What is the key to happiness? I think it is somewhere in the Florida Keys 🙂 I have never had a happier holiday than in Florida and I bet you will have a grand family vacation in Key West too.
Key West is the southernmost city of the continental United States and a popular, family-oriented tourist destination. People from all walks of life come here to relax and enjoy the sights and activities provided by this small island located about 150 miles southwest of Miami in The Florida Keys archipelago.
Key West is known for its incomparable sunsets, and warm waters. Still, other than those, here are some reasons why you are pretty much guaranteed a great family vacation in Key West:
- There are beautiful beaches everywhere.
If you love water activities, Key West is your dream destination. You can enjoy swimming in the warm and clear waters of Smathers Beach or snorkel along Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
- It is home to some rare and exotic wildlife as well as historical places in Key West.
The island is not just rich in flora and fauna but also amazing historic sites that tell stories about the past.
- The weather is absolutely fantastic in Key West.
If you want to escape the harsh cold winter of your home state or country, this is the place to go.
- It has a vibrant nightlife in Key West.
The party never stops in Key West, and many friendly bars provide live music where both adults and children can have fun together.
- There are plenty of family-friendly restaurants and hotels in Key West.
The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, lodges, and guest houses catering to families, so finding a good place for you and your family to stay will not be a problem at all.
- There are many activities to try out in Key West.
Key West is filled with different activities that will keep you busy for days on end. You can go kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and much more.
Top 5 Amazing Ideas for Your Family Vacation in Key West
If you are looking for some adventure during your family vacation in Key West, here are the top 5 amazing ideas.
Family Vacation in Key West Tip #1: Go to the Beach
Key West is famous for its beautiful, pristine beaches. No trip to Key West is complete without spending some time on the beach.
The beaches of Key West provide an excellent opportunity to try your hand at snorkeling and fishing. But, if you’re looking for some less demanding entertainment, just lay down your towel on one of the numerous white-sand beaches where you can bask under the sun or read a book under shady palm trees.
Here are some of the best beaches for your family vacation in Key West:
Higgs Beach
Higgs Beach is a beautiful, small beach popular with locals in a residential area near the Truman Annex military facility located south of Southard Street on Whitehead Street. You have to pass through security control at the Truman Gate to get to this secluded beach, but it is definitely worth it. From Higgs Beach, you can also go for a walk to Edward B. Knight Pier to watch the sunrise and sunset.
Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach is a beautiful, long curved beach located on the southernmost point of Key West next to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. This is one of the most popular beaches in Key West, and you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving, jet-skiing, windsurfing, or just sunbathing.
Family Vacation in Key West Tip #2: Explore the Seas
If you want to start your family trip to Key West with a bang, consider doing a cruise around the area. Exploring the seas is a perfect time to enjoy the pristine waters and chase sunsets. Key West is a cruise ship hub, with numerous ships coming and going every day. There are cruises departing from Key West for both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and through a Key West Sunset Cruise, you can see all the beautiful sunsets that Key West is famous for.
Key West also offers many charter services where visitors can enjoy deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. The waters in Key West are home to popular game fish species, including marlin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and kingfish, so if you want to test your angling skills, this is the place to go.
Family Vacation in Key West Tip #3: Visit Historic Sites and Museums
Key West is home to numerous historic sites and museums. Some are dedicated to history, art, and culture, while others are more focused on science. Among these museums, many are worth visiting, especially if your family wants to get a glimpse of the local culture and heritage.
Here are some of the well-known historic sites and museums that you should check out during your family trip to Key West:
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Hemingway House is perhaps one of the most important landmarks of the island, attracting thousands of tourists every year. It sits on a 28-acre estate that includes swimming pools, guest cottages, and docks. This is the former home of one of the best writers of the early 20th century, Ernest Hemingway. Today, this museum still preserves many objects from the famous writer’s life, including his five-ton anchor desk.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is located on the beach near the southernmost point of Key West. This fort was built in 1845 to defend the city against potential attacks by sea or land. Nowadays, it is one of the most popular places for visitors to take pictures with its old cannons and thick walls of brick and coquina.
Truman Little White House Historic Site
The Truman Little White House Historic Site is perhaps the most interesting historic site in Key West. This was the winter home of President Harry S. Truman during his term of office from 1946 to 1953, where he hosted high-profile visitors including Winston Churchill, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Charles de Gaulle, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Elizabeth II. You can visit this historic site and take a self-guided tour around the place where the former president lived and worked.
Family Vacation in Key West Tip #4: Restaurant and Bar Hopping
Key West is famous for its numerous bars and restaurants, which are found all over the island. There are so many of them that you can spend hours hopping from one bar to the next, tasting different drinks and dishes that suit your fancy.
Here are some of the most popular bars and restaurants in Key West:
Blue Heaven
If you love dining outdoors, Blue Heaven is a must-visit during breakfast and lunch. This restaurant is famous for its creatively designed restaurant and delicious eats. Just be sure to arrive early in the day because this place is usually packed, and you wouldn’t want to wait before getting yourself a table.
Rick’s Cafe
Rick’s Cafe is located on the Sunset Pier, which offers fantastic views of the sunset. This bar has one of the most incredible selections of cocktails in all of Key West and does feature live music shows which are sure to make your drinking experience memorable.
Green Parrot Bar
The Green Parrot Bar is perhaps one of the most famous bars in Key West that often serves as a starting point for many people who want to try their hand at island-hopping around Cuba or Haiti.
The Green Parrot Bar is the oldest bar in all of Key West. This makes it very popular among tourists. If you visit this place, do not forget to try out the Root Beer Barrel shot while enjoying some music. The best time to visit this place is during sunset, when you can enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean while enjoying your drinks.
Family Vacation in Key West Tip #5: Day Trip to Dry Tortugas
Dry Tortugas is a cluster of seven islands located 70 miles west of Key West which form Dry Tortugas National Park. The best way to visit the park is by taking a day trip. If you have older kids I would say the trip to Dry Tortugas is a must during your family vacation in Key West
There are several ways that you can explore Dry Tortugas. First, you can go snorkeling or scuba diving around its many reefs and shipwrecks. Another is hiking through its trails, where you have an opportunity to see wildlife, including sea turtles, Blue Footed Boobies, pelicans, egrets, and other birds. Finally, don’t miss climbing up to Fort Jefferson – a fort built in the mid-1800s to defend against potential attacks from pirates and foreign navies.
Family Vacation in Key West: Takeaway
Key West is the perfect place for those who like to live life in the fast lane. You can spend your days hopping from one bar and restaurant to another, explore its rich history at museums and historical sites, take a day trip to Dry Tortugas for some scuba diving and hiking or even island-hop to Cuba and Haiti. If you want a family vacation that is unique and memorable, Key West is one of the best places for your family to visit.
Family Vacation in Key West: Additional Resources
Do you need additional resources to plan your family vacation in Key West? You will find this guidebook very useful:
If you are looking for Key West lodging, check out hotels and current rates on the map below:
Also, check out my beach travel favorites – must have things for your family trip to Florida. Please, pay special attention to the sunblock that I recommend. You need to protect the delicate ecosystem of the coral reefs around the Florida Keys and your regular sunblock is very bad for it. Please, only use reef friendly sunblock when you swim in these pristine waters.
And one more piece of advice: don’t stop just at Key West. Other Florida Keys are great for family vacation too. Check out our earlier article about things to do in Key Largo with kids.
If you found this article about family vacation in Key West useful, please, share it with others as it may help them with their travel plans too.
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Thanks a lot! I was really looking for these ideas as I am planning to spend winter vacation here with my fam. Really helpful, thanks again.
I am glad you found it useful!