Key West is the ideal playground for a birthday celebration. With sparkling beaches, boundless sightseeing and vibrant nightlife, this one-of-a-kind island is the perfect place for adding another candle to your cake. If you’re not sure where to begin your festivities, check out our seven ideas for a fantastic Key West birthday.
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1) Celebrate Your Milestone With Us!
A Key West birthday is an epic birthday. Enjoy a memory-making birthday in Key West when you enjoy its balmy weather and exceptional eateries, music, bars and water activities.
We’ll help you enjoy your newest trip around the sun on an unforgettable sandbar tour. With knowledgeable, fun-loving captains and fascinating destinations, we’ll make sandbar hopping an amazing part of your special day.
Don’t wait – dive into the adventure of a lifetime! Call now to celebrate your best birthday ever and create memories that will last forever!
2) Celebrate Your Birthday On A Breathtaking Sunset Cruise
Key West’s sunsets are nothing short of legendary. Drift away on a sunset cruise and be awestruck as the sun melts over the horizon and unfurls ribbons of dazzling golds, scarlets and amethysts against the dusky night sky. Sunset cruises are great birthday options because:
They’re Perfect For A Low-Key Celebration
If you’re looking for a laid-back birthday, take a sunset cruise. These leisurely, night boat rides are accompanied by soft breezes and gently lapping water. Some also feature soothing jazz or new-age music and are intended to help you relax and escape life’s hustle and bustle.
Sample wine or light snacks as the sun bathes the sky in vivid colors. Couples seeking a romantic setting can also celebrate a sunset cruise.
They’re Also Perfect For A Spirited Celebration
Planning a raucous birthday party? Then grab your closest friends and hop on a sunset party cruise, which is all about drinking, carousing and good vibes. Also called booze cruises, these wild joyrides will loosen you up with draft beer, wine, champagne and delectable cocktails.
Rock out to live music or shake your booty to an onboard DJ. Turn up the volume on fun and celebrate in style with a refreshing cocktail or a frosty beer. The fun-loving, energetic captain may even lead you in games and contests to celebrate your birthday.
They’re Ideal For Photo Opportunities
Memories are great, but sometimes they fade. Take pictures, and you’ll permanently capture the sunset’s dazzling spectacle in all of its glory. Some cruises have designated areas where you can get perfect shots, while others have professional photographers who will guide you to snap excellent ones too.
Fun fact: While you’re watching the sunset, you may get lucky and glimpse a night phenomenon called the green flash. This brief burst of intense green color happens right before the sun disappears below the horizon.
3) Enjoy A Magical Dolphin Watch Tour
Key West’s dolphin watch tour is unparalleled for observing these large mammals swim, frolic and leap in their natural playground. It’s definitely a unique way to celebrate your birthday. Populated by a breed called Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, the crystal clear waters teem with hundreds of these grinning creatures.
Experience the thrill of watching them playfully cavort next to the boat, or join them respectfully by snorkeling in their underwater world. Be on the lookout for the eagle rays, colorful coral fish and sea turtles that also call the ocean home. Discover some benefits of dolphin watching:
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Educational Experience – Learn about the behavior and habitat of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from knowledgeable guides
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Photographic Opportunities – Capture stunning photos of dolphins and other marine life in their natural environment
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Family-Friendly Fun – Perfect for all ages, making it an ideal activity for a birthday celebration with family and friends
Good to know: Since dolphins don’t migrate, they’re in Key West year round. This makes it a prime location for dolphin watch tour sightings.
4) Feast On A Mouthwatering Seafood Dinner At A&B Lobster House
Providing exceptional food and service for over 70 years, Key West’s A&B Lobster House has earned its reputation as a great place to enjoy a memorable – and delicious – birthday party. An iconic eatery, A&B overlooks the Key West Historic Seaport, where you can gaze at the yachts bobbing on the waters or admire the sunset as it flares across the sky. Although it has an upscale atmosphere, the Lobster House welcomes you to celebrate in casual garb.
