Visiting Florida Keys with Kids: Ultimate Guide 2025

Heading to the Florida Keys with kids?

We decided to make a trip to the Florida Keys with our pre-teen and toddler, before our Disney Cruise just this past October.

I’m so glad that we made the time for ‘the Keys’, its one of the most beautiful and unique parts of the United States that I’ve seen. I loved the island lifestyle and all the things there were to do with kids.

There are a lot of animal-based things to do in the Keys, which was part of our draw for heading there as a family.

There are zoos and aquariums, but there are also sanctuaries, research centres and hospitals for injured marine life.

Of course, the Florida Keys also has tons of:

• beautiful beaches
• outdoor adventure (especially water-based) activities
• great food
• opportunities to get into the water and see some of the most stunning marine life on the planet, at any age.

So, let’s jump in – a complete guide to Florida Keys with kids!

Why We LOVED the Keys with Kids

The Keys is an amazing place to travel to regardless, but here are the reasons why we loved it as a family vacation destination in particular

There’s wildlife EVERYWHERE

We were amazed at all the wildlife we saw. Tropical birds, iguanas of all sizes (from small to a couple feet long), crabs, fish, and even wild chickens.

It was enjoyable for our kids to be able to see all these animals that we arent used to seeing in the wild at home.

Lots of animal education and encounters

Our main draw of going to the keys were all of the animal-based things to do, which I knew my daughters would both love.

My daughters are 12 and 3 years old, and both of them love seeing animals up close, studying and learning about them.

Swimming

There’s LOTS of swimming in the Keys. Many of the accommodations have swimming pool, and of course, there are more beaches than you could count.

In addition, older children could try snorkelling or scuba diving. There are countless dive places on the keys, they’re everywhere.

The ages for diving and snorkeling are as follows:

• Snorkeling: 5 years old (and knowing how to swim comfortably with a life jacket)
• Scuba diving: at least 10 years old, plus a certification. But, they can try out scuba to see if they like it

Laid-back and kid-friendly

We found the whole vibe and culture of the Florida Keys to be very relaxed and chill. We liked how kind people were to our kids, and how family-friendly all the islands felt.

Best Place to Stay in the Florida Key for Families

Which Floriday Key is best for families? To be honest, all of the islands in the Florida Keys are ‘kid-friendly’ and suitable for a family. Your preference will be based on what kind of atmosphere you as an individual and family enjoy more

Choosing a place to stay in the Keys may seem tricky. Each key has its own set of things to do.

You can drive across the entire Florida Keys in about two hours. So regardless of where you stay, you can venture off to other parts of the keys.

The main places to stay in the Florida Keys are:

Marathon (capital of the Keys)

Marathon is quieter and smaller than other cities on the Keys. It has many family-friendly activities, such as the Dolphin Research Centre, Turtle Hospital, Aquarium Encounters, snorkeling, parks and beaches.

We stayed in Marathon, and I personally loved it. If we ever go back to the Keys, I’d stay here again.

Marathon makes a good home base, since its in the middle of the keys so you can get to either Key Largo or Key West in about an hour. They call it ‘the heart of the keys’ for a reason.

We initially chose to stay in Marathon because I found a great deal on a place to stay there. It was important to us to have lots of space, and separate rooms for an affordable price – and we found that at Bonefish Bay Cabins, in downtown Marathon.

During our visit, we were so glad that we made Marathon our home. Most of the things we wanted to do with the kids were in Marathon, or nearby.

Islamorada

Islamadora is a favourite for tourists. I saw many people recommending it as a home base in the Keys for families, and when we drove through, I could see why.

It has a laid back vacation vibe, good restaurants, not a lot of nightlife. It’s about 30 minutes from Key Largo, and 45 mins from Marathon.

Key West

Key West is one of the main parts of the Keys. It has shallow beaches, exciting attractions, great parks and museums.

It would be fine to stay in Key West with kids, if you like the idea of a walkable city with lots of things to do. But, its also very expensive and it has a party atmosphere as well.

Just keep in mind that Key West is very ‘busy’ and it is a bit of a party destination. But its also very walkable, and likable and has many family-friendly activities. Read my post on best things to do in Key West with kids.

Pro Tip: If you want to visit Dry Tortugas National Park (which I’ll give you some info on below) you need almost a full day as its a 2 hour ferry ride from Key West. Even if you don’t stay in Key West, it may be worth it to do one overnight there if you want to visit both Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Key Largo

Key Largo has some things to do, such as the Florida Keys Visitor Center, Wild Bird Sanctuary, restaurants, beaches, and boardwalks.

However, I wouldn’t recommend staying there the whole time you’re in the keys. Key Largo is worth a visit, but its a bit ‘far out’ from everywhere else on the keys.

