Homeschool Road Trip: Water World

Explore the shore in the Florida Keys.

The ocean is your fellow traveler along US-1, and there’s plenty of fun to be had in and out of the water as you travel down Florida’s southernmost tip.

DAY 1 

Pick up your car at the Miami International Airport, and fuel up with eggs and bagels at Coral Bagels before moseying over toward US-1 South. It shouldn’t take you much more than an hour to reach Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Get oriented with a 2.5-hour glass-bottom boat tour of key segments of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, then take the kids scuba diving or snorkeling through the park’s coral reef. Check into a comfortably minimalist room at the Rock Reef Resort, and clean up before heading out to a dinner cruise to the Pilot House restaurant aboard the African Queen—yes, that African Queen.

DAY 2

Have breakfast and a Key Lime muffin at Harriette’s Restaurant before making the short drive south to Tavernier. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is home to some pretty amazing birds, including great horned owls, peregrine falcons, black-bellied plovers, and more. (All the birds with permanent homes at the Center are unable to live in the wild because of injuries.) Head south to Islamorada for a fried seafood basket at the Hungry Tarpon, then pick up a 2 p.m. fishing charter at Robbie’s Marina to test your luck in the “sportfishing capital of the world.” If you get lucky, the Hungry Tarpon will cook up your catch for dinner before you check in at the Pelican Cove Hotel. Spend the evening splashing in the water in the pool or along the hotel’s private beach.

DAY 3

Wake up early to beat the breakfast crowds at Midway Cafe and Coffee Bar, arguably home of the best cup of coffee in the Keys. Then head back to Robbie’s Marina to pick up picnic supplies and rent kayaks for a trip to Indian Key. In the early 1800s, Indian Key was a thriving village and the county seat for Dade County, but it became a ghost town after a Seminole attack in 1840 devastated the community. Bring your snorkeling gear if you want to check out the bustling underwater environment, and wear sturdy shoes to explore the island ruins. After a lazy picnic on the beach, head back to shore to explore the History of Diving Museum, which offers a surprisingly interesting look at underwater exploration past and present. Have a quiet dinner at the aptly named Lazy Days before hitting the beach at your hotel.

DAY 4

Have a quick diner-style breakfast at Mangrove Mike’s before continuing south on US-1 to the Grassy Key Dolphin Research Center. What’s cool about this attraction is that it’s first and foremost a research and education facility, and while it’s not cheap, especially when you tack on interactive experiences like swimming with dolphins or working as a trainer for a day, it’s worth the splurge. Grab lunch at the center’s food stand. When you’ve had your fill of dolphins and sea otters, eat an early dinner at Fish Tales Market and Eatery in Marathon before checking in at the no-frills but friendly Siesta Motel.

DAY 5

Chow down on seriously hearty breakfast fare at the Stuffed Pig on your way to the Turtle Hospital, a working animal hospital where rescued and injured sea turtles are rehabilitated. Then prepare for some seriously amazing scenery as you head south across the Seven-Mile Bridge, where you’re surrounded by ocean on every side. (That cute little coconut stand makes a good place to pull over for some photos. You can pick up a $.50 coconut, too, putting your change in the box on the honor system.) Keep heading south on US-1. If you’re hungry, stop for lunch at No Name Pub. Keep your eyes peeled as you head into the National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge —if you’re lucky, you might spot one of the elusive and endangered Key deer. Unload your gear into your room at the affordable Parmers Resort, just north of Key West in Little Torch Key, then drive into Key West for tacos and Korean barbecue at Garbo’s Grill, where the jovial crowds are part of the fun. Spend the rest of the evening burning off extra energy on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

DAY 6 

Drive into Key West for breakfast at Pepe’s cafe — ask about the specials — before visiting the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, where you can learn more about the U.S. writer who lived and wrote here for more than a decade. Kids are often more impressed by the six-toed descendants of Papa’s cat Snowball, but the museum is well-done. Have a French-accented lunch at La Creperie, then browse the hodgepodge collection at Key West Island Books if you want to pick up a little Hemingway for your flight home. The Harry S. Truman Little White House was more than just the winter resort for President Truman (perhaps the only man who can say that becoming President of the United States was a decided step down career-wise)—it also served as a response site during the Cold War.

This was originally published in the summer 2014 issue of HSL, but we’re in the mood for some vicarious travel right about now. We updated some information when we republished this online in 2021, but always double-check before relying on travel information!

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