The Florida Keys, which lie off the south coast of Florida, attract thousands of visitors each year. In addition to beach activities, each area of the Keys offers many attractions for families with children.
Many charter companies offer tours for sailing, snorkeling, swimming, dolphin-watching and fishing. Vendors rent bicycles by the day, and some provide free delivery and pickup.
John Pennekamp State Park, the first underwater park in the U.S, offers snorkeling and coral reef exploration activities. The park's Cannon Beach features a replica of a generic 17th-century Spanish shipwreck. Glass-bottomed boat tours and canoeing are also available.
Islamorada's Theater of the Sea offers a variety of sea animal shows as well as a swim with the dolphins program. Guided marine life tours and glass-bottomed boat rides are also available.
At the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, kids can climb aboard a Spanish galleon, explore the remnants of pirate ships and examine crabs, sea urchins and conchs in touch tanks. The center also has a variety of nature trails.
Bahia Honda State Park offers camping, snorkeling and coral reef exploration. Parents can also take children on sightseeing drives and take photos of the deer on the island. Big Pine's maximum speed limit is 35 mph, to protect the island's wildlife.
