For families and large groups traveling to Key West together, the fun starts as soon as you touch down. From sunsets at Mallory Square to frozen key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate at Kermit’s, there are so many fun things to do in Key West with your family or group. Here are just a few of our very favorite activities.
Discover Fort Jefferson
For the truly adventurous family or group, consider a day trip to Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas aboard the Yankee Freedom III. If the kiddos in your pack love nature, adventure, boats and the water, then this trip is heaven. You’ll need to reserve the entire day for this journey 70 miles west into the Gulf of Mexico past aquamarine water and uninhabited mangrove islands. After a two hour sail, you’ll arrive at Fort Jefferson to tour the fort, enjoy lunch, go snorkeling and explore. You’ll be back in Key West in time for the famous sunset.
Conch Tour Train
Once you’ve discovered the waters offshore, it’s time to get the lay of the land aboard the Conch Tour Train. This 90-minute train ride departs from Front Street every 30 minutes and takes you on a journey through the history of Key West while traversing the island. You’ll learn about famous inhabitants, funny stories, charming conch cottages and fascinating points of interest, all narrated by the friendly and informative conductors.
The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
Have you ever wanted to be in a tropical greenhouse with beautiful butterflies fluttering all around you? The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is a gem for families and groups. Visit the onsite museum and then prepare to be wowed by the beautiful butterflies. Don’t forget, it’s good luck if one of them lands on you.
Hemingway House
A visit to the Hemingway House might earn the school age kids in your family extra credit when they return to school after their Key West vacation. The Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author lived on the island throughout the 1930s in a beautiful home that still stands on Whitehead Street today as a museum. Hemingway’s years in Key West were his most prolific, publishing The Sun Also Rises and For Whom The Bell Tolls amongst others during that time. Opt for a guided tour of the home by one of the experts and gain further insight into the writer, his life and his home. You’ll also encounter descendants of Hemingway’s beloved six-toed cat Snowball that roam the property today.
Parasailing
If your family or group is looking for fun and adventure during your Key West vacation, consider parasailing with Fury Water Adventures. You’ll pair up according to the captain’s instructions and then float slowly to heights up to 300 feet above the water all while strapped into a parasail. It’s an incredible way to get a bird’s eye view of Key West’s sparkling turquoise water, and it’s actually more peaceful than thrilling. Of course, you can always request a dip in the water—the most fun part!
Kayaking
With Key West’s tangle of mangrove islands, shallow water and fascinating marine life, kayaking is a fun and relaxing way to experience the island with your family or group. Go out with Lazy Dog at Hurricane Hole or consider Fury Water Adventures’ Island Adventure, which combines snorkeling with a kayaking tour of offshore mangrove islands with plenty of time to chill on a sandbar beach.