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I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at th I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at this view from the top of the Kloof Corner hike! The biggest way we’re able to afford traveling so much is by letting the deals dictate where we go. Cape Town has been on our bucket list forever but with flights typically costing $1,200-$1,800 it hasn’t been a priority. But when Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going, I don’t like the new name but that’s besides the point) dropped this Cape Town deal for less than half of what it normally costs we jumped on it!

So often I hear “but there are no deals during school breaks”, YES THERE ARE! We went to Cape Town for Thanksgiving and the girls get the entire week off of school so they missed no days. Plus since there seasons are opposite it was late spring and the weather was amazing. Scott’s emails deals directly to your inbox for the airports you choose (we select our home airport and airports we can easily fly direct to and always have cheap flights because sometimes it’s worth flying to a city for a deal (known as a repositioning flight). They offer a free version but you don’t get all the deals so we have the Premium subscription which costs $49 for a year and you can tap the link in my bio and use code TRAVELINGCHILD20 for 20% off. They have an Elite membership level for business class seats. Because someone always asks, yes they give deals for nonstop flights but please remember you can’t fly everywhere nonstop. Beloved if you’re going to Thailand from the US you’re going to have a layover.

Anyway when in Cape Town you must hike, there are so many amazing ones! This Kloof’s Corner hike is perfect for sunset. It’s not stroller or wheelchair accessible as there are stairs but if Jordyn and Kennedy can hike it in 40mins (one way up) I promise you don’t have to be super fit!

P.S. when booking a flight from the US you have 24 hours to cancel & get a refund (on flights booked 7 days in advance). So many ppl told me they hesitated on this deal because they had to see if they could get off work/what dates worked for their travel partners. Always book first, think second & just cancel within 24hrs if you can’t make it work! What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked?
Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s every Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s everything you need to know about getting into South Africa (save + share this post):

1. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after your scheduled date of departure.

2. You must have 2 consecutive empty pages in your passport.

3. There is no visa required for US citizens for visits less than 90 days.

4. There are no shots required to travel to South Africa, unless you are traveling from or transiting through yellow-fever deemed countries, then a yellow fever shot is required. You can find a list of these countries online.

5. South Africa has opposite seasons than the US so our winter is their summer. December to February are peak travel due to the weather but if you visit in November like we did you’ll get good weather and avoid the massive crowds of peak season.

Have you visited South Africa? If so, which part? If not, is it on your list?
Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners? Are you the one in your group that plans the trip or do you just show up? If you’re the planner tag your friends 😅. If you just show up do you look at the itinerary or ask all the questions even though the info was given to you 👀?

Original reel idea credit goes to @kryssedeal, sis really nailed exactly how I feel!!
#sponsored Last year we were able to cross some am #sponsored Last year we were able to cross some amazing places off our bucket list. We want you to do the same so we’ve teamed up with @vrbo to give you the opportunity to win $3,500 and turn your bucket list trip into a book-it-list one! 

Just head over to the giveaway post on @vrbo, make sure you’re following them and tag 3 people you’d want to join you on your trip! 

So what is your book-it list vacation this year?

*T&Cs apply – link in bio

 #VrboTogether #BookItList
Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post):

1. Visit the various houses of worship like Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque. Suleymaniye Camii, Ortakoy Mosque, Chora Church and the Camlica Mosque

2. Tour palaces like Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace

3. Climb the Galata Tower for amazing views of Istanbul. You can even enjoy a meal here at the restaurant on the top floor.

4. Take a cruise of the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asia side of Istanbul.

5. Visit the cities Bazaars, the Grand Bazaar where you can shop your heart out and the Spice Bazaar where you can eat your heart out. Don’t leave without trying a Turkish delight!

6. If you want to go shopping Istiklal is the place to do so. They have a wide range of stores including international chains like Zara.

7. See a Dervish show at Hodjapasha.

8. Walk across the Galata Bridge to see fisherman at work and then walk under it to taste their fresh catches.

9. Take a day trip to the Princes’ Islands.

10. Experience a Turkish Hammam.

11. Explore the neighborhood of Balet, enjoying the colorful building and have some traditional Turkish tea or my favorite Apple Tea.

12. Turkey has some amazing food so go on a food tour or take a cooking class. If you don’t do either just make sure not to leave without having a traditional Turkish breakfast!

I recommend at least 5 days in Istanbul but you can easily spend a week or more exploring the city.

Have you been to Istanbul? If not is it on your list? For those that have been what was your favorite thing to do?

#istanbul #bucketlistadventures
Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post): 3 n Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post):

3 nights Siwa: Shali Fortress, 4x4 safari in the Great Sand Sea, sunset on Fatnas Island, emple of Amun and Temple of the Oracle, take a look or a dip into Cleopatra Spring, Mountain of the Dead, House of Siwa Museum, float in the salt lakes.

5 nights Cairo: Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx,  Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Khal Al Khalil, Old and Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Al Azhar Mosque and the Fortress of Babylon, see an Al Tannoura Egyptian Dance Heritage Show at Wekalet El Ghouri. For a break from the historical things with kids spend a day at Dreamland Park, Kidzania, or Ski Egypt. Stay at Marriott Mena House.

3 nights Luxor: Hot air balloon ride, Luxor Museum, Mummification museum, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Colossi Statue of Memnon and Hatshpsut

3 nights Aswan: High Dam, Temple of Philae, Nubian Villages, Sail on the Nile by Felucca, Nubian Museum, Abu Simbel

On the way to Aswan from Luxor you can also stop to see the Temple of Horus and Kim Ombo Temple. If you have extra time visit Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis, and White Desert National Park to see the White Desert.

Have you been to Egypt? Is it on your list? There is so much to see outside of Cairo! 

#bucketlisttravel #cairoegypt #luxoregypt #aswan
OUR MOROCCO ITINERARY (save + share this post):

🇲🇦2 nights Chefchaouen- painting class, hiking, enjoying the Blue City and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Fes- Royal palaces, Moroccan dance class, visit the tannery and more

🇲🇦6 nights Marrakech- Majorelle Gardens, explore the Medina, explore the various mosques, stay in a riad, take a Moroccan cooking class and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Sahara Desert- ATV tour, sand boarding, Bedouin experience and more.

For all the details of each trip tap the link in my bio for the itineraries of each city. Have you been to Morocco? Is it on your list?

P.S. the girls were 3 and 5 on this trip

#moroccotrip #thisisafrica #travellingwithkids

The Traveling Child

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14 of The Best Things to Do in Key West with Kids

March 5, 2021      Destinations, Florida, North America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

Planning a family vacation in Key West, Florida? You’re in for an adventure! The Keys are a great vacation destination choice for families, with plenty of entertainment and activities to keep everyone happy. From the laid-back Key Largo beaches to the bustling Duval Street in Key West, there is something for everyone on your family vacation.

Not to Mention the Florida Keys makes you feel like you’re outside of the United States. Apparently so much so, that some businesses are asked if they accept American currency or if Key West has their own. After all, once you make it down to Key West you’re only 90 miles to Cuba, closer than you are to Miami. With great seafood, Key Lime Pie and a plethora of sunshine is waiting for you year round. Also check out 22 Fun Things to do in Miami with Kids.

The best part about exploring this quaint town with kids in tow? There’s something to do around every corner! From boating and fishing to swimming with dolphins and floating through mangrove tunnels, there are plenty of opportunities for fun-filled days on the water. So if you’re heading to Key West with kids on a family vacation, then keep reading because we’ve got some ideas that will make your trip unforgettable.

family standing in front of Greetings from Key West mural

How to Save Money on Things to Do in Key West with Kids

One of the ways we afford to travel so much is by finding ways to plan vacations without breaking the bank. We were able to save on some of the activities we did with the Key West Sightseeing Pass. We also checked Travelzoo and Groupon to see if they had any restaurant or activity specials that could lower our costs. Don’t forget to grab some of the free coupon books you’ll see scattered around Key West. Even a $2 per person coupon adds up when you’re a family and doing multiple activities while on vacation in Key West.

Things to Do in Key West with Kids: Attractions

Key West has so much to offer families from land and sea attractions. Growing up in Miami my parents took my brother here often,  my husband and I spent our first dating anniversary in Key West and now had the pleasure of experiencing it with our children. Here are our favorite things to do in Key West with kids.

Go on a Snorkel Trip

Key West is the only place in the Continental US with a coral reef system so take advantage of that! We used our Sightseeing Pass to cover our 3 hour afternoon snorkel tour with Sunset Key West Tours. We were able to see tons of colorful fish and our boat even had a small slide the kids could slide down and splash into the ocean. The tour is offered daily at 9:00am and 1:00pm. While water and juice is included in the price food in not and no snacks are for sale on board. Be sure to pack something to eat for yourself and your kids.

Rent a Boat for the Day and Explore the Various Keys

We booked a private boat tour through Mellow Adventures who took us out for the whole day. We started out on a quick boat ride from their dock to one of the channels in the middle of the ocean where we could enjoy stand-up paddle boarding. It was so calm and beautiful in this area and we enjoyed ourselves.

After paddle boarding we explored some of the other Keys, like Mud Key and Snipe Key. Snipe Key is a must and was my favorite as it’s literally a sand bar in the middle of the ocean and it was so peaceful and relaxing. A few of the trees here have swings which my kids absolutely loved.

To end our boat tour we watched the sun set in the middle of the ocean. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen with a completely clear view. While this is one of the things in Key West that your kids are sure to love, this was definitely something I loved just as much!

