A Scenic Key West Day Beyond Duval Street
A family vacation in Key West Florida can start with a one hour drive that turns the journey itself into an adventure. The 7-mile bridge offers beautiful ocean views, making the drive part of the experience before you reach Key West. Once there, explore the island at your own pace and enjoy family-friendly Key West beyond the famous Duval Street. For a relaxed island exploration, take a scooter around town and see more of the local scenery.
I spent time exploring every inch of the island and found some of the best things to do in Key West, from unique places to eat and places to eat to quiet hidden gems. While work once kept me near a shop’s window, I could still admire massive ships and yachts and catch the sunset during the Key West sunset celebration. That Key West Day showed me that a vacation here is about more than Duval Street; it is about seeing the ships, enjoying the ocean, and finding your own memorable moments in Florida.
Key West with Kids
A family vacation in Key West can be an exciting Key West Day for families who want to experience family-friendly Key West. The one hour drive becomes part of the adventure, especially when you cross the 7-mile bridge and enjoy views of the ocean. I found that the journey itself added to the experience, making it easy to keep kids interested before reaching the island.
Where is Key West?
Key West sits in the Florida Keys, a string of islands surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. As the southernmost city in the continental U.S., it combines tourism, cultural diversity, historic sites, and natural beauty with a welcoming local atmosphere. Peak season can make standard hotel rooms cost around 450-600 per night, while the off-season may offer accommodations around 200-300. Travelers can save on food by choosing accommodations with a kitchen, while hotels farther from Duval Street may provide a shuttle to Old Town/Duval.
Where to Stay
For a comfortable stay, The Perry Hotel Key West stood out to me because the rooms were modern, the grounds were gorgeous, and the views of the marina were excellent. The pool area had a resort feel, while Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar made it convenient to enjoy breakfast and dinner right on site. From my experience, choosing the right hotel can make exploring Key West easier while giving you a relaxing place to return to after a day of sightseeing.
Southernmost Point
The Southernmost Point may feel touristy, but it makes a cool memento and gives you a chance to take a picture at the southernmost point in the United States. I remember taking a photo there with Ryan 12 years ago, and returning to capture an updated photo with our son made the visit even more special. After leaving Fort Zachary Taylor, we stopped at the point, where the boys and I quickly snapped a picture while Marty drove around the block.
On Whitehead St., you can also visit the Key West Lighthouse, which now serves as a museum. Climb the eighty-eight steps to the top for a wonderful 360-degree view of the island, then explore the small museum and watch a short film about the history of the island and the original lighthouse keepers. This quick stop adds a little history and a great view to your Key West sightseeing.
After a fun-filled day in Key West, we headed back to Marathon Key to end our day. The boys had even jumped out of the truck without their shoes, which made the quick Southernmost Point stop feel even more like a relaxed family adventure.
Take the Seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park
Our plan to snorkel at Key West Marine Park gave the kids a great chance for interactive learning, but choppy waves changed our plans. Instead, we headed to Zachary Taylor beach to swim and dig in the sand, which still made for an enjoyable family activity. For me, the bigger adventure came from choosing to experience the sea plane to Dry Tortugas. Because I get motion sickness, we chose the 45 flight instead of the 2 hour+ ferry, and the extra cost felt worthwhile.
The birds eye views made the flight unforgettable, with incredible sights of the ocean, shipwrecks, sharks, turtles, and Fort Jefferson. We spent a 1/2 day there, which gave us enough time to snorkel, swim, walk around the fort, and enjoy the area. If you want more time, you can stay for a full day or choose to camp, making Dry Tortugas a memorable part of a Key West trip
Shop on Duval Street
Duval Street gives you plenty of ways to shop, eat, and enjoy the local vibe. You can browse beach fashion, souvenirs, art galleries, and curiosity shops, or pick up a memento of your Key West visit. I especially enjoy finding local art when I travel, and Duval Street has several galleries and shops featuring local artists’ work. You can also find plenty of places to eat, funky bars, and piazzas where you can sit and watch the street come alive. On our visit, we drove to the south end of Duval Street, found street parking, and used the “Pay to Park” terminal, which was easy to use. After parking our truck, we walked Duval Street and stopped at shops and art galleries, finding plenty of great things to do in Key West with kids
Art Gallery
Taking kids to an art gallery can turn a simple visit into a fun learning activity, especially when you encourage them to ask questions and interact with the artwork. We started visiting art galleries in our own town, beginning with a small gallery, and I created an Art Gallery Family Hunt Sheet specifically for young children visiting an art gallery or museum. During one visit, we talked through the questions and even had the chance to speak with an artist who was dropping off work. My boys loved that hour visit, and since then, they have enjoyed going into galleries wherever we travel. In Key West, you can also browse curiosity shops, pick up a memento of your visit on a T-shirt, or find Christmas stocking stuffers such as beer bottle holders.
