Are the keys less crowded in Oct ?

[StarfishKey]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

Another suggestion although more in the middle Keys is the Dolphin Research Center. Our grandchildren have done the encounter and, although pricey, it was a fantastic experience.

Also in the middle Keys is the Theatre of the Sea, which is a fun place for the kids. As other poster suggested, Key West, is more of an adult town. You certainly don't want to be there with kids during Fantasy Fest.

They have recently built several hotels in the Marathon area, which are quite nice.

One doesn't have to go all the way down to Marathon for a dolphin experience. Dolphins Plus in Key Largo offers interactions with dolphins and sea lions, and even has a "Marine Biologist For a Day" program for visitors. They have 2 locations in Key Largo, one Gulfside and one Oceanside, and are a research facility as well as a place for visitor experiences.

Additionally, if one wants to head down to Marathon, a great animal experience can be had at the Turtle Hospital, which is a non-profit rehabbing place. It also has an education center and gift shop. However, in order to visit with the turtles themselves since it is a working turtle hospital, you have to be part of one of their guided educational tours. You can call ahead and see if you can sit in with a group. Although they have frequent daily tours, you are likely to need reservations. At the end of each program guests can help feed the permanent residents they have, who cannot be released in future due to more seriously debilitating medical conditions. I was remiss in not mentioning it in my earlier post.

[snowtired14]

Man, StarfishKey is right on the money and I agree wholeheartedly, Key West is for all intents and purposes an adult tourist trap. Not really a lot for kids to enjoy, there's really not much of a beach, a bar every fifty feet and souvenir and t-shirt shops in between. Busy vs not busy may be relative, to the locals all rooms are booked and two cruise ships are in port, to some of us just dump about 4000 people off a single cruise ship into Old Town is crowded. Good luck and enjoy.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by StarfishKey

One doesn't have to go all the way down to Marathon for a dolphin experience. Dolphins Plus in Key Largo offers interactions with dolphins and sea lions, and even has a "Marine Biologist For a Day" program for visitors. They have 2 locations in Key Largo, one Gulfside and one Oceanside, and are a research facility as well as a place for visitor experiences.

Additionally, if one wants to head down to Marathon, a great animal experience can be had at the Turtle Hospital, which is a non-profit rehabbing place. It also has an education center and gift shop. However, in order to visit with the turtles themselves since it is a working turtle hospital, you have to be part of one of their guided educational tours. You can call ahead and see if you can sit in with a group. Although they have frequent daily tours, you are likely to need reservations. At the end of each program guests can help feed the permanent residents they have, who cannot be released in future due to more seriously debilitating medical conditions. I was remiss in not mentioning it in my earlier post.

We have taken the grandchildren to the Turtle Hospital and they were quite bored (ages 9 and 14).