Visiting Key West For A Week Or A Day Trip To Key West
Ready for a vacation? A bit of sun and sand in the Florida Keys with a cold drink in hand is just what the doctor ordered! Where can you go, and what can you do for the perfect relaxing getaway? We’ve put together some great ideas for a day trip or a relaxing week in Key West.
From exploring the best sandbars in the Florida Keys, sunning on some of the best beaches in South Florida, taking day trips from Key West, and enjoying a slice of key lime pie, we have everything you need to enjoy a week in paradise. If your travels take you to Miami, consider taking a day trip to Key West. You’ll be glad you did.
Fun Day Trips From Key West
If you are the type of traveler who likes to explore, then this is a great Florida Keys getaway for you.
Head out from the Key West historic seaport for a day of sandbar hopping. Reaching your first sandbar is just 25 minutes away. Key West sandbars are a great place to relax, swim and search for sea shells. A day of hopping between the sandbars is an excellent way to recharge your batteries.
Stop at Mud Keys to explore the mangrove trail. Visit Snipe Point sandbar, a favorite with the Key West locals, for swimming and snorkeling. Be sure to bring your camera to take an Instagram-worthy photo at the famous Snipe Key swing.
To enjoy this fun day trip from Key West, you’ll need a boat. Our friendly crew with Key West Boat Trips can take your small group of up to six people on a guided tour of the sandbars. We’ll explore Key West’s most popular spots and a few that are off the beaten path. Key West is home for us, and we know the best places to take our valued customers for an unforgettable trip.
Let’s get your Key West boat trip on the books. Give us a call or check out our simple-to-use online booking system.
1) Experience Fort Zachary Taylor For A Day In Key West
Perhaps you are traveling with someone who can’t sit still for long, and relaxing on the beach does not match their idea of a great vacation. In that case, head to Fort Zachary Taylor, where everyone will find something to enjoy. The fort and its natural beach are at the southern tip of Key West.
The main focus at this Florida historic state park is the remnants of a red brick fort that pre-dates the American Civil War. History buffs can wander through the fort, reading the signs and imagining life as a soldier during the Spanish-American War and the Civil War.
On the south side of the fort is one of Key West’s best beaches, loved by many for its natural look. Most beaches in Key West need to bring in sand from other areas for visitors to enjoy, but that is not the case here. You can relax in the sun, swim, snorkel, and even fish. There are restrooms, showers, and picnic facilities with grills. A beach hut offers chairs, umbrellas, and snorkel gear for rent.
2) Add Dry Tortugas National Park To Your Key West Itinerary
Dry Tortugas National Park comprises seven small islands surrounded by water that’s teeming with marine life. The only way to reach the park is by floatplane, boat, or the Yankee Freedom Ferry.
Dry Tortugas Park is 70 miles west of Key West, a trip that takes over two hours by ferry. The history buff in your travel party can take a tour of historic Fort Jefferson. The snorkeling here is fantastic, and people search for sea turtles, nurse sharks, and plenty of colorful tropical fish. Tucked into the coral reef, you’ll often find lobsters, anemones, sponges, and sea stars.
Among the islands of the Dry Tortugas National Park are relaxing soft sand beaches overlooking the crystal blue water. Some of the beaches to look for include:
- South Swim Beach – Next to a large snorkeling area on Garden Key
- Seaplane Beach – On the path between Garden Key and Bush Key
- North Swim Beach – On the north side of Garden Key, just west of a great snorkel area.
- Dinghy Beach – Near the ferry pier on Garden Key
3) Bahia Honda State Park From Key West
A visit to the Bahia Honda State Park is one of the great Key West day trips. It’s an island located on the Overseas Highway, approximately 37 miles from Key West. To get there by car will take about an hour.
Snorkeling at Bahia Honda is some of the best in the Florida Keys. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent it there and snorkel from the shore. Snorkel tours by boat are also available at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary from the park’s on-site concessionaire.
Natural sand beaches surround the island, and you can take a short hike on the Old Bahia Honda Bridge to enjoy a quiet time surrounded by the ocean. There are plenty of trails to hike and reconnect with nature and great beaches where you can sit back and relax.
4) South Florida Day Trip To Key West
After leaving the Florida mainland, colorful Key Largo is one of the first stops on the Overseas Highway. If you are flying into Miami, you could add this Key West day trip to the beginning of your itinerary.
Key Largo is one of the best areas for families, as there is something there for everyone, and you can avoid the teenage murmur of “I’m bored.”
Swim, rent a paddleboard, or go jet skiing. There’s world-class snorkeling at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. If getting into nature helps you to relax, then you’ll enjoy these three amazing short trails:
- Mangrove Trail – Walk along the boardwalk for three-tenths of a mile through the mangroves.
- Grove Trail – This trail is sixth-tenths of a mile through a tropical hardwood hammock that ends in a historic grove of tropical fruit trees.
- Wild Tamarind Trail – A three-tenths of a mile loop through the tropical hardwood hammock where some trees have markers for identification.
Save some time to stop at the Fish House for a piece of their famous key lime pie.
5) Enjoy Live Music When You Visit Key West
If listening to music is your relaxing vibe, Key West is the place to be. You can find live entertainment at many of the restaurants and bars. Key West hosts various music genres, including jazz, calypso, blues, retro, country, and reggae.
Blue Heaven
The talented chef at Blue Heaven serves an amazing menu of American, Caribbean, and vegetarian cuisine. Blue Heaven’s eclectic vibe and fantastic food attract top-notch artists performing live music daily. Relax over a glass of wine or two and enjoy a piece of their delicious key lime pie. You’ll find Blue Heaven just two blocks from Duval Street near the Key West Lighthouse.
Little Room Jazz Club Key West
This small, intimate club offers nightly jazz music at their piano bar and a round of traveling jazz artists. They offer a limited menu of small plates, including their signature chocolate-covered bacon and a full bar. The Little Room Jazz Club is on Duval Street near the Hemingway Home and Museum.
6) Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Each day, about two hours before sunset, a crowd gathers at Key West’s famous Mallory Square for a ritual that has been happening for over 50 years. It’s the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, which every Key West visitor should do when they visit this southernmost city. You’ll have a beautiful view of a Key West sunset as it dips below the horizon over Sunset Key.
The party starts with vendors setting up their food, art, and craft booths. Enjoy some Key West food and shop for souvenirs. You’ll also see street performers sharing their talents. Sunset is a magical experience in Key West, and the admiring crowd claps in appreciation of another great day in paradise.
7) Relax At The Key West Butterfly And Nature Conservatory
On the Atlantic Ocean side of the island, a short walk from the Southernmost Point Buoy, you’ll find the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Under a domed glass aviary, you can take a relaxing walk among hundreds of butterflies. You’ll see a tropical garden with colorful flowering plants, birds, trees, and waterfalls. It’s a great way to spend half a day in Key West.
After your time with the Key West butterflies, take the two-block walk to the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. There is always a line but stop for a picture at the Southernmost Point Buoy as a memento of your day in Key West.
Enjoy The Perfect Key West Day Trip With Us
Hopefully, we’ve given you some great ideas to add to your Key West itinerary. We want every day in Key West to be enjoyable for you and your family. Key West is home for us, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
We’ve put together some fun Key West day trips like our Boca Grande Island Time, Mangrove Safari, Sandbar Hopping, and more. Take a look at our guided tour list, or call us to put together a special trip for you. We look forward to meeting you.