Shipwreck Treasures Museum

My girls are obsessed with pirates so when looking for things to do in Key West with kids we had to visit the Shipwreck Treasures Museum. While the treasures in the museum are from shipwrecks and not pirates taking over my 3 and 5 year old couldn’t tell the difference. They were just happy to walk around with the treasure maps they have for kids so they could look for the treasure. Be sure to ask the ticket agent on the way out for actual treasure, they will give your kids treasure coins.

The cheapest way to book tickets is online as tickets are 10% cheaper unless you have the Old Town Key West Go Pass. Regular prices are $16.11 for adults, $9.66 for kids 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under. The museum is open 365 days a year from 9:00am-5:00pm. Get Your Guide also has tickets available.

two toddlers holding up a trreasure map

Walk Along Duval Street

Duval Street is famous for a reason! On weekends it’s vibrant and closed off from cars as vendors line the streets. You’ll find freshly made street food, beautiful art work and often times live musicians. It’s a great place to hang on Saturday evenings. There’s so many things to see and explore in this one little area you could easily spend a weekend afternoon trying treats and scouting for souvenirs with your kids.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

I asked my audience on Instagram for suggestions on things to do in Key West with kids and by far the best recommendation was to visit the Butterfly Conservatory. My daughters loved this place so much we walked through it twice (admission is good for the entire day so you can leave and return as you please). Before going in the conservatory you get to go through a room that teaches you all about the life cycle of butterflies and see a few types going through the process themselves.

Once you are inside there are thousands of butterflies flying around. While you can’t reach out for them if they land on you that’s just fine and we saw them land on quite a few people. There are also colorful birds and two flamingos inside the conservatory. Right before you exit you might get lucky and see one of the butterflies birthing themselves in the glass enclosure, we saw two! The conservatory is open 365 days a year from 9:00am-5:00pm but it does has holiday hours on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It costs $12 for adults, $8.50 for kids 4-12 and is free for kids 3 and under. There are coupon books that offer a $2 discount on each ticket so find one before you go in!

Key West Lighthouse

little girl standing in front of replica key west lighthouse

The Key West Lighthouse opened in 1848 after the U.S. Navy established a base in Key West. It hasn’t been a functioning lighthouse since 1969 and now it’s a museum. You and your kids can walk up the 88 steps to the top for great views of Key West. My 3 and 5 year old walked up and down themselves so it is definitely doable with young children. After climbing the lighthouse you can go through the Keeper’s quarters and read about the families who lived in the home and kept the lighthouse burning. It’s open daily from 9:30am-4:30pm except for Christmas day. Admission for adults is $12, children 6 and up are $5, and children under 6 are free.

Go to the Southernmost Point in the Continental US

You cannot visit Key West without visiting the marker for the southernmost point in the Continental US. From this symbol you are just 90 miles from Cuba! Come in the evening, especially in the summer as there can often be a line to take a photo and it’s just too hot to be standing still. We arrived around 6:15pm when the sun wasn’t as bad and only waited maybe 5 minutes.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

We’ve passed by the Ripley’s Believe it or Not in Orlando on multiple occasions but never went in. Since it was also covered by the Sightseeing Pass we figured why not. It’s the perfect activity for a rainy day or when the sun is just too hot to be outside. Our kids were so amazed by the different things they saw and enjoyed trying to see if they could do some of the unique things we saw as well.

Without the pass buying online is your best option at prices are reduced from $16.99 for adults to $12.99 and kid prices are lowered from $9.99 to $7.99. Kids under 5 are free! It’s open 7 days a week from 10:00am-8:00pm.

Things to Do in Key West with Kids: Swim at the Beach

While Key West isn’t known for its beaches like Miami you can still get your beach on. Two of the top beaches here are Smathers Beach and Fort Zachary Taylor Beach but there are others. Enjoy the beach with an All-Day Watersports Beach Pass.

Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is the largest beach in Key West with two miles of shoreline. It’s a public beach so it’s free to use but like most of Key West you’ll have to pay for parking. It’s the best beach in Key West for young kids since the current isn’t strong in this area.

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach

Key West beaches are mainly man made but not Fort Zachary Beach. If your family is looking to spot wildlife this beach if your best option. Visitors often spot turtles, dolphins, or tarpon. If you visit Fort Zachary on your family vacation you can play a game of spot it and have the kids keep a look out for the sea life.

South Beach

Not to be confused with the South Beach in Miami, South Beach in Key West is perfect for families. The water at this beach is very shallow so even with small children they’ll be able to enjoy the sea. Which makes it the perfect Key West beach to visit if you’re traveling with toddlers.

