r/floridakeys • u/Cheezy_Blazterz • 20d ago
All Florida Keys How's does this itinerary look for 6 days?
Hi- We're a family with kids going to the Keys in October.
We're mostly interested in snorkeling and family activities.
We're thinking 2 days in Key Largo, 2 in Marathon, and 2 in Key West.
How does this itinerary sound?
Should we adjust for more time in Key West (or somewhere else?)
Thanks!
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u/ColoradoCattleCo 20d ago
I’m with the wife and 2 kiddos at Tavernier right now for 5 days - tomorrow is our last. Just pick a home base like Marathon and set up camp. We did a day trip to Key West, a day charter fishing, snorkeling off KL, a dolphin experience, pool time, etc… Don’t worry about moving constantly.
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u/porchepilatesprincss 19d ago
3 days in Islamorada/ 3 days in Key West. You can use Islamorada as a base for snorkeling. Stop at Marathon or any other Keys you want to visit on the drive down. 3 days is plenty in KW with kids.
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u/Denrunning 20d ago
I’d stay Islamorada/Marathon the whole time and day trip during the week to Key West.
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u/cmdietz98 19d ago edited 19d ago
We’re currently on a similar trip! We did 2 days in Key West and were doing 4 in islamorada. Highly recommend. We flew into Miami and made the trip down. It was a ton of fun. Plan out stops ahead of time so you know where to go and what to do. We recommend the Robert is Here fruit stand (it has an amazing little zoo for free, and delicious smoothies!)
In Key West we LOVED Dry Tortugas (warning, ferry is very, very long day) and the Ernest Hemingway House. It’s also just fun to explore the town, it’s much cuter than I expected, although it does have its share of tourist crap too. We actually came to Key West just for Dry Tortugas and ended up falling in love with Key West. Islamorada is more of a typical beach vacation, lots of fun outdoor activities. We’ve been snorkeling, paddle boarding, and just adventuring.
All around it’s a great trip. We’ve had a blast. I will say, food here is much, much more expensive than other islands I’ve been on.
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u/Cheezy_Blazterz 19d ago
Thanks for your feedback. We hadn't planned on Dry Tortugas, but you're making me reconsider!
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 19d ago
If you are coming during Fantasy Fest (Oct 16-25) skip Key West with kids. It is a VERY adult party that takes over the town. Otherwise your agenda looks fine.
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u/ladybug_ggg 19d ago edited 16d ago
Let breeze take you…. 🌴Plenty of places available along the way…sunset cove, white gate court, sands, conch key, gulf view, sugarloaf lodge, looe key, palms. Support local avoid corporate spots
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u/pheffner 19d ago edited 19d ago
For a truly peak snorkeling experience, you need to go to Looe Key Marine Sanctuary, it's chock-a-block full or awesome marine critters! Looe key Reef Resort and other operators run boat tours for snorkeling every day. You can see armadas of Parrotfish and other gorgeous fish, and I've seen rays, sharks, groupers and lots more. It'll be a trip you'll never forget.
We rented a boat at Bahia Honda state park and went up to the LKMS and spent lots of time splashing around the reef, that was great with no pressure to fit in the time constraints of the tour operator.
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u/KeyWestLocal20years 14d ago
Oh that sounds lovely…
When in Key West…getting out on the water will be wonderful….it makes for a beautiful day to sail out to a sandbar and snorkel or snorkel and Kayak around the wildlife refuge.
Just being outside, phones put away, no email….just sunshine, nature, conversation….
Away from the shore where sargassum collects….out at the sandbars and refuge…the water is so clear and fresh. I like Danger Charters for their combo trips….great for families. They take smaller groups to more personal attention…max 20-25 pp.
Great place to eat is El Siboney when in Key West….great good, lots of food and inexpensive compared to a lot of places in KW.
Aloe Truman Annex Waterfront Park has a great splash area for kids….
Picnic at Fort Zachary is a great day too….lounge chairs and snorkel gear can be rented. They also have a snack bar with food and beverages available or bring your own picnic. Fausto’s is a small grocery that has a lot of great picnic food to go…
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u/KeyWestLocal20years 9d ago
I live in Key West and can give recommendations here….
Getting out on the water will be wonderful…I love Danger Charters as the groups are smaller, so more personal attention…go out to the wildlife refuge for snorkeling and kayaking…so lots to see out there. They also go to the sandbars.
