Key West, Florida is known for it’s laid-back, relaxed lifestyle – but there is actually a ton of fun things to do here.
Recently, we sailed on the Carnival Magic and had a day in Key West, FL. Knowing our time was limited, I picked a few fun things to do in Key West to really get to see the whole city. If traveling with kids, here are 5 Fun Things to Do in Key West with Family:
Conch Tour Train
A great way to see any town is through a bus tour and Key West has a unique way to show off their town – on a Conch Tour Train! This hop-on & off tour took about 90 minutes and it was a great way to learn the history of the city and see all the sites. And with over 500 years of history, there was a lot to see! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. Kids ride free!
Southmost Point in the US
You know this picture – the buoy that shows you are closer to Cuba that you are the US. If you visit Key West, you must snap a picture here! The Conch Train drives right past it but has a stop later in the tour that is only a few blocks away. We waited less than 10 minutes to take the picture.
Little White House
Remember, my family really digs history, and if you do too, you must take the time to see Harry S Truman’s Little White House. We took a guided tour through the 1890 home that has almost all the original furnishings that the Truman family used when visiting. President Truman loved Key West so much, that he spent 10 working vacations here during his first term and many important events happened while he was here, including the creation of the Air Force and desegregation of the military. The docent was really knowledgeable and told us some great stories. We really enjoyed our tour to this Presidential Museum.
Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
In 1856, Key West was the richest city per capita in the US due to shipwrecks. The collection of the shipwreckage helped boost economy so much that people quickly became “wreckers”. You can hear all the history and see some of the treasures that were recovered here in Key West at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum. We loved the actors that gave us tours of the museum – it made the museum come alive and really help my children’s attention. If you go, make sure you lift the silver bar from 1656!
And then climb the Lookout Tower to get an amazing view of Key West.
Key West Aquarium
Right across the street from the Shipwreck Museum sits the Key West Aquarium, one of the first tourist attractions in the city. The Aquarium is small but offers some fun opportunities to touch and hold starfish, crabs, sea urchins, and conches. Take a guided tour (offered several times a day) and get to help feed a shark. We spent less than a half hour here, but it was a cool relief from the sun and we were able to see some of the more than 600 species of fish in the Florida Keys.
Our favorite part was spending lots of time at the touch tank right at the entrance – so many cool things to touch and hold!
Bonus: Kermit’s Key Lime Pie
If you have time, book it down to Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe for a slice of Key Lime Pie – or even better, Chocolate-covered Key Lime Pie on a Stick – YUM! They have some fun key lime souvenirs to take home as well.
Our day passed so quickly and there were so many more fun things to do in Key West that we didn’t get to try. You could definitely spend a few days here and never get bored!
My family and I were the guests of the Key West Attractions Associations, the Harry S Truman Little White House, Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum, and the Key West Aquarium. I was not financially compensated for this post. All opinions are strictly my own based on my experience.
