8 Best Family Things to Do in Key West

Home to Key West’s lively entertainment scene, Mallory Square is the central hub for the city’s main restaurants, shops, museums and theatres. Live entertainment abounds on every street corner, featuring everything from local bands to dynamic street performers. Here, you’ll find ice cream shops with every ice cream flavour your heart desires, as well as many vendors offering colourful souvenirs and trinkets to bring back home.

Mallory Square is also famous for their sunset celebration. Beginning 2 hours before sunset, the festivities welcome hundreds of people daily to enjoy magicians, jugglers, clowns, psychics, local musicians, artists and, of course, the glowing Florida sun sinking into a red Gulf of Mexico horizon.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Key West without having some good ol’ key lime pie. This sweet treat is an American dessert pie made of Key lime juice, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk in a pie crust, often topped with whipped cream.

Countless key lime pie spots stretch across the streets of Key West, with Key West Key Lime Pie Co and Kermit’s Key Lime Shop taking the title of local favourites. Many of these shops also double as candy shops where the kids can fill up on gummy worms, lollipops and chocolate bites.

Explore Key West’s laid-back atmosphere with a town favourite, Lloyd's Tropical Bike Tour. Operating since 1991, Lloyd’s tour quickly gained popularity as the best way to see everything the Keys has to offer. This 5-mile (8-km) bike tour is led by none other than Lloyd himself, a Key West native who describes it as a 'relaxed and easy-going tour that’s fun for the whole family'.

Lloyd's biking tours have been featured in many prestigious newspapers and magazines, so you can be sure of a fantastic day out with Lloyd.

Simply known as 'Fort Taylor', Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a great spot for families to swim, lounge and immerse themselves in the country’s history. Located on the southern edge of Key West, this state park predates the Civil War and features well-preserved cannons and gun ports, as well as self-guided tours that give visitors a better understanding of how soldiers lived as they defended the nation’s southeastern coastline.

The park also boasts a beautiful beach, located at the southern end of the park, providing opportunities for picnicking, swimming, snorkelling, paddling and fishing.

The Key West Firehouse Museum is a hidden gem that offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of firefighting in Key West, where fires have shaped the city's past. Located in the vibrant Old Town, this museum is housed in a beautifully restored firehouse and staffed by retired firefighters and volunteers.

As you explore the museum, you’ll get to see historic equipment and memorabilia up close and learn from actual firefighters about both the museum and the area’s history. Kids will love the chance to sit inside a real 1929 fire truck, trying on firefighter’s boots and helmets and hearing the station's vintage alarm sound. If you’re a history buff, don’t miss the museum’s self-guided audio tour.

Key West beaches boast over 4 miles (6 km) of pristine white sand and turquoise waters. The most famous of the beaches are Smathers Beach and Higgs Beach.

Smathers in particular is a great beach for families with young kids as the currents never get too rough and the wide shorelines provide plenty of sand to build castles on. If the family’s 4-legged friend is part of the adventure, Dog Beach is a beautiful little area that allows dogs to go unleashed and splash around freely. There is a parking fee for all Key West beaches, so opt for a walk or bike ride whenever possible.

Dive into Key West’s shipwrecking past at the Shipwreck Treasure Museum. This engaging, kid-friendly attraction features a fascinating collection of various shipwreck artefacts, an impressive lookout tower and interactive, costume-filled acts that bring history to life.

Kids can even hold once-lost relics that were part of the wrecked vessel 'Isaac Allerton', which sank near Key West in 1856. This fun and educational experience is sure to delight young explorers and budding pirates, creating memories that they will treasure for years to come.

A bit west of Key West lies Dry Tortugas National Park, home to 7 islands and a copious amount of sea life. The park is noted for its colourful, protected coral reefs, 2 historic light houses and a massive coastal fortress.

There’s an entrance fee to the park, but it’s good for 7 consecutive days, so bring a tent and some sleeping bags to make it a multi-day family camping trip. The only way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park is by sea or air, but fear not, plenty of ferries and charters run to and from the park on a daily basis.