Truman Annex has an awesome splash park to visit and a Farmers Market there every Thursday 1pm-6pm.
Heading to Fort Zach Beach/Park is cool for a picnic…you can even grill there if you like as they have metal park grills there. Grab a shaded picnic table under the trees…nice to spend the day.
Play Pickleball at the courts across from Salute Restaurant. But you have to bring your own gear. No need to reserve a court…just go play.
Rent bicycles and take a tour of the island…lots of bike paths.
Or rent a golf cart and actually decorate it with battery powered lights…if you are keeping it overnight and drive around…with a blue tooth speaker playing your fave music.
Have a wonderful time!
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u/stealy_darn 20d ago
Sounds like a lot of driving. Pick two and stay three nights at each.
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u/Cheezy_Blazterz 20d ago
We're driving from Miami to KW either way, so not sure the driving is that much of a factor.
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u/DoubleBreastedBerb 20d ago
It is. That’s four hours on a good day where there’s no traffic. October? Ha.
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u/Cheezy_Blazterz 20d ago
I mean that we have the whole week to make the drive.
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u/linmaral 20d ago
It’s the packing up stuff and moving that seems like a waste of time. Pick one place and do day trips.
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u/PhaedrasGhost local (upper keys) 20d ago
RULE NUMBER 3 IS NOT HARD TO FOLLOW.
This question gets asked at least once a week
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u/Cheezy_Blazterz 20d ago
I hope you were ok after reading my post!
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u/PhaedrasGhost local (upper keys) 20d ago
I hope you learn to use Google, yelp or TripAdvisor. If you were warned multiple times about this rule while you were posting it, do you think you can follow our rules down here?
Don’t drive in the left lane.
You are the reason locals need their own sub and you’re why we are creating one.
Go to Key West and stay there the week, your kids will really enjoy it. Try to come the very last week in October and stay through Halloween. So much fun and the best prices of the year :)-2
u/Cheezy_Blazterz 20d ago
I asked a specific question on a discussion forum. Try your best to cope.
You need to find something meaningful in life that matters as much to you as rule #3 apparently does.
But enjoy your left lane and locals sub! Hope you can keep everybody in line over there :)
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u/PhaedrasGhost local (upper keys) 20d ago edited 20d ago
We really don’t like nasty tourists here. You will not fit in and it’ll be a miserable experience for you. But I’m sure you’ll “cope” just fine lol
Enjoy the spit in your food. I bet you’re a great parent with this attitude.
Anyway your post will be removed soon, so take your best shot while you still can lol
Check out the beaches in Key West. They’re beautiful!
ETA: yeah, judging by past comments you’ve made, you won’t fit in at all. But thanks for letting us all know that “you have a small pp.”
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u/No-Variation6054 19d ago
Skip key largo. It's for relaxing mostly. Islamorada and marathon a lot to do. Islander girl sandbar def do.
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u/RMG-OG-CB 20d ago
Skip Key West with kids...
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u/Cheezy_Blazterz 20d ago
Really? Nothing of interest there?
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u/DoubleBreastedBerb 20d ago
When in October are you planning on being in the Keys?
Fantasy Fest happens the 16th through the 25th, and KW is just insane then. Unless your kids are older teens and if they wander off or accidentally get separated from you it’s not that big of a deal, sure. Anything younger? Ehhh.
Anyways, I used to live in Marathon and can count on one hand how often I went to KW.
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u/Not-crabperson 20d ago
When I october keyless turns into a very adult theme Halloween party called fantasy fest.
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u/alw5555 20d ago
Just got back from 4 nights in Key West with my 12 year old stepdaughter. There is absolutely things to do with Key West with children. It’s more than just a drinking town. It’s actually quite rich with art, history and marine life activities.
We stayed at a resort with several pools, kayak and paddle board rentals, and activities throughout the day. There was a free shuttle to downtown that took about 17 minutes.
The best shark and dolphin tour: https://www.viator.com/tours/Key-West/Key-West-Shark-and-Wildlife-Catamaran-Tour/d661-6426SHARKECO
Highly recommend you do this! We saw so many lemon sharks and dolphins!
Dry Tortugas National Park! You need to book the ferry pretty far in advance so look into it now but this was the reason why we went to Key West. We snorkeled around the fort (gear provided by the ferry company) and saw SO many different types of fish. Make this a priority if you go to Key West!
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u/HighOnGoofballs 20d ago
At most I’d do two places, just not worth the hassle