Are you looking to take a family tour through Key West? We just spent an amazing weekend in the area and have curated stops a great time with your family.

This guide will focus on family-friendly options that are both paid services and ideas you can do on your own.

Snorkeling or Beach Day

Snorkeling is such a fun activity and there are many options. While there we were a part of a group that joined a chartered boat to go snorkeling in the ocean. I enjoyed that all of the work was done for me, but mind that there is usually a higher cost to this option. My children had small panic moments because they wanted to hang on me despite being good swimmers but as a whole we enjoyed the experience. We used Sunset Water Sports at 201 William St, Key West, FL 33040.

An alternative to joining a boat tour is to head to the beach and snorkel along the shore. I recommend Fort Zachary Taylor Park at 601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040. The beach has restroom and shower amenities, a cafe, picnic tables, trails, and more but you’ll need your own snorkel gear. This beach doesn’t have a strong current so it is easy to relax and few people are aware it exists. My kids preferred snorkeling here over the chartered boat.

Off-Duval Street

Duval Street is very touristy (but still fun to wander) and has its fair share of party/bar sites, not exactly a kid scene at night. There are some hidden gems off of Duval street that will interest the entire family. The first is the Key West Collective at 720 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040. It is appropriate for all ages, has a very cool collection of art, and the owners are friendly. We had such a great visit at this studio, chatted with locals, and perused some very beautiful art (all kid appropriate btw).

The next stop is Mattheessen’s Ice Cream and Candy shop at 614 Greene St, Key West, FL 33040. It is smaller than the shops on Duval Street but still has all of the great treats you could want to try. My kids loved their ice cream and cookies.

Mallory Square market is the third stop we recommend. It has a lot of local art and souvenirs, styles that I have never seen elsewhere. It is still a little touristy but in a fun way that doesn’t feel junky or the same old thing in any other souvenir shop. It has a laid back vibe, fun artistic musings, and all of the chickens you could ever want to hang out with (my son loved them).

Food

If you can convince your kids to eat seafood, try the Yummy Crab at 300 front st. (upstairs), Key West, FL 33040. Our friends had a great time dining out and trying the awesome crab boils. I couldn’t convince my kids so we opted for…not that.

I could convince my kids to eat here at Off the Hook for lunch, they enjoyed pizza and fries while I opted for seafood. You can find them at 920 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040 for a delicious dining experience.

If you’re in Key West you need to try key lime pie. We passed by this shop that was absolutely adorable, Kermit’s Key Lime Shop at 200 Elizabeth St, Key West, FL 33040. My kids had never had key lime anything before and they really enjoyed key lime pie.

Photo Ops

I was bummed when our group cancelled the photo shoot at the Southernmost Point buoy because of crowds. If this is something that you’d like to visit (I think it’s really cool), head over in the morning before crowds gather. The giant buoy is at 1400 Whitehead St, Key West, Fl. We found street parking for free because we went on Sunday morning when parking was free.

To continue your family tour through Key West, add Mile Marker 0 to your list. The marker is at 501 Whitehead St but I recommend street parking around the area and walking to the sign. The parking at the marker is insanely expensive. We stopped by in the evening because it was usually pretty crowded during the day, as you can see it was much more calm in the evening.

 Other Opportunities

There are so many things to do besides touristy stuff while in Key West with your family. First is taking some paint time, no matter your skill level. Choose your setting and just enjoy the moment together doing something fun and different. The experience of painting is so much fun no matter the end result.

Next is visiting historical sites and homes through the area. There are no shortages of museums in the area (Truman Little White House, Key West Lighthouse, Hemingway Home, and more). We took in a lot of these sites just by walking around town but you can make a stop at each if you enjoy touring homes/museums.

Last is walking the piers and harbor areas. There are many cool things to see along these boardwalk type areas. The stickered walls, local dives, checking out ship names…it’s a fun walk and all three of my kids enjoyed it.

Wrap Up

There are so many amazing things to see and do in Key West, I hope that some of these suggestions kick off an epic family weekend. If you’re road tripping down, take a read through our Road Trip Plan or scroll through our road trips supplies list.