It's A Family Affair

By Maria Arroyave and Judy Fitzpatrick

By land or by sea, families flock to the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin to forget their worries and cares, and enjoy an experience like no other. The island is famous for its 37 picturesque beaches, and is also surrounded by several sister islands perfect for a family excursion. So get out and enjoy your days of fun in the sun with your loved ones.

Once you arrive on St. Maarten/St. Martin, you will find that sitting on the beach while the kids frolic in the coastal waters seems too good to be true — that is, until you begin to explore the infinite possibilities that so closely surround you.

A DAY AT SEA
Prickly Pear — a private, uninhabited cay off the coast of Anguilla — is the perfect place to spend a memorable day with your family. Bluebeard's Charters (599-557-5935) offers an all-inclusive charter boat for a day-long excursion to Prickly Pear. Departing from Simpson Bay, your family will be jetted over to the 50-foot catamaran Bluebeard II on a water taxi. From there, you will be whisked away to the island that encourages visitors to "take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints."

The catamaran anchors a short distance from shore, allowing passengers to snorkel amidst some of the most colorful coral reefs you will ever see. From the boat, the kids can swim to shore and parents can hop aboard a dinghy, or the other way around, depending who is most tired after an afternoon of swimming with tropical fish in the crystalline waters off the coast of Prickly Pear. Lunch is served on-island and can be enjoyed while sinking your toes into the white powdery sand. A crew travels to the island daily to prepare a traditional island meal so you and yours can sit back and relax, enjoying a variety of island cuisine.

Another trip to Prickly Pear is offered by Aqua Mania Adventures (599-544-2640). Hop aboard the Lambada on Tuesdays and Thursdays for another all-inclusive experience. The 63-foot sail cat provides guests with snorkeling equipment, a full bar well-stocked with rum punch and a mid-trip snack of French baguettes, Gouda cheese and crisp apples. This trip has been serviced by the Lambada for more than 10 years, and the amazing crew really knows how to make its guests feel special. All snorkel gear is included, and the crew can provide lessons for the kids if necessary. After exploring all three coral reefs around the boat, swim to shore to enjoy your choice of barbeque chicken, ribs or fish served at one of two restaurants on the island. Once on shore, there is no itinerary and families are free to sunbathe, frolic in the lapping Caribbean waters or bird-watch.

For dinner, Aqua Mania, the operator of the Lambada, offers sunset cruises aboard the very same vessel that takes you out to Prickly Pear for the day. A romantic sunset sail or Caribbean dinner cruise aboard the Lambada or its sister ship, Tango, is perfect for mom and dad. To include the kids, book The Boardwalk Experience, a scenic coastal sail with dinner at the 12-Metre Yacht Club. The cruise ends with a stroll around the Philipsburg Boardwalk, popular for its live music and open air where children can rollerskate or weave around on scooters.

BACK ON LAND
For a day spent more on dry land, visit the Butterfly Farm (590-590-87-31-21). With over 40 different varieties of butterflies, visitors can walk amongst hundreds of these beautiful, fluttering creatures for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will awe and educate. Each stage from caterpillar to metamorphosis is on display at the Butterfly Farm, and often, butterflies can be seen emerging from their chrysalises several times in one visit. If you happen to miss this event, your ticket is good for your entire stay on the island, allowing you to return again at no cost. Be sure and visit the gift shop for souvenirs the kids are sure to treasure.

If insects aren't your thing, perhaps you would prefer mammals. The St. Maarten Zoo (599-543-2030) is home to over 60 species of them, and features a wide variety of birds and reptiles as well. Exhibits like Squirrel Monkey Island, the newest addition to the zoo, feature exotic Caribbean creatures that the kids will love. Located in Philipsburg directly across from Great Salt Pond, the zoo is most well known for its primates. Home to adorable golden lion tamarins, vervet monkeys, white-fronted capuchins and Hamadryas baboons, visitors can get up-close and personal with animals that they would never ordinarily see.

Bush dogs and ocelots prowl the grounds at a safe distance, while the petting zoo features African pygmy goats and domestic rabbits for a more interactive experience. To become your own tour guide, pick up a flyer and guide yourself and your family around the zoo. Personalized tours can also be arranged for groups of 10-30.

For one of the most scenic hikes you will ever experience, walk to Fort Amsterdam. Accessible through Divi Little Bay Resort, explore the historic site that is several hundred years old. Equipped with cannons and looking out over Little Bay, this relic has stood the test of time and is completely open to the public. For a more leisurely finish to your day, take the family for a game at Sputters, a 19-hole miniature golf course in Simpson Bay.

Though all of these activities, both on land and sea, are bound to take up at least two days of your time, and though the Caribbean climate of St. Maarten/St. Martin almost always proves ideal, visitors must be prepared for rain — especially when traveling with children. A classic activity to enjoy under gloomy skies is a day at the movies. Visitors to St. Maarten/St. Martin can see movies released on the same day as in the United States at a fraction of the cost.

Enjoy some snacks at the theater, but be sure to head over to Where's Ivan in Simpson Bay for something more substantial. The gelato and pastries offered here are made fresh to satisfy even the most intense sweet tooth. The children can choose from a variety of home-made flavors — cookie dough seems to be incredibly popular — while parents sip a cup of gourmet coffee and relax outside at this sidewalk café.

Whether your days are sunny or partially cloudy, St. Maarten/St. Martin has something to offer both young and old, and is one of the top family-fun destinations in the Caribbean. However long your vacation, your departure from this tropical paradise will always seem too soon, so try and pack in as many activities as you possibly can. Spending the day in bed or giving into the kid's desire to sleep in is simply not an option when the beaches and emerald waters beckon.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure and pack ample sunscreen as well as underwater and regular disposable cameras so the children can capture all of the magic they are bound to experience.

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Our Activity Guide will get you acquainted with all the tours, attractions, sports and activities in St. Maarten/St. Martin -- for you and your kids. Contact our activities providers and get full details before you go!