you can see if from the Conch tour train and the Old Town Trolley tour, so if you have your camera at the ready, you can grab a quick photo as you pass. If you want the classic photo of your family with the marker, get ready to wait a while for your turn.

It’s best to avoid going in the peak heat as the line often stretches down the block, although people tend to be helpful about taking the photo of those in front – if you can get there early, you’ve got more chance of getting to the front fast and avoiding very bored kids wondering why they’re hanging around for this!

For another photo opp, you can also find Mile Marker 0 in Key West at the at the corner of Fleming Street and Whitehead Street – it’s around a 15-minute walk from the Southernmost Point. The sign itself often gets taken as a souvenir (a bit easier to steal than a huge concrete buoy) so there are sadly no guarantees though!

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

The southernmost state park in the continental US, Fort Zachary Taylor predates the Civil War – and still houses the largest cache of Civil War armament in the world.

You can explore the buildings to get a sense of how the soldiers posted here would have lived, as well as pretending to fire the cannon and defend the gun ports against the enemy (virtual enemies, of course, so whoever you choose to imagine).

There are daily tours at 11am as well as information to help share more background on the part the fort played in the Civil War and the Spanish-American war, with re-enactments every third weekend of the month.

If your kids have a short attention span for historic sites, the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is also home to a sand and pebble beach if you want to swim, snorkel and even fish after (or instead of!) exploring inside, with some fantastic coral reefs that are ideal for beginners learning to snorkel.

Keep an eye out for gopher tortoises as you explore the park, plus there are bike trails, nature trails and geocaching activities too.

Hit the beach

There are several beaches to choose from at Key West, including some of Florida’s best beaches with kids.

Smathers Beach is one of the most popular with families; Key West’s largest public beach, it stretches for around half a mile with watersports rental including kayaking and paddleboarding and umbrellas for hire. Bring food and drink though as there’s not much to buy once you arrive.

Clarence S Higgs Memorial Beach – or Higgs Beach for short – is closer to Old Town Key West, and has shallow calm water for quite a way out, making it a good option with younger kids. There’s umbrella rental plus some free parking here too, as well as the only shore-accessible underwater marine park in the United States.

Higgs Beach is also home to Fort West Martello and several monuments, including one documenting the site of a 19th century slave cemetery here.

Or Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is one of the closest to the Mallory Square area (though it’s still quite a walk with kids), with some great snorkeling for kids, as well as the fort’s history.

There’s also a splash pad at the Truman Waterfront park, which is great fun for toddlers and young children

Go kayaking

There are plenty of chances to kayak in Key West with kids – if you’ve got your own, just choose one of the three beaches to set off and explore, or you can rent kayaks at Smathers Beach.

For a guided trip, you can find tours to the Florida Marine Sanctuary if you want to get further out to sea.

But for something a bit different, head out into the mangroves to see a different side of the Florida Keys. This Key West Kayak eco-tour is led by a guide specialising in the area’s nature – you could spot dolphins, rays and turtles, as well as iguanas, birds and other local wildlife, while learning about the area’s seagrass beds and mangrove forests.

You do have to head to Geiger Key, near Boca Chica Key for this two-hour tour, but it’s only around a 20-minute drive from Key West – fantastic if your kids love nature.

If that’s too far, or your kids are too young for the kayaking, head to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center (open Fridays and Saturdays) including an interactive mangrove exhibit

Key West Ghost and Graveyard Tour

For some spooky fun, climb aboard the Trolley of the Doomed to discover Key West’s darker side – although this isn’t a tour that’s going to terrify you out of your wits.

Expect sinister stories, macabre memories and a large helping of comedy on the one-hour Ghost and Graveyard Tour (from Old Town Trolley Tours), which also heads inside the Key West Shipwreck Museum for a haunted house bonus, to hear about a Count and his lost bride.

Key West was named one of the top 10 most haunted cities in America, so the tour isn’t short of material – everything from lynching and murder to island superstitions and Key West’s most haunted locations, including the Hanging Tree.

Unsurprisingly, it’s not suitable for children under four and is recommended for teens and older. You can go with under 13s though depending how you think they’ll enjoy it – you know best if your child will love hearing about hauntings and horror or if they’re going to have nightmares for a week.

Bike tour of Key West

What’s better than cruising round Key West on two wheels? A bike tour of Key West with Key Lime pie included!

This trip from Key Lime Bike Tours takes you through the Old Town, passing Mile Marker Zero and the Southernmost Point, as well as Harry Truman’s Little White House, Ernest Hemingway’s House, the Key West cemetery and Higgs Beach along the way.

There’s a guide to share some of Key West’s history, from smuggling to shipwrecks, with the three-hour tour finishing with a slice of Key Lime Pie.

You can also rent bikes directly if you want to explore at your own pace, with kids’ bikes and baby seats available, although you may need to reserve these if you’re looking for something specific as there are limited numbers available.

