7 Best Family Things to Do in Florida Keys

The Crane Point Museum and Nature Center offers the chance for kids to learn about sea life in the Florida Keys. Kids tend to be tactile learners, so there's plenty of interactive displays on the native inhabitants of the tropical islands. 

You can see a shipwreck artifact dating back to the 16th century, and visit an onsite nature preserve to see deer, turtles, snakes, and even whales. Numerous trails surround the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, offering a thrilling day of educational fun for families. 

The West Key Garden Club is a botanical garden within the confines of the West Martello Towers Fort. Located in Higgs Beach Dog Park, the National Historic site dates back to the Civil War. 

You and the kids can experience graceful arches and wildflowers, both native and exotic, as you stand on a hill with a panoramic view of the beach and ocean. Guided tours are available but you can stroll the gardens on your own and enjoy a picnic among the flowers.

The Truman Little White House was the Key West home of President Harry S. Truman during his 11 visits to the Florida Keys, for a total of 175 days. Today, it's a museum showcasing the history of the President’s tenure and its own history. 

The building was built in 1890 as housing for naval officers in the area. You can explore the museum on your own or book a guided tour. Vacation packages are available, allowing you to ride an Old Town Trolley to visit notable museums and landmarks in Key West. 

The History of Diving Museum showcases over 4,000 years of diving history through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and a tropical aquarium. Located in Islamorada, its collection includes underwater cameras, lighting, and communication devices as well as diving helmets and suits. 

The Treasure Room displays an iron treasure chest from the 16th century and a 70-lb silver bar. You can sit inside a replica of an original diving bell and see the salvage tools used by real-life treasure hunters. The History of Diving Museum also has an exhibit outlining what influenced Jules Verne when he wrote his epic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a public park dedicated to the preservation of over 60 different butterfly species and 20 species of exotic birds. The winged creatures are left to fly freely inside a glass enclosure, which is carefully climate-controlled according to their natural habitat. You can enjoy a stroll with hundreds of butterflies floating above. 

The Learning Center is great for your kids to learn about the butterfly world, thanks to illustrations on butterfly anatomy and a mural map of butterflies from various countries. A 15-minute film describing the life cycle and basic facts of interest about butterflies is shown at the center.

Founders Park offers 45 acres of fun and water adventure for kids and adults in Islamorada. Facilities include a splash park, swimming pool, playgrounds, sports facility with tennis courts, basketball courts, walking trails, and a white-sand beach with shallow water. 

You can catch concerts and festivals at the park's amphitheater, which requires a fee to enter. Founders Park attracts couples, families, and groups with picnic tables, pavilions, and traditional tiki huts, many of which overlook the lush gardens, palm trees, and ocean.

Duval Street is a commercial area in Key West's downtown, running north and south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Today, it's a vibrant quarter-mile-long stretch of excellent sightseeing, shopping and dining options in the Florida Keys. 

On a clear day, you can explore the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens. Families can check out interesting exhibits at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium.