Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
FAMILY FUN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Unlimited possibilities promise hours of amusement for all ages.
While mainland Florida may occasionally experience unpredictable weather in late winter and spring, the Florida Keys are generally basking in sunshine, which translates into unlimited possibilities for family fun, every day.
Key Largo, the northernmost key, is a gateway to Everglades National Park where your family can skim over the “River of Grass” in an airboat and climb the observation decks at Flamingo Outpost to view alligators and crocodiles. Kids will love the Water Park at Jacobs Aquatic Center.
Heading south, Islamorada boasts some of the best fishing in the world and most restaurants are happy to cook your catch for you at dinner. More fun awaits at the Theater of the Sea and numerous boat tours and ecotours around the island will introduce you to a fascinating world. Or, rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore on your own.
Marathon, another family favourite, offers myriad opportunities to see and experience family attractions, including Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters; Marathon Wild Bird Center; The Turtle Hospital; Crane Point Museum, Nature Center & Historic Site; the delightful Dolphin Research Center; and the Pigeon Key Foundation & Marine Science Center. For pure outdoor enjoyment, head over to the Rotary Children’s Park for hours of amusement.
The Lower Keys are renowned for ecotours, snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, fishing and campsites surrounded by eyepopping natural beauty. Blue Hole is a freshwater pond filled with alligators, turtles and colourful wading birds, which you can watch from a wooden observation deck. And the National Key Deer Refuge is one of the only places on Earth you can see these diminutive, beautiful deer.
In Key West, board a seaplane to Civil War-era Fort Jefferson or take the kids on a “snuba”—not scuba—diving excursion. Visit the Oldest House in South Florida, Ernest Hemingway’s House and the winter White House of President Harry Truman. Don’t forget to take photos at the Southernmost Point in the U.S. and the Conch Tour Train will surely elicit a chorus of “oooohs” and “aaaaahs.” As the sun sets, join in the nightly celebrations at Mallory Square.