Many parts of Key Largo also have more of an ‘industrial’ feel than other places on the Keys. We just visited Key Largo on the way out of the keys, which was the perfect amount of time in my opinion.

Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key is the island that is famous for being inhabited by wild deer.

Big Pine Key is about 30 minutes from Marathon, so it would be a quiet place to stay and not too far from all the things you’d want to do in Marathon (Turtle hospital, Aquarium Encounters, etc.)

Check out places to stay in Big Pine Key here.

Here are the things to do in the keys with kids, and their location.

Things to Do in The Florida Keys with Kids

So you know that you’re heading to the Keys. Here are some of the specific things to add to your itinerary there with kids

1. Visit a wild bird sanctuary

Location: different locations in Key Largo, and Marathon

There are a couple of bird sanctuaries in the Keys – one in Marathon, and the other (Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary) with two locations in Key Largo.

I personally didn’t love the way the one in Marathon looked, so even though we were staying there, we decided to head to the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary near Key Largo, on or way out of the keys.

We were so glad that we made a stop at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, it was a really good experience. It’s a short activity (you can see it all in just under an hour) and it’s mostly shaded paths.

By coming here, you’re also supporting a good cause. The staff at the Bird Sanctuary told us that the sanctuary has purchased a whole bunch of land, specifically so that no one builds on it – it provides an important habitat to the islands’ native birds.

Admission to the Key Largo one is technically free, but they ask for a ‘donation’ of $10 per person.

We didn’t have cash on us, but luckily, they have a machine on site that allows you to pay via Paypal or Venmo.

Pro Tip: The education center in the photo above is just 2 minutes down the road from the bird sanctuary, and I recommend stopping here as well. It has an interactive museum where you can learn about the birds and their habitat, and there’s a small gift shop.

2. Visit the Butterfly Conservatory 

Location: Key West

The Butterfly Conservatory is small, but worth a stop in if you’re in Key West. I’ve been to butterfly conservatories before, but I’ve never seen so many active butterflies fluttering around like at this one. It was almost magic.

The conservatory is small, and you could easily visit it in under an hour.

There are butterflies, as well as a few flamingos too! There’s also a large giftshop to browse through as well.

Pro Tip: The butterfly sanctuary It’s right around the corner from the ‘southernmost tip of the US.’

3. Visit the Sea Turtle Hospital

Location: Marathon

The sea turtle hospital cares for injured and sick sea turtles. There are also some permanent residents that have been deemed unreleasable. The only way to visit is to do a 90-minute tour.

All ages are welcome, and we brought both our 3-year-old and 12-year-old.

We were worried that the 90-minute tour would be too much for our 3-year-old, but she was fine – and we saw other toddlers her age, and even younger doing the tours.

Your tour is with a group of other people. It starts with a presentation that lasts about 25 minutes, followed by about an hour walking through the hospital and seeing the turtles.

It’s important to know that there’s no handling of animals at the hospital because its a real hospital with a genuine purpose of putting the animals first.

However, you do get to see many turtles up close, and the kids get to feed the turtles at the end of the tour. You can book the tour on their website.

4. Stop by the Books and Books Bookstore

Location: Key West

Popular middle-grade book author Judy Blume has her own bookstore right in Key West.

I grew up reading Judy Blume, and my daughter has now read more of her books than I ever did, so visiting her bookstore was a must for us.

I emailed the bookstore in advance to ask if Judy Blume would be there when we visited, or if there’d be any chance of seeing her, and they responded with such a kind email.

Unfortunately, Judy Blume was away during our visit, but the bookstore put aside a signed copy of one of her books for us, and my 12-year-old was given a letter from Judy Blume (that they give to all fans while she’s out) and her photo taken with the life-size cut-out.

I should add that the bookstore sells all kinds of books, not just ones written by Judy Blue.

Pro Tip: The bookstore is also pretty close to downtown Key West. We walked there in just a few minutes. The building that its located in also has restrooms on the 3rd or 4th floor (ask the staff, and they will direct you to where the elevator is.)

5. Do a glass-bottom boat cruise

Location: Key Largo

Glass-bottom boat cruises allow you to see the ocean floor, including fish and coral, without having to get into the water.

It’s a great way to admire the coastline of the Keys, as well as be able to see what the underwater looks like

There are a few different providers for glass bottom boat tours in the keys, they are:

• John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo – $50 per adult, and $26 for kids 4+. Book here
• Robbies of Islamorada is Islamorada- $75 for adults, and $50 for kids 5+. Book here

6. Visit the Dolphin Research Center

Location: Marathon

The Dolphin Research Center is supposed to be a rescue facility for dolphins that were born in captivity or for other reasons, can’t live in the wild.

I went back and forth on whether to book something here, because of my strong feelings that dolphins shouldn’t be in captivity.

