When you hear fun in the Florida Keys, do the words from The Beach Boys’ song, “Kokomo” start running through your head?
“Off the Florida Keys, there’s a place called Kokomo, That’s where you wanna go to get away from it all, Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand, We’ll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band, Down in Kokomo” ~ Beach Boys
If yes, it is best to start planning a trip to discover more of Florida:
- The best snorkeling on Key West
- Fun things to do in the Florida Keys
- The Key West Southernmost Point Buoy
- Things to do in Key West with kids
- A Key West sunset to round out the day
And if you are tired of the cold and snow where you live, Spring Break is an awesome time to visit Florida.
17 Things to Do For Fun in the Florida Keys and Area
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1. Pick Strawberries at Knaus Berry Farm
Don’t forget to spread on the Sunscreen before heading off to a U-pick strawberry patch called Knaus Berry Farm. That is not to be confused with Knott’s Berry Farm in California.
Knaus Berry Farm is a much smaller operation that boasts fresh cinnamon rolls in the bakery as well as ice cream, milk shakes, and fresh vegetables at their roadside stand. And, of course, rows of strawberry plants ripened in the Florida sun just ready for the picking.
We filled a two pound container during our visit. And let me just say, two pounds is a lot of strawberries to eat. Just note that they won’t be as nice the second or third day as when they are freshly picked. We paid just under $10 for the strawberries.
2. Visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Our arrival at Bill Baggs State Park was later in the afternoon and big signs were posted at the entrance that the beach was CLOSED. Boooo. I imagine that we could have waited in line for other cars to leave the park (as cars leave, more cars are allowed in).
We had been looking forward to spending an afternoon at the beach at Bill Baggs State Park which boasted a variety of activities for families. Weekends in Florida are an extraordinarily busy time for the beaches.
My recommendation is to get there early in the morning if you want to have some fun in the Florida Keys.
I was disappointed to miss out on seeing the lighthouse.
3. Enjoy the Beach at Crandon Park
Instead of waiting, we chose to double back to Crandon Park a couple of miles away located on the Atlantic side of the Florida Keys. Amy and Kristen were excited to hit the sandy beach and play in the ocean whether it was Bill Baggs or Crandon Park. It was all warm weather and fun in the Florida Keys and surrounding area!
If you are like me and try to stay out of the sun, there are plenty of palm trees providing shady spots along the beach where you could spread out your towels.
Chris and the girls were off to the ocean. Fun in the Florida Keys for the girls is equal to playing in the ocean. I relaxed on a towel in the shade keeping an eye on our Foldable Cooler, Tote Bag, and stuff and enjoyed the afternoon. It was in the high 70s and just a great day for lazing at the beach.
Playing in the water? That was a different story. Kristen and Amy came back after ten minutes or so to start working on their tans. I joined Chris in the water, and it was not exactly warm. I waded in a short ways, but wasn’t interested in immersing myself. I’m kind of a chicken when it comes to cold water!
Check out more of the best Florida Keys State Parks for things to do in Key West with kids (and the surrounding area).
4. Kayak at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
We planned to kayak through the mangroves at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Depending on traffic, the park was about 45 minutes to an hour from our hotel in Homestead.
We grabbed our hats and Visors, applied our Sunscreen, and packed up a lunch in our Foldable Cooler.
The Sunday traffic for us was crazy busy and slow. I’m sure it was extra busy because it was the weekend. These drivers just could not manage a merge lane without having to stop traffic completely.
And, you might as well know, most people didn’t seem to know that they had a turn signal in their car either!
Our reservation for Kayaking Through the Mangroves included two double kayaks for two hours. If you are looking for different kinds of things to do in Key West with kids, kayaking should fit the bill.
Amy and I paddled together while Chris and Kristen occupied the second kayak. Amy and I were fairly crazy drivers as we tried to coordinate our oars and efforts.
The kayak tour employee suggested a route that might have taken two hours, but we found we could have finished it in an hour. Instead, we paddled around through the mangroves, finding some dead ends and many low-hanging branches to entangle our hair and our oars.
I recommend that you wear swim bottoms as you will get wet from paddling the kayak. I just had on some capris and they were soaked within a short amount of time. As they dried, the saltiness of the water left white water marks all over them.
