Key West For Families
With spring break on the horizon and summer vacation not far behind, we’ve made planning easy for you and have highlighted our top tips for visiting Key West for families! Parrot Key Resort is one of the best family hotels in Key West and offers the largest hotel rooms on the island, plus spacious one and two-bedroom Key West suites that are ideal for the whole gang.
If that’s not enough, kids love bouncing from one of four heated swimming pools and building sand castles on our white sand terrace. Plus you can get some R&R too with casual poolside dining and drinks at Cafe Blue (and plenty of options for the kids).
Families and children especially love watching a gorgeous Key West sunset from the popular Sunset Pier at our Key West hotel. Have a browse through our family activities below and feel free to give us a ring with any questions at (855) 327-7200.
Family Attractions in Key West
Key West as a whole offers endless fun for families and we’ve highlighted these activities for you! Your children can enjoy a full schedule of eco-tours, dive-snorkel outings, fishing trips and visits to area attractions. Key West is also a family-oriented community where you can find plenty of free activities to entertain your children between excursions. The following are some of the family activities in the area:
Key West Aquarium: Pet a shark at the Key West Aquarium, located at 1 Whitehead St. adjacent to renowned Mallory Square. The aquarium opened in 1934 and was one of the first family-friendly attractions in the Keys. Unique and inviting, the Key West Aquarium is home to grouper, moray eels, barracuda, tropical fish, tarpon, sharks, parrotfish and more. The touch tank features small sea creatures that children can touch and feed. The aquarium offers guided tours that include shark feeding and even an opportunity for guests to touch or ”pet” a shark.
Conch Tour Train: No visit to the Florida Keys is complete without a ride on the Conch Tour Train, entertaining visitors and families in Key West since 1958. During your stay, even if it is a day trip to Key West on a cruise ship, get a conch’s eye view of the southernmost city’s attractions and interesting stops as you tour with the ’engineers’ and helpful staff aboard the train trolleys. Kids 12 and under ride free, and discounts for military and seniors are available.
Hemingway Home and Museum: In 1935, author Ernest Hemingway received a cat named “Snowball” while living and writing in Key West. With paws featuring six toes, “Snowball” was the first of a long line of felines that has helped make the Hemingway Home and Museum one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Florida Keys. Children love seeing the unique Hemingway cats around the Hemingway Home and Museum! View a video featuring the Hemingway Cats, here.
Key West Shipwreck Museum: Seek shipwreck bounty with wreckers at the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Salvaging goods from ships wrecked on Florida Keys reefs made Key West the richest U.S. city per capita in the mid-1800s. The Key West Shipwreck Museum re-creates the salvage or wrecking era through live actors, film and artifacts from the wreck of the Isaac Allerton that sank off the Keys in 1856. Wrecking master Asa Tift guides guests through the museum, explaining the unique industry, and invites them to climb a 65-foot lookout tower to ring a bell signaling that a wreck has been spotted.
Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society & Museum: Located at 200 Greene St., the 1910 building houses a permanent collection that includes treasure from the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha. The treasure includes gold and silver bars, coins, and chains, as well as centuries-old cannons and ships’ tools. Discover the thrill of treasure-hunting by learning the story of Mel Fisher’s quest for the Atocha, while discovering the intricacies of maritime history and the tragedies of shipwrecks.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center: With its touch screens, stunning photos, and roomy theater, this educational center has become a hit with families. It’s a fun way to learn about reef and mangrove habitats before or after an excursion. The center is operated by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, phone (305) 292-0311. Admission is free at the Truman Annex Waterfront.
Mallory Square: Location- Waterfront at Front Street. This waterfront park is the site of the island’s daily Sunset Celebration. Your children will enjoy watching open-air performers and sampling food from vendors who gather here an hour before sunset each day. Your kids might even get drafted to help the performers.
Key West Nature Preserve: Location- Two entrances on Atlantic Blvd. The City of Key West acquired this undeveloped ocean-front property and turned it into an accessible natural area. Wooden walkways and trails take visitors through mangrove forests to a quiet strip of beach. Children will enjoy seeing butterflies, lizards and birds.
Key West Marine Park: Location- Atlantic Ocean from White Street to Duval Street. The near-shore waters along the southwest end of Key West have been cordoned off with buoys to create safe areas for swimming and snorkeling. Your children can view numerous species of coral, tropical fish and birds at this park set up by the local group Reef Relief.
Family amenities at Parrot Key Resort include:
- Spacious hotel rooms, plus one and two-bedroom suites
- Four sparkling heated swimming pools
- Sunset Pier overlooking Florida Bay
- Onsite Cafe Blue for poolside breakfast and lunch
- Onsite watersport rentals
- Sculpture gardens with fun designs for children
- Located a short drive from Duval Street but far enough away for a safe and quiet vacation
- Patio, porch and/or balcony with all rooms
- Cable TV service and DVD systems
- View our fact sheet for more details
To book a room call (855) 327-7200 or visit www.ParrotKeyResort.com