Ultimately, we decided to buy general admission tickets, because we wanted to see the dolphins.

You can book tickets online at the Dolphin Research Center website.

7. Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

Location: Marathon

There were a couple of aquariums to choose from in the keys, but since we were staying in Marathon, we went with this one.

This was one of the things we did in the Florida Keys where our kids were the most engaged- there were so many animals to look at.

It was such a relaxed setting too. When we were there, it wasn’t crowded at all and it was just a great overall experience.

We bought a “feed pass” which allowed us six feedings to split between our two kids. They could pick the animal they wanted to feed, get the specific food for that animal and then go feed them.

I saw that the staff was keeping track of how many times the animals were being fed, which I thought was good – they make sure they aren’t overfed.

We fed stingrays, large tortoises, small turtles, and a barracuda. Other options that I remember seeing are lobsters.

We also paid a little extra for my older daughter to feed a nurse shark.

8. Walk along a boardwalk

Location: various

Florida Keys has a few great boardwalks along the sea wall. Its a great way to get close to the water, and likely see lots of wildlife.

The board walks often they’re easy to walk and stroller-friendly. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy the views with kids.

Here are some of the well-known boardwalks on the Keys:

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Boardwalk (in Key Largo)
• Key Largo Hammock State Botanical Site Boardwalk

In addition, we saw many people jogging and even walking strollers along the Old Seven Mile Bridge, in Marathon. This is an overseas bridge that is designed to be just for pedestrians.

9. Visit Marine Life at Theater of the Sea

Location: Key Largo

Theater of the Sea is another marine life facility where you can see lots of different kinds of animals, and pay extra for special opportunities, such as swimming with dolphins or sealions, feeding sharks or going on an alligator cruise.

You can check out all of the special encounters they have available here.

We did not make it to Theatre of the Sea, because we’d already visited the Dolphin Research Center and Aquarium Encounters instead, and felt like that had been enough. Plus, Theater of the Sea was going to cost an extra $200 for all 4 of us, just for general admission. We chose to visit the Wild Bird Sanctuary in Key Largo instead, since we’d already seen lots of sea life.

10. Key West Aquarium

Location: Key West

There’s an aquarium in Key West, and they have a lot of the same animals that Aquarium Encounters (in Marathon) does, but a few others, such as sea turtles.

We did not make it to the Key West Aquarium, because we’d already seen a bunch of animals (Aquarium Encounters and Sea Turtle Hospital) in Marathon.

However, the Key West Aquarium looks really nice and I believe its worth a visit if you have the time or aren’t visiting the other aquariums.

11. Ride the Conch Tour Train

Location: Key West

The Conch Tour Train is unique to Key West. It’s an open-air, old fashioned train that takes you around Key West.

It’s NOT hop-on-hop off, but it does include some stops, and admission to some attractions.

Another option we saw was to ride the old trolley. It’s a hop-on-hop-off attraction, so you have more flexibility on how long you ride it for and where you can stop.

The prices for both are pretty similar. Check details on the Key West tours website here.

12. Get your photo taken at the US’s southernmost tip

Location: Key West

There’s a painted concrete buoy that you can get your photo in front of – its the most southern point in continental USA, and only 90 miles (144 km) from Cuba!

I will warn you, there’s usually a lineup to get your photo in front of this thing these days. We went in October, which is considered low season, and there was a line up in front of this thing.

The lineup wasn’t too bad; maybe 10-15 minutes, and luckily, mostly in the shade. We almost gave up and walked away, but then we saw it was moving pretty fast and stayed.

If you’re visiting the Butterfly Conservatory, its literally right around the corner -just a 3-minute walk. The exact address is 1300 White Street.

Pro Tip: The general area of where this point is located is a nice, walkable areas. Lots of bars and places to get ice cream and enjoy sea views. There’s the Southernmost Point Bar, and the Butterfly Conservatory less than 5 minutes walk from it.

14. Take a sunset cruise

Location: various

Sunset cruises are pretty popular in the Keys. The sun also sets pretty early (compared to where we’re from.)

Depending on the time of year you come, the sun will set between 6:45 and 7:15pm. Check sunset times here.

Many of the sunset cruises are in Key West, but there are also some in Islamadora – check a variety of options here.

We didn’t do a sunset cruise, but we enjoyed many sunsets while in the Keys just from the shoreline.

15. Take the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park

Location: Key West

Dry Tortugas National Park is a fort from the 1800s located x from Key West. Not only is the first itself very cool to walk around, but the area is home to a lot of wildlife too.

Young kids may not appreciate the historical significance of the fort as much as you would, but its still a unique place to check out and explore as a family.

Besides visiting the old fort, you can also do snorkeling and visiting the beach there.

