I've been reading the message boards, but am still confused. We leave for West Palm in a week. We're set for four nights and then we've got three days/nights to cover before we fly out of West Palm. I'm really open to suggestions and kind of overwhelmed. Does it make sense to drive to the Keys and spend two nights there before heading back to West Palm to a hotel convenient for flying? Is Islamorado too far? (Hawk's Cay looked great) Should I just be looking at spending a day in Miami? The Everglades? I've got two children 11-13 who love the idea of seeing wildlife and having fun in the sun. We have reservations at the Holiday Inn in Key Largo. Is that nice/clean? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mayhem, are you staying beachfront in the WPB area? If you want a 2nd beachfront place, quicker to get to, and better beaches than the Keys, go to Sanibel Island off the Gulf Coast near Ft. Myers. Sanibel has a Caribbean-like feel, and it has the Ding Darling nature preserve. Outside of WPB, don't miss Lion Country Safari. And there is Butterfly World at the northern edge of Ft. Lauderdale. Morikami Gardens is a gorgeous Japanese gardens with some wildlife in delray Beach. In Palm Beach County, very few hotels are actually ON the beach; most are on the other side of A1A. One that IS on the beach is a very charming apartment-style small hotel in Delray Beach called Wright by the Sea. Their grounds put to shame many so-called resorts, and you spill right onto a miles-long beach. Sanibel or Delray, IMO, is a better short-time option than the Keys. The Keys are very scanic, with water all around, but seriously overrated re beaches.

Mayhem, The good news is you can't really go wrong as there is so much to do in South Florida. Here is one possibility for you to consider.
Leave WBP in the morning (could you leave by 9:00 am?) and head down the turnpike to the FLorida Keys. About 2 hours of driving will get you to Florida City. There's an entrance to the Everglades here. Take a right at the traffic light that markes the end of the TPike (there is a big Shell Station on the far right corner). Follow the road to the Visitor Center and spend some time there. Buy the plastic card that helps identify the birds. Then go to the Royal Palm Visitor Center and walk the Anhinga Trail. This is a 1/2 mile boardwalk. You'll see lots of gators plus birds, fish and more. There's another trail that goes through the woods - neat for the habitat but you usually won't see any wildlife. Head back to the Florida City. You missed lunchtime so you deserve a stop at Robert is Here fruit stand (can't miss it on the road) for a fresh fruit milkshake. Then back to Florida City and on to the Keys. If you got to FC at 11:00, you'll likely be leaving FC at 2:00 (depending on how long you spend at visitor center/Robert is here - allow 1.5 hours for Ahinga Trail). Now you are off to the Keys! You can get to the Holiday Inn in about 45 min. Hawks Cay will take about 1.5 hours. (BTW, Hawks Cay is not in Islamorada, it's closer to Marathon).
The Keys are basically one long road and you give addresses by mile markers. HI is at MM 99. Hawks Cay is around MM 60. (BTW, it's closer to Marathon than Islamorada. Islamorada is MM 82-90 or so) I would stay in the KL/Islamorada area. Spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool. The next day, plan for a snorkel trip in the morning. That afternoon, drive to Robbie's (mm 77 bayside) and feed the wild tarpon. Have dinner at Morada Bay. Search the board for more on this but get there before sunset. Have a drink then enjoy a great dinner. Your kids can play in the sandy beach area while you and your spouse have a really great meal. The next morning, pick another activity (rent kayaks, go fish, swim with dolphins). Then wipe the tears from your eyes as you leave the Keys and drive back to WPB for the flight home!

Thank you. These are GREAT suggestions. My 13 year-old is reading over my shoulder and can't get over how much everyone knows! I believe we are staying beachfront in West Palm. (My husband has a conference at the Ritz -- it'll probably be my first and last time at a Ritz.) Lion Country and Butterfly World will absolutely make our to-do list and I think we'll take Key Mom's suggestion to see the Anhinga Trail and the Royal Palm Visitor Center before entering the Keys. My kids are big animal people and I really wanted them to see both the Everglades and the Keys and wasn't sure quite how. My son wants to try some fishing, so I guess we'll have to work on that once we get to the keys. I'm guessing that you think the Holiday Inn in Key Largo is fine? It sounds okay on the website and from what I've been able get on searches. I really just want something clean and with access to some kid/family friendly activities. Thank you again for your help!

If you plan on driving to the Keys from WPB, my suggestion would be to go to Islamorada. I used to live in Palm Beach county and did that trip by myself for a couple of days years ago. Personally, I would not bother staying in Key Largo. I stopped there for lunch I think and was disappointed as I remember but Islamorada was well worth continuing onto. If you don't want to go to the Keys, there is more than enough stuff to do in Miami. While in WPB, Lion Country Safari might be fun for your kids to go to if they like wildlife. I did that one day when I lived there and though it kinda freaked me out seeing lions as I driving through, it was very interesting. Just watch out for the monkeys and keep the windows rolled up!

I haven't stayed at the Holiday Inn but it seems to have good reviews. Places to check if you want a little more room is Dove Creek Lodge or Ocean Pointe. The difference between being in Key Largo and Islamorad won't be that much. I suggest you do your snorkel trip out of Pennekamp (mm 104) so that's a bit of a drive from Islamorada. But some of the better restaurants (like my fav Morada Bay) are in Islamorada. Driving between the 2 areas is not really an issue.
I didn't like Lion Country Safari but it was several years ago since we went. It was very tired.
My kids would have much more fun at Boomers (in Ft. Lauderdale about 1 hour away) - there's a wooden roller coaster, mini-golf and arcade. www.boomersparks.com/park/dania/index.html Read about the pricing before you go as it was very confusing. The roller coaster is always extra.

Are you staying at the South Palm Beach Ritz?

Yes, I think that's the name.

Good news!!!! It's just re-opened from a complete renovation!!!! The original pool was resufaced and reworked and the NEW 2nd pool is the 'infinity pool' that opens next Sunday. All parts are re-opened EXCEPT the new Spa that opens in the Fall.

Have fun!!! I was married there in 1995. Walk to the North and find the Lantana Public Beach for a nice outdoor breakfast at the Dune Deck (stuffed pancakes!!).

Thank you everyone for your advice and tips -- we had a great time exploring West Palm and the upper keys (we're saving the lower keys for our next trip!) After all is said and done, my kids said the Anhinga trail won for highlight of the trip and my husband is busy trying to figure out when we can go again! Thanks everyone!