Visit the Key West Aquarium

#keywest

Goliath Grouper at the Key West Aquarium

The Key West Aquarium is definitely something you should go see if you want to know all about the waters around Key West. For the most part every exhibit in the aquarium has fish from our local waters. 

The aquarium costs around $15 per person and children under five are free. The first Sunday of every month is locals day and locals get in for free with a local ID. 

The Key West Aquarium is not only fascinating for children adults also enjoy learning about our fish and wildlife. 

When you first walk into the aquarium there is a touch tank. This Tank has called and see origins and horseshoe crabs that you can touch. 

There are guided tours of the aquarium four times a day starting at 9AM. During this tour a member of the aquarium will guide you through it tell you facts about our marine life and the behavior of some of the rescued turtles that call this aquarium there home. 

They will feed the stingrays in the tank right behind the touch tank. And also feed the nurse sharks in the other middle large tank. If you are lucky you will get to feel the skin or a nurse shark too, it's a lot like sandpaper.

Out back from the main building are three tanks to have them holding see turtles and one with five different types of sharks. The shark exhibit has water flowing directly from Key West Harbor into it. The aquarium guide will feed the turtles a few times a day and will also demonstrate how sharks eat by dangling part of a dead bait in the water.

The two turtles that are out back are a loggerhead turtle and a green sea turtle. Each one of these will spend the rest of its life at the aquarium for various reasons. They were both rescued because of injuries.

One of the most recent additions is Stingray Bay. There are two different types of stingrays that you can touch, a cow nose and southern stingray. Certain times of the day there is a member of the aquarium with a bucket of shrimp so you can feed the stingrays. 

The last big tank exhibit is out a side door from the main building. This tank has a huge Goliath grouper in it. There are also Tarpon and redfish and jacks that swing freely around this Tank. Other snapper and a giant barracuda are also here. 

There is a new exhibit with small American alligators and fresh water turtles. The tank is up high so you can see these creatures in and out of the water.

The Key West aquarium is not a place you would really spend your whole day but an hour or two would be good. Tickets are usually good for two days. 

Go visit the Key West aquarium any day of the week. It is open 365 days a year.

Get Out of the Cold! Quick Getaways to Key West!

Okay it's mid-February and Key West has had some unseasonably warm weather thus far. It's about to change by the way but let's just say it will be warmer here than any other place in the Continental US. Sorry I had to rub it in a little bit.

But.... there is hope for some of you who really need to thaw out even if it's just for a few days.

Our average temperatures in February are in the upper 70s to low 80s. This means our Key West weather is pretty sunny and mild compared to the rest of the nation. It gets pretty easy to get used to the warmth of our Florida sunshine while you are enjoying any one of the many attractions and activities we have here both on and off the water.

For getting out on the water there are many Key West boats available for hire. From fishing charters, snorkeling trips, diving, dolphin watches and kayaking trips to the outer islands of the Lower Keys there is a way to get out on the water. One should take advantage of any one of these boats in Key West by asking the concierge at your local Key West hotel or ask us here about our recommendations.

Getting to Key West is easy! Take a plane to Key West directly on Delta Airlines, American Airlines, United, Silver Air, US Air and for now Southwest (may discontinue service June 2014). You may also choose to land in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami and drive down the Keys all the way to Key West. This saves money on airfare for your last minute getaway but a car rental may set you back a bit unless you use one of the bidding sites like Priceline to try and save some money.

Never seen the Keys at all, do yourself a favor and take the drive down the Keys and check it out.

There are a ton of Key West hotels, motels and guest homes to choose from. There's a vast range for any budget. I can suggest a few places I've been to personally and have guests stay at on occasion (although everyone has a house guest in Key West).

Low Budget Key West Hotels

Spanish Gardens Motel - Simonton Street
Clean and simple rooms and a block from Duval Street. One or two cottages for larger families.

Best Western Hibiscus
Simonton Street and one block from Upper Duval

Fairfield Inn - North Roosevelt

Mid Range Key West Lodging

Westwinds - Truman Avenue

Eden House - Fleming Street
Classic guesthouse and terrific owners. Very tropical and friendly and within walking distance to a lot of Key West attractions.

Paradise Inn - Simonton Street, one block off Duval
Tropical and beautiful with nicely appointed rooms.

High Luxury Key West Hotels

Sunset Key Guest Cottages - owned by the Westin Resort and Marina

The Pier House Resort

Ocean Key House

La Concha Key West