Key West Fun Activities for Toddlers

Tiny Travelers will love the fish, pirates, street performers, trolley and train rides in Key West, Florida. Who wouldn't?

Pirate lore and historic homes, gingerbread trimmed boutiques, funky cafes and roaming chickens make colorful Key West delightful.

The southernmost point in the United States and a free-spirited resort area that has defied the gentrification of mass tourism, Key West has become a bona fide family destination filled with fun and educational attractions. Key West's colorful Old Town offers rich people-watching and is the only Florida city to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Key West Aquarium
1 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
800/868-7482
This is a small and manageable, old-fashioned aquarium with many opportunities for handling fish and mollusks under the watchful eyes of trained guides. There are feedings four times a day, but it's a worth a visit any time.

Key West Shipwreck Historeum
1 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305/292-8990
Loosely based on the story of the shipwrecker Asa Tift and the discovery of the Isaac Allerton, this museum presents a colorful recreation of pirate times with holograms, live actors, cobwebs, lots of memorabilia, stage sets to climb on, music, creaking sounds and other multimedia effects to delight kids. A bit kitschy perhaps for sci-fi movie fans, but a fun way to get out of the blazing sun in the afternoon.

Mallory Square at Sunset
Foot of Duval Street & Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
Mallory Square is the center of the sunset celebration in Key West, a place where tourists and locals gather each evening to enjoy the view of the Gulf of Mexico, the tiny island of Sunset Key, and the many performers and artists who come out to entertain. There are lots of opportunities to shop, snack, drink and watch passersby and it should not be missed. Just south of the tourist information booth is the Hilton Hotel Marina, another extension of the promenade where performers and spectators gather. Look for the eccentric Frenchman with the trained cats and the tattooed gymnasts who swallow fire.

With an historic Old Town that is only 2 miles by 4 miles, Key West is easily seen on foot, but families with younger children and elder members will enjoy one of the sit-down guided tours, particularly in the May to October hot and humid season. The Conch Tour Train and the Old Town Trolley Tours described below are both run by the Historic Tours of America.

Conch Tour Train
201 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
800/868-7482; 305/294-5161
Departing every half hour from the main station at 501 Front Street, this small yellow tram pulled by a cute black "steam engine" rolls by most of the island's major sights in a 90-minute, guided tour that will delight train fans. Save some money by purchasing tickets online.  

Old Town Trolley Tours
201 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
800/213-2474
Resembling a bright red San Francisco trolley, this single car tram also circles the major highlights in 90 minutes, but allows passengers to disembark at any of its 12 stops for sightseeing. Because a trolley calls at each stop on the half-hour, families can reboard wherever they like, resuming their guided narrative and enjoying a rest between sights. We found the Trolley guides particularly good-natured, with quips such as "Did you know this was the Conch Republic? My car conched out this morning."

For further information visit www.fla-keys.com (800/FLA-KEYS) or www.KeyWestAttractions.org.