Things to Do in Key West with Kids: Eat Key Lime Everything

If your kids are foodies like mine they will love trying all the delicious treats Key West has to offer. My eldest daughters favorite thing to do in Key West was ranking Key Lime pies from several different restaurants and pie shops. Her favorite was Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe followed by Mattheessen’s, Blue Heaven, and the Key Lime Pie Co. During parts of the year Key Lime Pie Co. offers Key Lime Pie cooking classes and has a special class for kids ages 2-4. If you can get into one of the cooking classes it’s sure to be one of the things your kids are going to love doing in Key West.

Little girl eating key lime pie

Things to Do in Key West with Kids On the Drive Back to Miami

While Key West may take a lot of the shine from The Florida Keys it’s not the only island apart of the keys. Break up your drive to Key West with kids by making stops along the way. Here are a few suggestions along with their distance from Key West.

Theater of the Sea

Theater of the Sea is in Islamorada, FL at mile marker 84.5. It serves as a rehabilitation center for animals that sustained injuries in the wild and are non-releasable due to the extent of them. They host dolphin, sea lion, and parrot shows along with exhibits for crocodiles, sea turtles, nurse sharks and many other fish.

Theater of the Sea is open 365 days a year from 9:30am-5:00pm and offers free parking. Tickets are $35.96 for seniors 65+, $39.95 for those 11+, $22.95 for those 3-10 and free for children 2 and under.

Turtle Hospital

The Turtle Hospital is a great place to stop with kids on your way to or from Key West. They rescue, rehab, and then release the healed sea turtles back into the waters of the Florida Keys. The tour starts with an educational presentation about the various species of turtles found in the Keys. Afterwards you can see the operation room and the turtles who are currently being rehabbed at the facility. At the end you’re able to feed the turtles if you’d like!

The Turtle Hospital are open 7 days a week with tours every hour on the hour starting at 9am with the last tour starting at 4pm. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $12 for children 4-12 and free for children 4 and under. A limited number of spots are available on each tour so make a reservation at 305-743-2552. It’s located in Marathon at mile marker 48.5.

Robbie’s

Robbie’s is the perfect place to take a break as it’s about the midway point between Miami and Key West at mile marker 77.5 in Islamorada. Whether you’re hungry and want to eat or the kids need an activity you can easily spend a few hours. The kids favorite things to do at Robbie’s is feed the tarpons. For $2.25 per person you can enter the dock and buy a bucket of fish with 5-8 fish for $4.00 to feed the tarpons. It’s quite a site to see them leap out of the water to grab the fish out of your kids hand. Parents this activity is fun for you too!

Staying in Florida for an extended time? Here are our itineraries from some of our other favorite Florida cities: Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, and Panama City Beach.

Where to Stay in Key West with Kids

Marriott Beachside Hotel

Traveling with kids can be expensive and Key West isn’t the cheapest destination accommodations wise to begin with. Thankfully we not only found a great hotel for kids but we got $173.15 cash back by booking our hotel using the Dosh App. You can read more about that here. We stayed at the Marriott Beachside Hotel which is about 10-15 minutes from Duval Street.

picture of a hotel pool

The hotel is perfect for traveling with kids as they offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartment style rooms with full kitchens. With the cost of food in Key West having the option to go grocery shopping and cook some meals at your hotel can save you a lot of money. Still you get the amenities of a well known hotel brand including a 24 hour pool, fitness center and on-site restaurants.

Isla Bella Beach Resort and Spa

If you don’t want to stay in Key West Proper, Marathon is a great alternative. Just one hour North of Key West it’s easy to get to the action but also away from all the noise. The Isla Bella Beach Resort and Spa just opened in mid-2019 so it’s a beautiful new property. We enjoyed our stay here on our most recent visit to the Keys.

What I like most about this resort is all the fun activities they offer. They have corn hole, ping pong, two huge life-size chess boards, a large resort pool and 5 smaller pools. They also do things like yoga, bracelet making and more. We didn’t have dinner on site but breakfast and lunch were both good. You can read reviews on the property here.

How To Get Around Key West

The good thing about Key West is that it is relatively small. If you traveled by car, then of course you will have transportation to get you to any of the fun things to do that you want. Keep in mind that almost everywhere you go in Key West requires you to pay for parking so bring lots of change. 

If you do not have a car to get around you can use the bus system or even rent bikes. The bus is most likely going to be your best option if you have young children with you. If you are visiting Key West with tweens & teens then bikes will work just fine!

Key West With Kids Is Great!

In addition to all the fun things you can do with your kids in Key West, try to make sure you have some peace and quiet to just relax too.  Whether you’re looking for something active or relaxing, there are plenty of activities that will suit your family just right. We’ve listed the top 14 favorite things to do in Key West with kids, but feel free to explore what Key West has to offer on your own and make it your own experience! We had a great time exploring the Keys. Hopefully these tips on things to do in Key West with kids will help you plan your next family vacation. Whatever you decide to do in this beautiful part of Florida – just remember that it’s family vacations not work! Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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