what to see with the kids

myself,husband and 2 boys(12,8) are visiting the keys in may for 2/3 days. our plan is to stay at key largo the 1st nite then cruise down to key west.the boys arent into sight seeing monuments etc but we would like to do as much as possible in the short time we have and not waste it just sitting on a beach to satisfy the kids. any advice would be welcome (other than leaving the kids at home!!!)

what to see with the kids

They should like the pirate museum... Some of the history stuff on the island can actually be entertaining as it is pretty exciting... pirates and what not.

Hopefully you%26#39;ll get luck and they%26#39;ll be like me... I should have had no reason to love key west until I was old enough to drink, but the place just latched on to me for some reason. Could spend an entire day just wandering around the island.

what to see with the kids

How old are they? KW is all about water, pirates, wrecking, fishing, boats and food! Take them on a snorkel boat, see some dolphins, go to the reef, if they are very young maybe a glassbottom boat, but get offshore and see our ocean.

Oh just saw 12 and 8.....snorkel!

I think your kids will love Key West. Get out on the water in a tall ship, maybe go fishing, and don%26#39;t miss the Sunset Celebration with all the entertaining acts.

Pirate Soul is also good for that age. Have fun!!

Limey

Rent bicycles. Key West is very bicycle friendly.

Go th the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

Go on a snorkel sail at the reef.

One of the Ghost tours might be fun for them as well.

The aquarium is fun but is small. The ticket is good for two days. We enjoy it but we are members of the zoo. Definately good to take the tour and feeding. Very cool get to touch a nurse shark. My daughter loved it.

Spend a day seeing things on the way to KW from KL. There is so much more to the keys than Key West.

Robbies in Islamorada should keep their attention for a while.

The turtle hospital in Marathon gives a real neat hands on tour.

Make a turn off in Big Pine to look for key deer and go to the blue hole.

Maybe a round of mini-golf at Boondocks.

Go to Dantes have lunch and let the boys swim in the pool for a bit.

Maybe swing through the cemetery in Key West.

Hit the Sunset Celebration for sure at Mallory Square.

Finally there is noting wrong with doing nothing.

BG: What%26#39;s the ';blue hole'; in Big Pine? Thanks in advance.

If they like the water I would get out on one of the several excursions that are offered in KW. There is one that is all day and offers activities from waverunners to parasiling to snorkeling.

I would also take them fishing on the flats for sharks. My kids loved catching a shark. You need to keep in mind that all the cool stuff to do in KW usually cost you some cash.

You can snorkel at Ft. Zach beach so I would also suggest you go there.

Go to the the Bight around 3:00 to see if you can catch any of the fishing boats coming back. It is always entertaining to see what everyone caught. There are also usually tarpon hanging out looking for a free meal from the guys cleaning fish.

My kids loved Dante%26#39;s too even though it was called Monty%26#39;s when we went. Parents can sit around the pool and have a few drinks while the kids get to swim.

We have also done the Rippley%26#39;s museum. My boys thought it was really cool.

You will find plenty to do. Have fun.

What about Ft Zachary Taylor Park and the Eco-Discovery museum (fairly new) nearby- Eco-Discovery is free just below Truman Annex and Ft. Zach is part of the admission to the park/beach- what is it, $5.00 a car?

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