5. Walk Through Mangroves at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
We returned the kayaks and went in search of a covered picnic table, unpacked our food from the Foldable Insulated Cooler, and dined on our lunch fixings. The day and the weather in Florida was just perfect. In contrast, the recent snow in Colorado was still melting. We were having much more fun in the Florida Keys!
You can follow paths through a hammock (stand) of trees and try the boardwalk through the mangroves. The boardwalk didn’t take us far as it had been damaged in the last hurricane. Park officials decided that it wasn’t worth the effort to try and repair it.
Fun in The Florida Keys
If you are planning to drive from Homestead to Key West, the southernmost point of Key West, it should take you about two and a half hours—unless you make stops along the way.
Check out a map of the Florida Keys. There are so many amazing places to stop along the way, especially if you are searching for things to do in Key West with kids, seeking a spot to enjoy a Key West sunset, or finding places to go snorkeling on Key West.
6. Peruse the Rain Barrel Village
We stopped at the Rain Barrel Village, complete with a giant lobster—Betsy—at the entrance. The open-air mall consisted of a variety of smaller shops, boutiques, eateries and galleries offering art, custom jewelry, trinkets, snacks, and mementos. We didn’t buy anything here but enjoyed a leisure day of stopping as we pleased.
If you want to stop and snap a picture with Betsy the Lobster, you’ll find her along the Overseas Highway in Islamorada. Betsy will be on your right if you are driving toward Key West.
Truth: Vacation calories don’t count!
7. Explore Robbie’s Marina
Our next stop? Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada. Chris read about this tourist site on TripAdvisor. For fun in the Florida Keys, Robbie’s is a must-visit destination—famous for more little shops, tarpon fishing, crazy pelicans, and water sports and excursions.
Islamorada looks like an awesome place to spend your Spring Break too if you are looking for more options for things to do in Key West with kids.
We watched the pelicans fight over fish guts as small fish were cleaned for feeding the tarpons. These Florida pelicans were determined. Our girls were not interested in touching the fish or feeding the tarpons, so we just watched.
Amy and Kristen were, however, happy to stand in line for shaved ice and had orange tongues to show for it!
You’ll also find the usual tourist grabs at Robbie’s: Sunglasses, hats, jewelry, and food.
As you drive closer to Key West, Florida, the water changes to a brilliant hue of blue on both the Gulf of Mexico side and the Atlantic Ocean side. The road often narrows to two lanes with water on either side of the road.
Hint * If you haven’t planned for snorkeling on Key West, you might want to add it to your itinerary.
8. Enjoy a Picnic at the Beach
Normally, when Chris and I travel, we love to eat simply for our afternoon meals. Usually we find bread, cheese, meat, some carrot sticks, drinks, and fruit.
Of course, the lunch fare tastes a little better in the Italian countryside, but we enjoyed it in Florida too.
Staying hydrated as you travel is important. Especially important when you are in the sun all day long while playing tourist and seeking the sun and fun in the Florida Keys.
Travel Tip: Pack a Foldable Insulated Cooler in the bottom of your suitcase. That way you can fill it with drinks and lunch as you take day trips. I also pack a gallon-size Ziploc bag and fill it with ice from the hotel’s ice machine. It works like a charm to keep snacks, lunches, and water bottles cool.
I also recommend that you place some of your water bottles in the freezer (if your hotel room has one) or the in-room fridge if that is available. Add ice to the bottles in the morning.
We stopped for a quick lunch at one of the pull offs and enjoyed the sandy beach, blue sky, and azure blue ocean. Lots of families were enjoying the small bit of beach as well. Stopping should be on your list of things to do in Key West with kids.
9. Things to Do In Key West with Kids—Explore!
We arrived at our hotel in Key West; it was not nearly as impressive as the TownePlace Suites in Homestead. We had a single room with two queens for the next two nights.
If you have ever been to Key West, you know that roosters and chickens of all shapes and sizes have their run of the island. And you’ll know it when they start crowing at 4:45 in the morning. You might even find yourself muttering, “Stupid roosters” each morning.
The roosters and chickens are everywhere! Why?
“There have always been chickens in Key West. When people stopped the laborious process of turning live chickens into Sunday dinner many decades ago, some backyard chickens gained their freedom. Other roosters were released when cock-fighting became illegal.” ~ Florida Rambler
We arrived with just enough time to unload all of our stuff in the hotel room, pack up a few things in a backpack, and catch the shuttle bus to the Historic District of Key West. The bus driver was kind enough to wait for Chris to join us as the girls and I had rushed out of the room to catch the shuttle before it left.
