The most exciting thing that we did on our trip was take the boys on a seaplane out to Fort Jefferson. We had an amazing pilot that was super great with the kids. He even let the boys take turns riding in the cockpit with him! Both Evan and Preston thought that was a really cool experience! We got to see lots of cool things from the seaplane including sharks, rays and turtles.
While we were on the island, we got to explore the fort. The boys really liked the view from the top, where we could see turtles swimming in the moat. The boys tried to snorkel, but it was a bit too rough and the visibility wasn't good. They did have a great time on the secluded beach, where they played in the water and did a bit of snorkeling, which they loved.
Evan got to ride in the cockpit on the way to Fort Jefferson.
Key West - Fort Zachary Taylor
The views from the plane were so pretty!
Fort Jefferson
We all enjoyed the seaplane ride!
We all liked exploring Fort Jefferson.
The island is beautiful and it has one of the prettiest beaches I have ever seen.
Evan found a hermit crab.
Preston found a large sea snail.
Evan discovered a sea cucumber.
There were lots of birds on the island. This little bird stayed by me when I was sitting on the beach. I think he was hoping I had some food!
Preston got to ride in the cockpit on the way back home to Key West!
Our pilot took a selfie on the way home!
We chartered a boat with Captain Rio while we were in Key West. We told him what we wanted to do and he created a super fun day for us. We went fishing, snorkeling, played on a sandbar and even went searching for dolphins.
Evan and Preston love being on boat.
Captain Rio took us to a great fishing spot. Everyone was able to catch some fish.
At the end of our trip, we went dolphin watching. We were able to see several dolphins right up by our boat. It was so cool!
Preston almost always falls asleep on a boat. I think it so cute!
The boys spent a lot of time catching lizards. They caught lots of little anoles, as well as a few curly-tailed lizards, which are harder to find. Evan even caught a large iguana!
Southernmost Cards Fans - We cheered for U of L when they played against UK. Unfortunately, U of L lost.
Preston ate a LOT of ice cream on this trip. He got several ice cream bars at Higgs beach, but he also got a special ice cream treat when we were walking along the harbor. He LOVES ice cream.
We enjoyed visiting Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It is one of my favorite places on the island. It is really beautiful.
We spent several afternoons fishing on White Street Pier. Evan loved every second! Preston also liked fishing and was especially happy when he caught some big fish.
We went to the botanical garden several times. The boys liked catching lizards and I enjoyed the beautiful flowers and butterflies.
Preston is still a big fan of the playground. He loves climbing to the top of the play structures.
Preston and Evan had a few opportunities to go paddle boarding. Preston has done it just once before and he really impressed us with his skills this trip!
Evan, Preston and Daddy spent lots of time in Bonnie Mom and Grandpa's pool. It was a bit too cold for me, but they really enjoyed it.
Carl and I were able to go out a few nights, including on New Year's Eve. We had a nice dinner at The Cafe and ventured out on Duval Street. We didn't stay out too long though, as lots of Duval Street was very crowded. It was cool to see it for a little while though.
Key West was still decorated for Christmas and it was beautiful. I especially loved the Christmas lights at night.
Preston loves eating at Banana Cafe. He ate his entire waffle, after already eating some breakfast at Bonnie Mom and Grandpa's house.
The boys loved playing with Ernie, Millie and Lola.
Carl and I went on a sunset cruise, which we do each time we go to Key West. We had a lot of fun and the sunset was beautiful.
We had some pretty big waves on our last full day in Key West!