The restaurant’s menu is stellar. Start your culinary odyssey with these delightful specialties:
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Classic Key West pink shrimp
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Caribbean lobster tail
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Two-pound Maine lobster
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Caribbean lobster risotto
What treat have you eaten on all of your other birthdays? We bet it was cake. When in Key West, blow your candles out on a lethally delicious slice of A&B’s silky Key Lime Pie instead.
Did you know? Key Lime Pies are so popular in Key West that the locals celebrate them in the annual Key Lime Festival.
5) Dive Into A Reef Snorkeling Trip
Other than Hawaii, the Florida Keys house the only easily reachable coral reef in the US (the Great Florida Reef). The third-largest living coral reef in the world, it teems with over 1,000 species of mammals and fish, including dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, damselfish, moral eels and lobsters.
This makes it perfect for a unique birthday snorkeling trip! Make this birthday unlike any other by snorkeling in the waters of:
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas is a group of seven islands fringed with extraordinary coral reefs. It’s one of the most amazing places to go for your birthday in the Florida Keys. The Park’s reefs are breathtaking and offer great snorkeling because of their crystal-clear waters.
On your reef snorkeling trip, you’ll be treated to a vibrant assortment of marine life including sponges, elkhorn coral, sea turtles and nurse sharks. Dry Tortugas is accessible only by boat or seaplane.
Cottrell Key
Cottrell is a patch reef (isolated outcrops or “patches” of coral) in the calm, shallow waters of Key West’s western side. Accessible only by boat, it’s renowned for its fantastic, colorful sponge garden and abundant sharks, including lemon, nurse, hammerhead and reef sharks. You may also glimpse stingrays, green turtles and inquisitive dolphins.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
The Fort Zachary Taylor State Park reef is just offshore, so you can easily explore it without a boat. With magnificent live coral reefs and diverse fish species, it offers exceptional snorkeling possibilities. You’ll be treated to sights of colorful soft and hard corals, sponges, lobsters, yellowtail snappers and parrotfish.
Fun fact: Built in 1898, Fort Zachary is a National Historical Landmark. It boasts the largest arsenal of Civil War era coastal cannons in the US.
Western Sambo
Western Sambo is a coral reef tucked into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. With the greatest habitat diversity in the Lower Keys, it’s a scuba diver’s mecca. Western Sambo is an exceptional location for observing marine life, including lionfish, sea stars, turtles, tarpon and brain coral (yes, that’s exactly what it looks like).
Fun fact: Western Sambo has one of the Lower Keys’ last surviving stands of the once-abundant elkhorn coral.
6) Experience The Thrill Of Jet Skiing
Get in touch with your inner daredevil on your birthday getaway and saddle up on a jet ski. Discover Key West and its jewel-toned waters like never before on an action-packed ride.
It’s definitely an unusual way to celebrate birthdays! Rent a jet ski and go solo, or hop on a guided jet ski tour. There are two types of jet skis:
Stand Up Jet Ski
This style of jet ski is designed for adventure. Known as the sports cars of jet skis, stand-up jet skis are designed for a single rider. If you ride one of these jet skis, it’s important to be physically fit and have excellent balance.
On a stand-up jet ski, you can perform adrenalized feats including backflips, wave jumping, and 360-degree spins. These beasts often have 300 hp engines and can top out at 70 mph. If you’re going to eat before your birthday adventure, make sure it’s a light breakfast and not a heavy meal.
Sit Down Jet Ski
Designed for a comfortable, smooth ride, sit-down jet skis are suitable for newbies or people who want a more leisurely jaunt than the meteoric stand-up jet skis. They’re family-friendly, as the larger vessels can seat up to three riders. Due to their size, you can stay drier on one than on a stand-up jet ski. In addition, they’re safer than stand-up jet skis and easier to handle.
Pro tip: Look in the direction you want your jet ski to go. Otherwise, you could unintentionally turn the handlebars the wrong way and drift off course.