The shuttle ride took about 15 minutes. The Historic District and Mallory Square were lively with tourists of all kinds and ages—all having fun in the Florida Keys.
Did you know that Key West is just a stone’s throw from Cuba? Perfect if you have ever thought about visiting Havana and the colorful island of Cuba.
10. A Scavenger Hunt: Another Fun Thing to Do In Key West with Kids
Our plan? Start the Urban Adventure Quest Scavenger Hunt that Chris had purchased. We have completed these scavenger hunts in various locations across the United States and always have fun with them. This Florida version did not disappoint.
The scavenger hunt is an outdoor adventure where you will be solving clues and completing challenges as you learn the history of an area; it lasts between two to three hours. Add this to your list of things to do in Key West with kids.
This one began to wear on a little long, especially after we got locked into a gated neighborhood and had to wait for some residents to come along and let us out!
The instructions suggested that we plan to be done with the hunt by 7 pm when they cemetery closed. The girls and I were all adamant that we DID NOT want to get locked into the cemetery!
The Urban Adventure Quest will have you counting anchor links, looking for the ingredients of Kermit’s Key Lime Pie, and unscrambling words to name a few family activities for Key West, Florida.
11. Try Key Lime Pie
We stopped at Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe to taste some of their offerings. Key lime pies in Key West are awesome.
Fun in the Florida Keys includes trying tasty treats!
Amy and Kristen tried a lime slushie and Chris and I shared a dark chocolate-covered frozen slice of key lime pie on a stick (Delicious!. Enjoy your treats on their cute patio.
12. Enjoy Dinner Around Mallory Square
Since we ended the scavenger hunt by the cemetery shortly before 7 pm, we started walking back toward the main center of activity at Mallory Square. Mallory Square is a hub of activity with tourist shops, restaurants, museums, boat tours, hotels, and spas. You’ll find a little bit of something for everyone in your group.
We came upon a restaurant out of the tourist section of town—Mangia Mangia. Some of the locals said it was their favorite place to eat. We always love to find non-touristy locations since they are quieter and usually have great food. Mangia Mangia is rated by Fodor’s as one of the best places to eat in the Key West, Florida.
Mangia Mangia offered a great selection of fresh pastas. To avoid the abundance of extra food that we had the previous night, we ordered two entrees and two salads to share. The amount was just right.
You can even purchase one of their shirts! “Pasta to the People!”
13. Try Snorkeling on Key West at Bahia Honda
Bahia Honda pronounced Ba-ee-a-onda.
You’ll want to drive back along the Florida Keys and Highway 1 to Bahia Honda State Park at mile marker 37 in Big Pine Key for a Snorkeling Expedition and then plan to spend the rest of the day at the beach. If you scroll up to check a map of the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda is between Big Pine Key and Marathon (close to the Highway 1 marker on the map).
If you plan calls for snorkeling on Key West, plan to book your adventure and arrive early in the day before the parking lot is full. The Park allows 100 cars in (it has capacity for 150) and when it is full, the cars still arriving have to wait for cars to leave before they are allowed in.
Give yourself plenty of time at the snorkeling expedition office to fill out waivers, get some snorkel equipment, and be fitted for and change into wetsuits.
In the words of Amy, “There’s nothing like wearing a wetsuit to make you feel even ‘better’ about yourself!” Indeed! The wetsuits weren’t necessary for the snorkeling, but they sure did take the edge off the colder water.
Captain Dave and his assistant Annie were our guides for the day as we boarded the Sundance for our morning excursion.
Captain Dave drove us about 30 minutes out to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary where our boat was anchored and the 31 guests were allowed to snorkel. It was the first time snorkeling for Kristen. She and I got to use the new masks that Chris had ordered. They covered our whole face and were so much easier to breathe in and use.
Did you know that Johnson’s Tear Free Baby Shampoo diluted with water is great for keeping your snorkel mask from fogging up? Before we put the masks on, Annie went around and squirted the solution into everyone’s mask. Worked like a charm.
With the excursions we chose, we had about an hour and a half to snorkel before heading back to the state park.
There were plenty of fish to see in a variety of colors. We even saw deep sea divers, a barracuda, and a small shark!
If you have time before you leave on your trip and you will be playing in water, invest in a Waterproof Camera or GoPRO and have a little fun.