Take a walk

One of my favourite things about Key West is how walkable it all seems, and it’s made for strolling around.

We visited at Halloween, which meant everywhere was decorated for the holiday, but whenever you visit there’s plenty to see – including Key West’s famous roaming chickens.

Take a walk around the marina and Mallory Square, wander the length of Duval Street – this is the heart of Key West and one of its oldest parts, home to the Oldest House Museum and Garden, a conch cottage built in 1829.

Or head down to the harbor where the boat tours set sail, with plenty of seats outside the restaurants and shady spots to stop as well.

You can even get self-guided walks of Key West to learn more about what you’re seeing along the way.

Save time to stop in Mallory Square Dock towards the end of the day for Sunset Celebration too, with street performers (occasionally a bit risque), street food, and stalls selling tempting arts, crafts and souvenirs popping up for the evening, while everyone waits for the sun to sink below the horizon.

Dry Tortugas National Park

While the Dry Tortugas National Park isn’t in Key West itself, it makes for a fantastic day trip while you’re at the tip of Florida.

Best for families with teens and older kids, as it takes some effort to reach – the National Park is around 70 miles from Key West, so you need to travel by boat or plane to this archipelago of seven small islands. It’s beautifully unspoiled but that also means there’s none of the facilities you might need with young children.

The coral reef and shipwrecks are perfect for snorkeling and diving though, and the scenery is simply idyllic, so it’s well worth the effort. Seaplane Beach, North Swim Beach and South Swim Beach are some of the best beaches.

The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the official park ferry, including entrance fee to the National Park and Fort Jefferson, or if you’ve got the budget, the seaplane to the Dry Tortugas has half-day and full day charter options.

Where to eat in Key West with kids

You won’t struggle to find places to eat in Key West with kids – there are some great family friendly restaurants, not to mention plenty of places to grab an ice cream.

For somewhere really memorable, head over to Blue Heaven in Bahama Village with its outdoor tables under the trees, live music, and Floridian-Caribbean menu.

Hemingway once refereed boxing matches here, although it’s calmer these days! Famous for its breakfasts (although go early), there are limited reservations for dinner which are well worth doing – the Key Lime pie to finish was the size of my head.

We also had some amazing pizza at Clemente’s Wood-Fired pizza on Fleming Street, which was great for sharing if your kids won’t manage a whole one each.

There are also plenty of places to grab a quick meal including fish, sandwiches, tacos and burgers, like Two Friends Patio restaurant on Front Street.

Or Cuban Coffee Queen has delicious smoothies and breakfasts as well as Cuban sandwiches.

Where to stay in Key West with kids

You’ll find plenty of family-friendly places to stay in Key West, including our own gorgeous base for our trip at Opal Key Resort.

With rooms overlooking the marina, there’s a fantastic pool and poolside bar, breakfast overlooking the water and spacious airy rooms in cool blue and green tones. Downtown Key West is right on the doorstep too, so we couldn’t have had a better location, plus it manages to feel luxurious and family-friendly at the same time.

To make sure you’re never too far from the sights, try to pick somewhere close to Mallory Square or the marina, or close to Duval Street (although not on it, as the restaurants and bars are buzzing until late).

Find more ideas of hotels in Key West here, including big name chains like Hyatt and Marriott although these tend to be further from Old Town, as well as places like Parrot Key Resort.

If you prefer having your own space, I’m a big fan of Plum Guide which vets its apartments and villas individually, and has a couple of properties in the Florida Keys.

When to plan your Key West break

It pays to time your break in Key West with kids to get the best of the weather and to try to avoid the crowds – as there’s famously one major road through the Florida Keys, you don’t want to spend it stuck in traffic on the Overseas Highway!

And while March to May has some of the best weather, Spring break wouldn’t be my first choice for a family trip!

December to February is cooler (for Key West) but you can still expect temperatures in the mid 70s, which is perfect for exploring with kids.

When we visited in late October/early November, it was warm, the weather was still generally very good (although occasionally a bit windy for boat trips) and we weren’t fighting the crowds so it’s another good time to consider.

Hurricane season sees the worst tropical storms from mid-August to the start of October, so it’s best to avoid those weeks if you can too, as well as dodging the high temperatures and humidity of midsummer.

Lastly, if you can check when cruise ships are visiting, do: it made a big difference between our first day exploring when one ship was docked and the rest of our stay after the day trippers had gone home. You can also check when major events are planned on the Florida Keys Tourism website.

For my complete six-day Florida Keys itinerary with kids, check out this post

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. Some content was free of charge for the purposes of review, but all opinions are my own

Conch train/harbor/boat trip/aquarium/maritime museum/mile marker/food/Opal Key Resort copyright MummyTravels, all other images courtesy of Depositphotos/Shutterstock

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