The ferry to Dry Tortugas from Key West takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, so you need a full day to visit (which is why we couldn’t fit it in, unfortunately.) You can book it here.

16. Visit exciting museums

Location: Various

One thing I love about the Florida Keys in particular is that while it’s fun, its also educational.

I took my 12-year-old out of school to visit the Keys, and she told me how much she felt she was still learning every day – about different things than what are taught in school, but still very interesting things that she never would have learned otherwise.

In addition to the animal education centers mentioned above, here are some other museums you could visit in the Keys with kids for a unique learning experience:

• Shipwreck Museum in Key West
• History of Scuba Diving Museum in Islamadora
• Ernest Hemingway House in Key West
• Crane Point Hammock in Marathon (I was so sad that we ran out of time before seeing this one)

17. Visit the Breadfruit Grove

Location: Marathon

I have never even heard of breadfruit, but this really interesting breadfruit plantation was recommended to me when I asked locals about visiting Florida Keys with kids.

It is said that breadfruit may be “the fruit of the future,” and this is the only breadfruit farm in the US!

The only way to visit is to do a tour that can last up to 90 minutes. So, it may be best for older kids, but younger kids are welcome to tag along.

You can book a tour of the Breadfruit Grove on their website.

18. Try key lime pie

Location: Anywhere in the Keys

Key Lime pie is a staple in the keys, and you will see it on most restaurant menus.

In addition, you can find ‘key lime’ as an ingredient for several items, drinks, ice cream and more.

My 12-year-old wasn’t the biggest fan of key lime pie, but we enjoyed it. It’s almost like a very fluffy cheesecake. It’s a light dessert option.

Where to Stay in the Keys with Kids

While there are more great places to stay in the Florida Keys with Kids than I could possibly count, here are a few that really stick out to me in my research as providing a good family-friendly experience

• Budget: Aqua Lodges at Coconut Cay in Marathon. We considered staying at these as well, they look really cool, and they’re slightly cheaper than the cabin we stayed in
• Mid-Range: Cabins Bonefish Bay in Marathon (there’s a motel on site as well.) we stayed here and we highly recommend them. There’s a pool, and great views of the bay, it was quiet. Note: there is a dog that lives on-site.
• Luxury: Hawks Key Resort is a luxury accommodation in Marathon that is perfectly designed for families. We loved where we stayed, but this is several steps above (in amenities and in price)

How Long to Spend in the Florida Keys with Family

How long to spend in the Florida Keys is a family is really a matter of personal preference, but I’ll give you my two cents.

We spent 4 nights in the Keys as a family, and it wasn’t enough time to do everything.

We had a great time and we did a lot in that time, but I would recommend a day or two more if you want to do more than that if you want to do lots of the activities.

In total, I would recommend spending a week in the Florida Keys if you really want to fit everything in. (Especially if you want to do almost everything that I recommended in this article.)

Other Things to Do in the Keys with Kids by Place

All the above ideas are things that I consider to be ‘highlights’ of the Florida Keys. things that are worth making the drive from one end to the other for.

But in each place, there are a tons of other things to do as a family. Here are more ideas, by place:

Marathon:

• Marathon Cinema
• Sombrero Beach
• Eat at Bongo’s, and play on the aqua course (ages 6+)
• Porky’s Bayside Mini Golf

Key West

• Truman Waterfront Park + Eco-Discovery Center
• Fort Zachery Taylor Park (right beside Truman Waterfront Park)
• Key West Theatre

Key Largo

• Theater of the Sea, in Islamadora (20 minutes from Key Largo)
• Boardwalks
• Glass bottom boat tours

Florida Keys Family Travel FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about planning a trip to the Florida Keys with kids

Which key is best for kids?

All of the Florida Keys are great for kids, its just a matter of preference which one you have as your home-base. Key West is the most exciting place with lots to do. Marathon, Islamaodora and Key Largo are quieter.

Is Key West kid-friendly?

Key West is not the most kid-friendly, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit there with kids. It’s just very busy, very touristy, has lots of bars, shops with raunchy or risque souvenirs – it very much has a party atmosphere. I visited Key West with kids, but it would never be my preference to stay there with kids.

Are the Florida Keys safe to swim in?

Yes, the Florida Keys are generally very safe to swim in. I recommend swimming at a designated beach, so that you have the necessary safety information on the place where you’re going into the ocean (the tide, any wildlife, etc.)

Final Thoughts on the Florida Keys with Kids

I hope that this guide on family travel to the Florida Keys has been helpful to you. We were very glad that we took some time to explore the Keys, and wish we’d had more time there.

To me, being in the Florida Keys felt like being in the Caribbean, but with American culture. We enjoyed our stay a lot, and I hope that I’ve helped other families to do the same.