After peeling off the wetsuits and turning them back in after our tour snorkeling on Key West, we found a shady spot for lunch and spread out our towels. Again, our cooler came in handy.
After snorkeling, you can check out Old Train Bridge or find a spot on the beach with a rented umbrella and sand chairs to relax. Ahhh, now this is what you call fun in the Florida keys!
It was a lovely, perfect day at the beach. Even the staff working there said it was the nicest, non-windy day they had enjoyed in awhile. Who knows, maybe they say that to all the tourists to make them feel special when they are looking for fun in the Florida Keys.
14. Pose at the Key West Southernmost Point Buoy
One of the cool places to visit is the Southernmost Point of Key West marked with the southernmost point buoy. You’ll definitely want to stop for a picture. Did you know you can also watch a live Southernmost Point Webcam?
Stop here first before you go in search of your Key West sunset. It is one of the things to do in Key West with kids…or without.
A fair amount of people were in line at the buoy when we arrived. If you go, pick a time later in the evening or earlier in the morning when crowds aren’t as plentiful. You’ll have to wait in line for a bit, but you’ll get your turn. And people are always willing to take a picture of your whole group!
There is very limited free parking in Key West, so even for your fifteen-minute stop you will have to pay for parking.
15. Enjoy a Key West Sunset
Want to know the exact time of the Key West sunset during your visit? Check out the Key West Sunset date and time schedule.
“See you at sunset” is an iconic phrase that embodies the spirit in Key West. Join the crowds along the pier to watch and capture your sunset in Key West. It is pretty much the “thing” to do to catch the Key West sunset, try a sunset cruise Key West, or find a spot at the restaurants along the pier to celebrate the view. I think you’ll be glad you caught the Key West sunset.
I switched between my iPhone and Canon 6d Mark II to snap pictures.
16. Ride Bikes at Shark Valley in Everglades National Park
Another EARLY day for our Florida Spring Break and seeking out all of the possible fun things to do in Key West with kids. Our girls groaned. Good thing we let them sleep in so much earlier in the week.
Our plans for the day included riding bikes through Shark Valley in Everglades National Park. Why call it Shark Valley since we were riding bikes through an alligator habitat in the mangroves?
According to one of the Park Rangers, the name Shark Valley comes from the Shark River area of the Gulf of Mexico where the water in the Everglades flows.
If you already have a National Park Pass, be sure to bring it and use it to enter the park.
We rented bikes to ride 15, yes FIFTEEN, miles through the park! Riding bikes isn’t the only option for seeing the park, but if you do, you’ll ride along a paved path with a marshy grassland on your left and mangroves on your right.
You can walk on the path, sign up for a trolley tour, or rent bikes at Shark Valley.
Many of the alligators were sunning themselves in the mangroves right next to the path. Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that grow in coastal saline water.
We did pass one alligator sunning itself part way on the path as we pedaled past. They are pretty acclimated to humans, but we were advised to exercise caution. We did. You should.
You might even bike past a “pod” of twenty or so freshly hatched baby alligators.
We stopped after seven miles and ate our Subway sandwiches. Already my gluteal muscles were feeling sore and we still had 8 more miles to go!
What I would recommend would be to turn around and go back the same way you just came. It was much more interesting than the last eight miles. If you are a bird watcher, you might enjoy it more, but the last section was mostly marsh land on either side of us with only one alligator sighting.
Note: There is very little shade along the pathway. We were all pretty good about applying face Sunscreen. I think the off brand body spray I bought was pretty much a dud though. I watched my hands and arms get more and more red throughout our bike ride. I was grateful to be wearing my Visor.
We had seen probably thirty alligators on the first section of our bike ride.
After rolling into the ranger station and happily turning in our bikes, we drove to our final activity of Spring Break in Florida and adventurous fun in the Florida Keys: an airboat ride through the Everglades.
17. Take the Everglades Safari Park Airboat Tour
The Everglades Safari Park was only twenty minutes from Shark Valley. We arrived just as an airboat left on a tour and had to wait another 30 minutes for the next one. The boats do go pretty regularly.
Now, if your goal is to see lots of alligators, I would recommend Shark Valley. You’ll see a lot more alligators there.
We did, however, see one alligator jump up out of the water and dive during our Everglades airboat tour. So that was cool.
The not-so-fun part? The four-hour flight home with sore muscles from riding bikes.
