Key West - enough to do?
 

We're a family of four (kids are 12 and 14) and are planning a trip to the Keys in July. I'd love some input about whether we'll have enough to do in Key West for four days/three nights...or would we be better off shortening our stay to two nights? We're staying at Hyatt Windward Pointe.

Some questions:
Are you only going to Key West?
Do you enjoy boating?
Would you enjoy visiting - either by seaplane or boat - the Dry Tortugas?
Do you like to eat in a variety of restaurants?
Do you like to leisurely walk, or bike, to sightsee through streets of gingerbread houses?

Some things to ponder.

Lots of great things to do.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g3...ngs.To.Do.html

I'm planning my own trip to Key West for late summer, and thought I'd share my possible to-do/to-see list with you:

(In no particular order)

Mallory Square for sunset
Pirate Soul Museum
Kew West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy
Ernest Hemingway House
Key West Cemetary (Ghost tour?)
Schooner Day Sail on Jolly II Roger
Key West Lighthouse
The Chicken Store
Wreckers Museum
Dry Tortugas Day Trip
Southernmost Point
St. Paul's Church
Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church
Self-guided walking tour from visitor's center

I like to photograph things so some on my list are there for that purpose. I've got a list of restaurants that I've culled from here and Chowhound and would be happy to share as well. I'm planning on four nights too, with two nights in other keys - I'm sure some of these will fall off the list as I get spontaneous...

Here are some links full of great ideas for restaurants.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g3....Key.West.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g3...ppy.Hours.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g3...ing.Scene.html

We went for a long weekend and found plenty to do. You can take the Conch Train, watch the sunset in Mallory Square, go to the Mel Fischer Museum, tour Hemingway's House, take a glass bottom boat tour, do a snorkeling tour - maybe the Dry Tortugas, go see the Southernmost point. There's also a very small aquarium. Also tons of good restaurants and people watching. We spent a good deal of time just relaxing at the pool too.

Will you have a car? The Hyatt Windward Pointe is absolutely lovely, but is by the airport and FAR from activities.

But in answer to your question, there is plenty to do, and you've been given some great ideas!

Our first trip to Key West was for a long weekend and now we go a minimum of twice a year for two weeks each trip. It's habit forming :)

I don't think it's necessarily cheap to do, but a trip to Fort Jefferson is fantastic -- and takes pretty much the whole day.

I agree to take the Dry Tortugas trip. Your kids will be amazed by the boatride to and asleep for the boatride home.

It is a Do Not Miss in Key West.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Three nights it is!