Keys Cruising

[Freestyle]

I am in Key West with wife and three boys ages 8,9, and 13. Slowly headed to East Coast and then throught the lake and back to the real world.

Kids are here until the 30th then off to camp. So most worried about short term itinerary.

Snorkeling shallow reefs with the kids never gets boring. Best of recommendations needed.

Looking for cool places to anchor or tie up with dinghy ashore eats or other entertainment. We like everything from a museum for about 2 hours or stupid Keys type entertainment. Bars with pools to use are a big plus.

Oldest kid keeps talking about a dolphin swim experience. Where and what is that? No PETA responses please. All people with passion have my respect but probably not my following.

Thanks for the advice.

Bruce

 

[Pascal]

here is great site...
http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/
navigation is a little confusing but if you dig around you'll find a ton of info on anchorages in the keys

for diving/snorkling info try
http://www.flkeysdiving.com/
info on reefs, buoys,... with pictures, diagrams, etc...

many good snorkleing spots along the keys all the way to Key Largo

www.pyh.com is a kid freindly marina in islamorada, bayside. i'ts part of the new Founders Park, with bike path, park, pool, beach, etc... best marina to stay a few days with kids.

 

[trogers]

We try to spend a bit of time anchored near Rodriguez Key near Key Largo, There are numerous reefs that are snorkler friendly near there.

 

[J's Dream]

The dolphin experience if I recall correctly is in Islamorada, and is NOT cheap. From what I have heard (a few years back) it was over $100 per person, and I'm sure it has gone up since then. But people tell me that it is a great time!!!

 

[Angela]

Oldest kid keeps talking about a dolphin swim experience. Where and what is that? No PETA responses please.

What is a PETA response? Hope I'm not making one...if you're in Key West and are heading back to the east coast, I assume you'll pass through the Miami area. I'm not clear as to whether you were looking for things to do just in the Keys, or along the way back to the east coast, as well. The Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne has a swim with the dolphins program. I can get you the phone number if and when you want it. It's just about 1/4 down the road from where I am at Rickenbacker Marina on Key Biscayne.

Ang

 

[Passages]

What is a PETA

PETA- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It's a domestic militant terrorist organization bent on turning the world towards devout veganism.

ps: Strike that last sentence. I forgot this is a non-political site. Now where is that delete function? My bad

 

[Angela]

Thanks for defining that. I guess I need to get out more. I'm definitely not a PETA enthusiast.

Ang

 

[garyd]

Sorry folks I'm a big PETA fan "People for Eating Tasty Animals".

Can you imagine all the people that have never had truely fresh fish or shellfish.

Have fun boating!

John Pennycamp state park is fantastic. You can catch some pan fish and serve them up for breakfast. Good eatin plus you can real in bluecrab and have that for lunch. You can do all this tied up to the mooring buoys.

 

[Fanfare]

Hawk's Nest Club (which is really on Duck Key, I believe) is a good place for kids. Last time we went it was also a Boat US 10% discount resort, fuel and dockage. It was too rough to get to the Bahamas so we ended up there. Had a good time with our kids and grandkids. They have a "frequent floaters" card which may lead to some savings if you go back. Our grandkids were too small to be turned loose, but it looked like the kind of place where your ages could be off on their own without too much adult worry. The Admiral and I enjoyed it too, and the cost did not seem excessive. Hope you have a great trip--our kids have recounted (as adults) some fine memories of former voyages, and that is about as good as it gets.