Beaches and Parks

• Take the family to Bahia Honda State Recreational Area (floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda), about 45 minutes from Key West, for award-winning beaches, swimming, biking, kayaking, snorkeling and boat tours. The park's Sand Spur Beach was named the best beach in the United States in 1992. Key West Marine Park allows kids to swim and experience aquatic life and birds in a safe environment. Further north, visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (pennekamppark.com) in Key Largo, the first undersea park in the United States. The whole family can enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour to see the amazing variety of sea life without getting wet.
  
  

Swim with Dolphins

• Swimming with dolphins is an experience your family won't soon forget. There are dolphin centers and parks throughout the Keys; decide on the type of encounter you'd like before choosing an operator. To see dolphins in their natural habitat, visit Dolphin Cove in Key Largo (dolphinscove.com) and snorkel alongside the dolphins, or jump in and play trainer for a day at Dolphins Plus, also in Key Largo (dolphinsplus.com). The Dolphin Research Center in Marathon (dolphins.org) and Dolphin Connection in Duck Key (dolphinconnection.com) offer both in-water programs and those where you don't have to get wet; these are especially suited to non-swimmers or small children.
  
  

Aquariums and Wildlife Centers

• The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier (fkwbc.org) rescues and rehabilitates wild birds, which can be viewed along the center's boardwalk. In Key West, visit Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys (floridakeyswildliferescue.org) to view rescued species and learn about helping wild animals. At the Key West Aquarium (keywestaquarium.com) children can come face-to-face with sea life; they can even touch a shark.
  
  

Land-Based Attractions

• Take a break from the water and check out the Keys by land. Climb Key West, located at the Hilton Resort and Marina in Key West, features a 24-foot rock-climbing wall and is suited for children 3 years of age and older. Learn about the area's maritime past at the Key West Ship Wreck Museum (shipwreckhistoreum.com) or visit World Wide Sportsman in Islamoralda and shop the state's largest fishing and outdoors store, which includes a replica of Ernest Hemingway's boat, an aquarium and a restaurant.