Packing for Fun in The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys, a relatively small section of Florida, is jam-packed with activities for all ages and interest levels. As a family of four this trip (one of girls decided to stay home) we were excited for beach days and sunshine and snorkeling on Key West and trying key lime pie.
Coming from Colorado and the Denver International Airport, shoveling out from under a blizzard in the previous week, the Keys were sounding pretty good. We happily packed our luggage and were on our way for some fun in the Florida Keys.
Do you need to know what to pack for your next excursion to Florida? Check out this post for a detailed list of clothes, shoes, toiletries and everything in between to cover all of your adventures.
New goal: Start Packing my Toiletries in my luggage instead of a Toiletry Bag so that I can just carry-on my luggage too.
If you’re traveling to the Miami Airport in Florida for the first time, take note, the trek from the airport to the rental car area is a long walk!
There are a multitude of options for hotels in and around Miami. Chris booked a room at the TownePlace Suites Marriott in Homestead, Florida about 45 minutes away from the airport. It was midway between many of the activities we had planned for the next few days. We were fortunate that a family suite with two bedrooms was available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Key West from Miami?
It is approximately 160 miles from Miami to Key West. It would take a couple of hours to drive, but give yourself extra time to make stops along the way.
Is Key West a family friendly destination for Spring Break?
Yes. You’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Key West with kids and adventures for all ages.
When is the ideal time to visit Key West?
The dry season in Key West is from November to April. The temperatures are in the 80s, and you’re less likely to encounter rain.
Is Key West a walkable town?
Yes. Mallory Square is one of the popular sections of town and offers good food, fun shopping, and views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Hop on the Key West Trolley for a quick way to get around Key West.
What is so special about Key West?
As the southernmost point of Key West and in the United States, Key West is famous for its beaches, weather, watersport, nightlife, historic buildings and architecture.
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Final Thoughts on 17 Awesome Things To Do For Fun in The Florida Keys for Spring Break
Spring Break in the Florida Keys did, in fact, live up to the coolness factor my girls were anticipating. They loved the beach time, snorkeling on Key West, and the beautiful weather. We all went home rejuvenated.
If you are looking for a fun things to do in Key West for families as well as cool places to visit along the way, fantastic weather and beautiful sandy beaches, look no further than the Florida Keys.
We had a lot of fun and left wishing we had planned for more time there.
I love the Florida Keys, but I have only been there on a cruise ship. They aren’t accepting cruise ships as of now, so this longer itinerary is great!
Sounds like a great trip! I’d love to visit the Keys one day, but will have to plan that trip for winter. Heat/humidity and I don’t get along, so that’s my best bet. This’ll be a great reference when the time comes.
It looks like your family knows how to have fun wherever you go! I can’t wait to take my daughter to Florida and show her a real beach. Your pictures say it all…an absolute blast!
These all look amazing will be visiting Florida regularly now so will definitely be doing some of these..thank you
I’m thinking about going to the Keys this spring. Pinning in hopes that I make it!
The Florida Keys are absolutely on my bucket list for a spring break vacation! I would love to go snorkeling and see the southernmost point of the USA in Key West. The berry farm also sounds like a ton of fun. And LOL about the clarification, it’s not Knott’s Berry Farm. That’s immediately what I thought of when I read the name. Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love the Florida Keys. Where else can go visit the ancestors of Ernst Hemingway’s cats? MEOW!
My partner is from Florida and whenever we visit we’re always stuck planning ideas for a day out so this is super helpful!
It has been ages since our last visit to Florida. But I sure remember those days of escaping to Florida for the beach and sunshine. And the Florida Keys always added a fun vibe. But we have still not kayaked through the mangroves. I am sure our kids would have loved an urban scavenger hunt!
What a fun, active adventure! You had me chuckling – I love honest travel stories! Great info for future planning when I get back to Florida.
Love the Keys. You’re making me want to book a trip now!
I really want to go to Key West! I live in GA so it seems like it is so close to me now. haha It’s on my list.
(PS I have that toiletry hanging bag and I LOVE IT!)
Great ideas! I need to see the Everglades!
Great post! I never made it this far down and now I see what I missed out! Thanks for the inspiration!
I’d love to kayak in the mangroves! Biking beside alligators, I’m not sure about! haha
I thought the same, but they are so acclimated to humans they don’t even move.
Great article! My FIL lives in Homestead and we visit Mama Mia’s every time we are there.