key west museum
Just because school is out for the summer, doesn’t mean that kids can’t brush up on what they’ve learned in class. A trip to the Florida Keys offers a fascinating glimpse of Florida history, without the added time and expense of a long distance journey.
For Naples area travelers who want the most direct route to the Florida Keys, the Key West Express operates round trip passenger ferries from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island to Key West. The travel time is directly related to weather/sea conditions and is approximately 3 1/2 hours in each direction. To reduce your travel time even further, Yellow Air Taxi offers direct flights from Naples to Key West.
Key West’s Old Town district is extremely pedestrian friendly, with much of the action taking place on Duval Street and Mallory Square, which is famous for its nightly Sunset Celebration. Although Key West’s Margaritaville reputation greets visitors from every gift shop, there are a number of family friendly attractions.
According to Carol Shaughnessy, a writer and publicist working with the Florida Keys Tourism Council, a trip aboard the Conch Train or the Old Town Trolley is the best way for families to start a Key West vacation. “It gives parents an opportunity to see what their kids respond to,” said Shaughnessy.
Families traveling with school aged children will want to pay special attention to the following Key West sites:
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Hemingway lived at 907 Whitehead St. from 1928 until 1940, during which time he completed A Farewell to Arms and composed For Whom the Bell Tolls. Approximately 60 six-toed cats, which are direct descendents of Hemingway’s pet, roam freely while guides lead tours through the house.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
An election year is a perfect time to bring future voters to the Harry S Truman Little White House. President Truman began using this house as his Winter White House during his 1945 – 1953 administration, and spent 11 working vacations here. Visitors can see where Truman discussed some of his most important Cold War policies.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
Mel Fisher’s family business was locating sunken Spanish galleons laden with treasures from the New World, and in 1985 they struck gold—literally—when his crew discovered the ruins of Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Santa Margarita, which sank in a hurricane in 1622.
The Key West Shipwreck Historeum and the Pirate Soul museum also teach young people about the region’s seafaring roots. “This whole Caribbean basin was a pirate hangout,” said Shaughnessy.
Although Key West is considered the jewel in the crown of the Florida Keys, there is a lot to be said for exploring the length of the Keys by car along US 1. Animal lovers will appreciate the rehabilitation efforts at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Key Largo and the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, and enjoy dolphin shows at Theater of the Sea and tarpon feeding at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada (pronounced EYE-la-mor-ah-da).
No matter where parents decide to take their children in the Florida Keys, kids can discover the region’s unique history and environment in so many fun ways they won’t realize just how much they’re actually learning.
For more information about travel in the Florida Keys, visit www.fla-keys.com.
To learn more about the attractions mentioned in this article, visit the following Web sites:
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum • www.hemingwayhome.com
Harry S Truman Little White House • www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum • www.melfisher.org
Key West Shipwreck Historeum • www.shipwreckhistoreum.com
Pirate Soul • www.piratesoul.com
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center • www.fkwbc.org
Turtle Hospital • www.turtlehospital.org
Theater of the Sea • www.theaterofthesea.com
Robbie’s Marina • www.robbies.com