Florida Archives - O'Phalen Adventures

We recently had the absolute pleasure of staying in the Florida Keys for almost a month! Thanks to some research, some friends, and some trial and error, we’d love to share our favorite things to do in Florida keys. If you’re new here and you want to learn more about our full-time travel family, start here! And you can always stay more up-to-date on our adventures by following us on Instagram.

Where to Stay for Things To Do in Florida Keys:

Before we got to the Keys, it was hard for me to figure out where I’d ideally want to stay in our RV. Now that we’ve been, I have some recommendations for you! If you’re looking for a splurge stay, I would recommend Sun Outdoors Islamorada. The park is gorgeous and the location is central for many mid-Keys adventures. If you’re looking for something more rustic and a bit more affordable, check out Big Pine Key RV. The dry camping spots on the water are lovely. Sunshine Key RV is also a fantastic option for a splurge if you’re wanting to be further down in the Keys than Islamorada.

If you’re traveling without an RV, I have some hotel recommendations for you, too! The Cabins at Bonefish Bay are a more affordable family-friendly option in a great location, and the Courtyard by Marriott Faro Blanco has a gorgeous pool. The Hilton Garden Inn Key West is a great option if you’re really wanting to be all the way down in Key West.

10 Things To Do in Florida Keys:

Snorkel a reef.
My absolute favorite thing we did in the Keys was snorkel. Seeing colorful reef creatures up close and personal is a feeling that can’t be replicated, and the Florida Keys are one of the best places to snorkel in North America. We rented a boat from Sand Dollar Boat Rentals and headed to Alligator Reef, which is a location I HIGHLY recommend. If you don’t feel comfortable captaining a boat, you can also take a tour to Alligator Reef on the Marathon Mermaid.
Sunset bike ride.
The sunsets in the Keys are amazing, and you should experience them in every way that you can! We loved biking on the Old Seven Mile Bridge out to Pigeon Key just before sunset and admiring the changing sky from the bridge. Park here and bike the round-trip 4 miles; I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t be sorry. We have Retrospec E-Bikes that we adore for family outings like this.
Key West adventures.
A day in Key West can be fun for groups of any size or age. We loved the beauty of the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, and history buffs will enjoy the Truman Little White House. Thrill seekers can try parasailing, but a sunset cruise offers the most relaxation. Don’t miss the sunset celebration in Mallory Square and a picture at the Southernmost Point in the United States! If you’re traveling with littles, Truman Waterfront Park has an amazing splashpad for hot days.
Paddle with sea creatures.
One of the most amazing things to do in Florida Keys is to get out on the water with all of the wildlife. You can take a boat tour if you don’t have your own gear, or you can DIY the trip. We used our favorite inflatable kayaks to go boating on our own! We paddled the mangrove tunnels at John Pennecamp State Park and Curry Hammock State Park, and we ended up finding stingrays on our paddle from Long Key State Park.
Visit Dry Tortugas.
We’re huge National Park fans, so visiting Dry Tortugas National Park was a must for us! It’s an expensive boat ride out and you need to plan months in advance, but we loved the experience. Check out my Instagram post for more about the things you should know before you head out to this remote set of islands! Definitely pack some motion sickness medication.
Eat Key Lime Pie on a stick.
Okay, everyone’s head of Key Lime Pie, but have you tried chocolate covered Key Lime Pie on a stick?? There are a few places you can find this delicious treat in the Keys, but my favorite was at the snack bar in Bahia Honda State Park. A beach day plus a special local treat really hits the spot!
Hunt for Queen Conch to admire.
Bahia Honda State Park is also where you can see Queen Conch in the wild. These are a protected species, so you absolutely must leave living Conch where you found them! But you can bring your own snorkel gear or rent some at the park to try observing these beautiful creatures underwater. I also cannot recommend enough that you bring de-fogger spray for your snorkel mask.
Paddle to a sandbar.
There are so many sandbars in the Keys, but we really enjoyed the one right in Curry Hammock State Park. It’s an easy paddle to the sandbar from the boat launch, and the water color is so beautiful out there! Plus, we even found a sea star on the sandbar. It’s very sunny with the sun reflecting off of the white sand, so wear a rash guard!
Enjoy the beach.
Obviously, if you love the ocean, you’ll probably love spending time on the beach. Sandy beaches aren’t necessarily at the top of the list of things to do in Florida Keys, but there are a few worthwhile ones! Our favorites were the beach on the Atlantic in Bahia Honda State Park and Sombrero Beach on Marathon. Don’t forget the reef-safe sunscreen!
Watch sunset from the water.
You might have noticed that sunset is a serious thing in the Keys, and the absolute best place to watch it is from the water. You can take a sunset boat tour or paddle your own boat. There isn’t a bad place to paddle from in the Keys, just make sure you can see the Western horizon!

Things You Might Need If You Follow Our List of Things to Do in Florida Keys:

Thanks so much for visiting our corner of the internet while researching your Keys trip. We hope you have an amazing time because there are so many amazing things to do in Florida Keys!

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For more posts about how we travel with kids, check these out: