Monday, September 8, 2014

Things to do with kids at Key West





The Key West area is an ideal vacation spot for the whole family.  There are many sites to see and fun things to do for kids and kids at heart.  Here are some recommended activities and attractions that the whole family can enjoy.

Get a chance to pet friendly sharks at the Key West Aquarium. Kids can get up close and personal with real live sharks.  Children can safely feed nurse sharks, sandbar sharks, and Bonnethead sharks. They can experience touching juvenile nurse sharks on the tail and discover how their skin feels. There’s nothing to fear because they are gentle creatures.  The touch tank allows kids to let their curiosity rule. They can touch different kinds of small sea creatures such as hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, conchs, sea stars, slate pencil sea urchins, serpent sea stars, sea cucumbers, and species of whelks.  It doesn’t stop there; kids can also pet and feed cow nose rays. These type of rays are docile and enjoy being fed by humans.


Key West Aquarium


At Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, visitors can walk through the bird sanctuary and see different species of birds like herons, owls, pelicans and egrets.  The wild bird rescue, rehabilitation and educational facility also teaches kids how to value and respect birds.


Florida Keys Wild Bird Center


Another popular attraction is the Conch Tour Train.  Visitors can learn about its 400 years of history.  The tour takes you around the beautiful tropical island and its charming architectural sites.  There are many interesting stops so you can appreciate the different attractions.  Kids 12 and below can ride for free while seniors are given discounts.


Conch Tour Train


Do you imagine yourself swimming along sea creatures?  At Theater of the Sea, visitors have the privilege of swimming with dolphins, stingrays, and even sea lions. Kids as young as five years old can take part in special swim programs with sea creatures while children starting three years old can join dolphin wade programs. The vast area also features animals like native birds, parrots, sea turtles, fish, and crocodiles.  Some animals are trained to perform in front of the audience.  


Theater of the Sea


Take a journey to the past when you visit Key West Shipwreck Museum. It houses a variety of artifacts and there are live actors which give visitors an overall unique experience.  There is also a 65’ Lookout Tower.  In the older days, people climbed the tower to watch the reef for wrecks.
 

Key West Shipwreck Museum

Another interesting museum is the Hemingway Home and Museum.  The guided tour of the home and gardens give you a glimpse of Ernest Hemingway’s environment where he wrote most of his notable works.
The Audubon House and Tropical Gardens is surrounded by native and exotic plants. Many local birds thrive here. 


Hemingway Home and Museum



The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden is considered as the only frost-free tropical forest in the United States.  It provides a natural setting for native, threatened, and endangered plants.  It is also a wildlife refuge for native and threatened species. There are eco-educational guided tours that let you explore the unique flora and fauna.  

Read more: http://www.econocarental.com/econo-car-rental-blog/things-to-do-in-tampa-2/things-to-do-with-kids-at-key-west/

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