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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Key West - family friendly?

19 replies

alongfortheride · 23/02/2015 16:31

We have the golden opportunity to book for Key West.

Is Key West family friendly? I know it has a famous party scene. We have 2 girls, age 7 and 3.

I have trawled the internet, but the jury seems to be out, so I thought I'd ask some expert parents instead!

Thankyou.xx

OP posts:

mummymeister · 24/02/2015 10:45

no personally I don't think it is but you don't have to stay there all of the time. there is loads to see and do in Florida keys. swimming with the dolphins, glass bottom boat trip, snorkelling, lovely walks etc. we stayed a lot further up at Islamorada and I am glad that we did. we did a day trip to key west and took the trolley bus tour which our older kids loved but the 3 yr old might not stay still for. it is a long trip but worth going to the everglades if you can. we found key west very coupley and some of the t shirt shops raised some awkward questions! I would go and just travel out/ do other things. don't miss out on it, the weather is fab and I would go back to the keys in a shot.

Original poster

alongfortheride · 24/02/2015 15:14

This is really helpful, thankyou so much. The weather is so attractive, and a tropical Christmas is very appealing! Might skip KW for a stay, though.

OP posts:

Original poster

alongfortheride · 24/02/2015 15:14

This is really helpful, thankyou so much. The weather is so attractive, and a tropical Christmas is very appealing! Might skip KW for a stay, though.

OP posts:

Original poster

alongfortheride · 24/02/2015 15:14

This is really helpful, thankyou so much. The weather is so attractive, and a tropical Christmas is very appealing! Might skip KW for a stay, though.

OP posts:

Wiifitmama · 24/02/2015 15:21

No! Don't skip it! It is totally family friendly!! And it is like nowhere else in Florida. A totally different vibe. Much more like the Caribean. My dad lives there and we have visited with kids many times. Yes there is a party scene (and a very large gay community) but not during the day! And not in the places you take your kids!

Things to do: the aquarium, the shipwreckers museum, the Mel Fisher museum, the butterfly house, the conch train tours, the beach, lovely walks around the harbour area. And that is all just on the small Island. You can swim with dolphins on other keys but the other keys are small and have nothing much in them - just hotels. Key West is an active and vibrant community. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Wiifitmama · 24/02/2015 15:22

And I forgot to say that christmas there is amazing. Everyone decorates their houses like crazy!

Original poster

alongfortheride · 24/02/2015 19:13

Aha! Thanks Wiifitmama, rethink time?

We would be staying in accommodation off the main drag - the rooms are not a problem as if we went, we already have that bit sorted! Self-catering cottage on the beach :-)

My eldest is bonkers about the beach and I think she would really love it, but have been soooo confused about the whole 'vibrant culture' vs 'milk-and-storytime' thing. I think hubby is quite keen to give it a go.

Its great that everyone is welcome to go there and have a good time. (In years gone by, I might have joined them!) but obv things area bit different now.

The clincher is this, I think: is the party scene in your face when you walk down the street?

OP posts:

mummymeister · 25/02/2015 09:05

alongfortheride we went at Christmas/New Year with our 3. we enjoyed going to Key West but all agreed we were glad we weren't staying there. the really in your face bit was the T shirt shops/slogans. it bothers some folk and not others but it did bother us a bit as we had younger/teens with us. we easily had a full day trip there driving from Islamorada. we chose this end of the keys because we could easily then take a trip into the everglades. if you want the full experience then go for a 2 centre holiday and see which one you like best. the NYE fireworks on Islamorada were totally family friendly with no drunks lurching around. we loved the relaxed vibe here. there are loads and loads of beaches to choose from all along the keys and you are right the weather in December is perfect.

TheOriginalWinkly · 25/02/2015 09:09

I went to Key West a few years back, I think it's totally family friendly. The party scene isn't like an Ayia Napa type place, it's mainly some bars etc. It's not the sort of place where you see people falling down drunk. I loved it there, thought it had a wonderful chilled out atmosphere.

Wiifitmama · 25/02/2015 10:11

I find it so surprising that people are condemning a place as being unsuitable for familiesbased on the tshirt slogans on the shop fronts on the main drag! Key West is so much more than that! It's like condemning London because if you walk through soho, your kids might see some red light type stores. At the age of your girls, I hardly think they will even look at the tshirt slogans!

Key West is amazing. I would leap at the opportunity and grab hold!

Wiifitmama · 25/02/2015 10:13

And with 7 and 3 year olds, are you going to be walking down the main drag at night when the bar scene is in flow? During the day, Duval St (the main drag) has tourists, ice cream shops, the endless tshirt stores. Hardly a Devils den!

Original poster

alongfortheride · 25/02/2015 11:15

Thats really helpful, thanks so much.

OP posts:

mummymeister · 25/02/2015 15:51

I didn't say it was wiifit!! just given the choice we found that Islamorada had a more laid back and family friendly vibe, less coupley than Key West. each to their own that's why I suggested a week in each place so the OP could get a feel of both.

Londonbug1 · 26/02/2015 16:45

We did a two centre Miami and then key west when our kids were about the same ages as yours.
They loved both places. We were not out at night so can't comment but key west was lovely from the point of view that you can walk everywhere rather than driving all the time. I remember it as being very laid back not even remotely edgy
I might not be remembering clearly but there isn't much in the way of beaches there- we drove out to a fantastic beach but it was a fair distance.
If you get the chance to go take it ( treat yourself to a t-shirt -tee hee)

Original poster

alongfortheride · 28/02/2015 01:28

It all sounds so nice (esp when I am currently looking out of my window at last weeks snow.... still.)

Islamorada sounds lovely, but sadly not on our list of available rock bottomed price accommodation!

Didn't realise KW was short of beaches. That would be important to us as it was one of the main reasons for going! (Have re-checked photo of chosen accommodation - what I thought was beach may in fact be something else?!)

Everyone needs a great t-shirt, Londonbug1. Wonder if they do tea towels?

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Original poster

alongfortheride · 28/02/2015 01:28

It all sounds so nice (esp when I am currently looking out of my window at last weeks snow.... still.)

Islamorada sounds lovely, but sadly not on our list of available rock bottomed price accommodation!

Everyone needs a great t-shirt, Londonbug1. Wonder if they do tea towels?

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petalunicorn · 02/03/2015 10:03

I have been, I wouldn't say it was 'bad' for kids, just other places are so much better so I wouldn't pick it if I had a 3 year old and 7 year old with me iyswim?

FanSpamTastic · 02/03/2015 10:37

The Dolphin Research centre on Grassy Key is worth a visit.

Fortysix · 08/03/2015 23:28

Have stayed in both Islamorada and Key West without kids. Islamorada would be our preference. Have you tried Airbnb's site for accommodation if your budget is challenged?

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