7) Party Hearty On Famed Duval Street
If you’re planning on doing a Duval Street pub crawl for your Key West birthday, be forewarned that this mere 1.25-mile stretch of pavement is packed with an astounding 43 bars. Known for its wild nightlife and good vibes, there’s a venue to suit your every mood, from live music joints and dance clubs to cabarets and drag shows.
It’s one of the best places to go for your birthday party in Key West. Here are some great Duval bars to celebrate your birthday:
Green Parrot Bar
The Greet Parrot was dubbed one of Florida’s best live music venues. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Parrot hosts bands from around the world.
If you miss the first show, you can celebrate at a second late-night performance. And if you want a bar with unlimited draft beer, you’re in the right place.
Sloppy Joe’s
No Duval Street outing would be complete without raising a glass at Sloppy Joe’s, author Ernest Hemingway’s favorite watering hole. His home away from home, Hemingway was a fixture at Sloppy Joe’s and wrote about two-thirds of his famous books there. Toast him with a glass of scotch – his favorite drink.
The food is excellent, and if you’re craving a grilled lunch, they offer yummy grilled shrimp and a hearty grilled chicken sandwich. And if you want to hear live music, Sloppy Joe’s also has a stage where you can check out daily and nightly performances.
Fun fact: Sloppy Joe’s opened in 1933 – the year that Prohibition was repealed.
Rick’s Bar
If one bar isn’t enough for you, check out Rick’s Bar. It has eight different bars under one roof:
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Rick’s Downstairs
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Rick’s Upstairs
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The Tree Bar
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Durty Harry’s (which is known for its reasonably priced draft beer)
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The Crow’s Nest
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The Loft
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Mardi Gras Bar
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Red Garter Saloon
Each bar at Rick’s has its own vibe so there’s something for everyone. Whether you want a chill night with friends or a wild night of dancing and music Rick’s has you covered. You can try out different vibes all in one place so it’s the perfect spot for bar hopping without ever leaving the place.
Hog’s Breath Saloon
With the slogan, “Hog’s Breath is Better Than No Breath at All” the Hog’s Breath Saloon is a pub featuring live music, a raw bar, and good food. Stick your snout into their grilled lunch, featuring tasty grilled burgers. Or if you want to continue the grilled theme, try a tasty grilled chicken sandwich, washed down with a chilled draft beer.
Duval Street also has many other attractions that are well worth exploring on your special day, including:
The Butterfly And Nature Conservatory
Your heart will flutter at the sight of hundreds of dazzling winged wonders at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Located at the southernmost end of Duval, the conservancy houses free-flying butterflies that will swirl around and above you and may even stop to perch on your shoulders! A visit to this place will definitely spice up your Key West birthday with plenty of OMG moments.
Sunset Celebration At Mallory Square
World-famous Mallory Square, located at the northern end of Duval Street, is a waterfront plaza that hosts Key West’s nightly Sunset Celebration. Enjoy musicians, clowns, jugglers, magicians, stunt performers, artists and food vendors who gather to watch the magnificent palette of the Key West sunset.
Pro tip: Mallory Square can become overrun with crowds when a cruise ship docks there, so celebrate your birthday accordingly. (The actual date when the most cruise ships descend on Mallory Square is December through March.)
Southernmost Point
One of the most selfie-friendly spots in Key West is the Southernmost Point. It’s the southernmost area of the continental United States (only 90 miles from Cuba) and is marked with a colorful, concrete buoy.
Located at the southern end of Duval (at Whitehead Street and South Street), the Southernmost Point also has a webcam that relays live, 24/7 views of visitors, sunrises, sunsets – and even an occasional rooster – over the internet.
A Great Birthday Is Only A Sandbar Away!
At Key West Sandbar Tours, we’re all about special occasions, and the day you came into the world is the most special! We’ll treat you to an exciting, unforgettable birthday party on one of our unique sandbar tours.
It’s sure to be a birthday like no other. You can have your cake and eat it too – call us today and let’s start celebrating!
