10 Cheap things to do in Key West

I love to travel, but, since I'm saving up for a larger adventure, I've needed to avoid extra spending on my smaller trips. Key West is only hours away and a fun getaway where I have found plenty to do for cheap. Hopefully this list of places helps you plan for a Key West trip in your budget. Links, as promised, are below:

1. Earnest Hemingway Home and Museum

2. Harry S. Truman Little White House

3. Key West Shipwreck Museum

4. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

5. Higgs Beach

6. Malory Square Sunset

7. West Martello Gardens and Fort

The remainder of locations don't really necessitate a site.

Best Key Lime Pies in the Keys

When I found out that Key Lime Pie is made with limes grown in the Keys, I knew I needed to make a drive down and eat the best Key Lime Pie of my life. I tried a bunch of places and you’ll have to watch to find out my favorite.

1. Mrs Mac's Kitchen

2. Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory

3. Hot Tin Roof

4. Kermit's Key Lime Shop

5. Charlie Mac's 404

6. Key West Key lime Pie Co.

Where to Go on Your Road Trip Down to Key West

I have found Key West Florida to be a popular vacation getaway while I've lived in Boca Raton and on my last trip there I decided to make the journey down a little more interesting. I chose three cool destinations to share that you could stop at while heading down to mile marker 0.

1. Shark Valley - a portion of the Everglades National Park where you can trolley, trek or bike down to the Shark Valley Observation Tower and look for Alligators. https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisi...

2. John Pennkamp Coral Reef State Park - You can take an extra day and camp here or go out on a boat to snorkel in the amazing Coral Reef. https://www.floridastateparks.org/par...

3. Robbies - home of the Hungry Tarpon. Get a bite to eat or feed some hungry fish and have a great time! https://www.robbies.com/

Although we live mere hours away, in two years this is our first time visiting the Keys as tourists. We thought, with Michael's brothers in our home, it would be a great opportunity to do a little more camping and see new sites. Although Florida heat and mosquitoes caused us some trouble we had a great time camping and enjoying nature. We went to John Pennekamp State Park and then all the way down to Key West and tested out a couple campsite options for when you don’t want to pay heavy for hotels.

Day Trips

To celebrate Father's Day this year we wanted to do something a little different. So, when we learned Captain Jack's Airboat Tours was letting dads ride free, my parents and I decided to spend the day in Everglades City. Everglades City is full of mangroves, gators, old Florida architecture and good times. We enjoyed our Airboat Tour, grabbing lunch, seeing the Smallwood Store and the smallest post office along with a short hike.

To Everglades City

Snorkeling John Pennekamp Reef

Just mere hours from Miami and Key West, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is 70 nautical square miles natural underwater beauty. This is one of the most effortless and enjoyable day trips I've ever been on. We set up a tour with Keys Diver and all there was to do after that was show up at the marina. They took us to two amazing snorkel locations - one with Christ of the deep, an otherworldly underwater statue depicting Jesus. After hours out on the turquoise waters and sitings of dolphins, we ended our day with a nice shower and then drove back sun-drunk and completely satisfied. I hope that this video inspires you to take this day trip yourself if you are in the area.

Just 40 minutes from Marco Island is a manicured waterfront with restaurants, stores and fun near opportunities called Naples! Even though we have been staying so close, we did not spend time in Naples outside of the necessary errands. That was until we got the offer to enjoy an amazing evening in Naples. Our evening began with Trike Tours USA on their amazing mopeds through the downtown area learning about all sort of unique spots that we can now return to when we find the time. Then we enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner at Vergina. It really was the perfect night.

Swim with Manatees in Crystal River, FL