Savannah’s Sweets in Marathon
After a day in the Florida Keys, we headed back to the hotel for supper and then visited Savannah’s Sweets in Marathon for ice cream. Their hard packed ice cream quickly became a favorite, and choosing between different flavors and toppings made the stop feel like its own little adventure. There was a line that night, but after a hot day in the sun, ice cream felt like the perfect after-dark activity. While Marty waited in line, the kids played games, and we stayed a while after finishing our ice cream. I also loved that Savannah’s Sweets works as a gift shop, with cute kitchen items and kids games, making it a fun place to spend an hour or so.
Back at the hotel, we relaxed in the community area with other families who were recounting their day or enjoying a late dinner. We pulled out our Uno game and played a few hands, although Marty seemed to always win. Because it gets dark early, we were surprised when we realized it was only 9 pm, so we went to the room, put on our suits, and headed to the pool and tiki area. I enjoyed a Pina Colada while we played baggo and swam, and the combination of ice cream, games, swimming, and family time made it a perfect day in Marathon.
Eat Key Lime Pie!
You can’t visit Key West without trying key lime pie, and I recommend tasting it at a few places to compare the different flavors and styles. We shared a slice at several spots, and I especially enjoyed the unique twists each place added to this classic dessert. One fun option is an ice cream shop that makes frozen pies on a stick, which gives the traditional pie a playful twist. During our visit, we also tried Blue Heaven, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar, and Kermit’s Key Lime Pie, giving us several chances to experience one of the signature treats of Key West.
Indulge in a Spa Treatment at Amri
When traveling, we love experiencing different spas, and Amri stood out for its serene setting and peaceful atmosphere. Ryan and I each enjoyed a 30 minute massage with Bart, a fantastic therapist who made the experience relaxing from start to finish. For my massage, the team prepared the outdoor cabana usually reserved for couples massages, and the beautiful setting made it feel extra special. If you want a little R&R during your Key West trip, this peaceful sanctuary offers a wonderful way to slow down and relax.
Key West Shipwreck Museum
The Key West Shipwreck Museum offers an interesting look at how Key West built much of its culture and wealth around salvaging wrecked ships. This shipwrecking industry once served as the island’s main industry and helped make Key West the richest city in Florida. I found the museum fun for both adults and kids, especially because it explains the surprising skulduggery behind the old shipwreck trade.
More than 100 ships a day once sailed past the Keys, and people known as ship wreckers worked as salvage crew, rushing into treacherous waters to reach damaged vessels and their crew and cargo. The rules were especially interesting: the first person to reach a stricken vessel became the owner of its freight. That cargo could include marble, timber, stone, and valuables from Europe, often worth millions of dollars in today’s world, as ships traveled around the Keys toward the Gulf and New Orleans.
Fort Zachary Taylor
Fort Zachary Taylor is an old army post that now operates as a Florida State Park, making it an interesting stop for families exploring Key West. When we arrived, a yellow flag warned of medium hazard, light surf, and possible currents, so the great snorkeling site I had read about would have to wait. We decided to enjoy swimming and sunning instead, although the beach quickly surprised us with stones that were jagged and large rather than smooth, rounded rocks.
I have plantar fasciitis (foot pain), so walking across those rocks felt super painful, but I still made my way to the water. As soon as I could, I moved into a swimming position and swam around with the kids. Despite the uncomfortable beach conditions, getting into the water made the experience worthwhile and gave us a relaxed way to enjoy Fort Zachary Taylor without snorkeling.