Family Adventures in St. Martin

Zoo, butterfly farm, zip lines, horseback riding, theaters and more

May 29, 2009

The French and Dutch island of St. Martin offers families a range of activities from sailing, kids' tours and water activities to meeting animals in their habitats.

The busy dual-nationality island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten offers families a wide range of activities, making it an ideal vacation choice. Along with the activities, many hotels offer children’s camps and activities on site, so there is never a chance for anyone to be bored.

In the large mesh enclosure of The Butterfly Farm on Le Galion Beach Road, hundreds of butterflies flutter around freely, landing on plants, shoulders and pretty much anything. Early morning visitors can see newborn butterflies emerging from their cocoons. Included in the habitat are a serene koi pond and gardens. The Farm is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

At St. Maarten Park near Philipsburg, visitors can view over 500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Included in the park is the largest playground on the island, a snack shop and souvenir store. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Families who love to ride horses can take beach rides on Le Galion Beach with Bayside Riding Stables, or on Cay Bay with Lucky Stables. Bayside also offers pony rides for the little ones, and Lucky Stables is part of the Seaside Nature Park that also includes hiking trails, a beach bar, and kayak rentals.

The Playstation is located on catamaran moored off the shore near the Pelican Marina. There children can launch off the platform into the water on swings and slides. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Aquamania Calypso Tour is designed specifically for kids, cruising around Simpson Lagoon. During the cruise they can help steer the boar, lob water balloons at a wreck, and win prizes for participating in games. The boat departs at 3 p.m. daily for an hour-and-half cruise.

For little ones who can’t scuba dive yet, one way for them to view life below sea level is on the Seaworld Explorer semi-submarine that takes off from Grand Case on the French side. The craft doesn’t submerge, but offers viewing portholes along the sides five feet below the ocean’s surface.

At Loterie Farm nature reserve on Pic Paradis on the French side, families can spend an enjoyable day hiking up trails or flying along zip lines in the Fly Zone. For smaller children, there is the Ti Tarzan course of suspended bridges, swinging ropes and other activities. Along with the beautiful surroundings, the park offers an outstanding restaurant, the Hidden Forest Café.

Late in the afternoon after everyone has had their day in the sun, many families head to Sputters Miniature Golf Course in Simpson Bay for a relaxing 18-hole golf experience. The course is open from 3 to 10 p.m., and has a small beverage bar.

Even in paradise there are the occasional rainy days. For those days, there are several movie theaters and a bowling alley where families can spend some quality time.

Among the theaters on the Dutch side is the Caribbean Cinemas Multiplex in Cole Bay, with multi-screen offerings. The more intimate Philipsburg Theatres offers comfy lounges chairs and sofas rather than the regular tiered seating. On the French side, MJC Sandy Ground features French films with English subtitles.

The Crown Pin Bowling Alley on Illedge Road in Phillipsburg has reasonable rates on alley rentals, so the entire family can join in.

For more information on these activities see the official tourist board sites for St. Maarten and St. Martin. See AquaMania’s site for specifics on water activities. More information on low-cost St. Martin hotels and on zipline adventures are available on Suite 101.

Source: Travel Adventures Leeward Islands, published by Hunter Publishing in 2008.

The copyright of the article Family Adventures in St. Martin in Latin Am/Caribbean Travel is owned by K.C. Nash. Permission to republish Family Adventures in St. Martin in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.