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Post Irma kids to do? #169869
09/17/2018 07:14 PM
09/17/2018 07:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
the captain Offline OP
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the captain  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
Last time we were there, it was so relaxing. January 2016

Background, We are a couple with 2 elementary school kids. We can hang all day at La Terasse and its pools or the beach. We love SXM. But the beauty of it is we really dont “plan” a ton of activities, we try to chillax!!

Usually, when we arrive, we first would go to the butterfly farm, then get nice and toasty and head for galion beach. Days 2-5 we usually hit the French side and more beach (never actually went to Orient).... then by day 6 we hit the butterfly farm again and galion beach. We rent jet skis in Phillipsburg, do some shopping and lots of eating.

Now, post Irma, we have to assume that the butterfly farm is no more.

Now have kids 11 and 9 years old, just curious what you guys recommend to do with them at these ages, in these times? We’ve never done daytrips nor snorkeled there. Starting to think that perhaps a day trip to Saba, Anguilla or Torgua are ideas? Just curious ...Thanks!

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Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #169870
09/17/2018 08:10 PM
09/17/2018 08:10 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
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bdeeley  Offline
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Posts: 1,625
United States of America
When are you planning to arrive on your trip? What vacation dates?


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #169872
09/17/2018 10:05 PM
09/17/2018 10:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
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bdeeley  Offline
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Posts: 1,625
United States of America
The Butterfly Farm is closed after Irma.


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #170102
09/18/2018 05:29 AM
09/18/2018 05:29 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,477
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Day trip to Anguilla and there are two forts on SXM you can visit.


J.D.
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: bdeeley] #170453
09/18/2018 09:18 AM
09/18/2018 09:18 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
As well as the butterfly farm being gone, there is no longer a restaurant at Le Gallion, or chair rentals. Have you checked out the Carousel in Simpson Bay? You might check out a day trip to Anguilla, as I believe they often have a snorkeling opportunity.


Carol Hill
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #170565
09/18/2018 07:22 PM
09/18/2018 07:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 41
A
Airlegs Offline
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Airlegs  Offline
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Hi mirrodie: I want to give you some suggestions from my last visit with my 11year old son in August, 2017. I hope others on-island or recently visited can chime in if these activities are still available?

We loved renting Kayaks to go to Pinel Island. It was fun and exercise! We also rented a pedalo (a foot boat with a canopy) from Simpson Bay. It was super fun. We pedaled all the way under the bridge to see the big yachts -which I know someone posted there aren’t any right now. . We did the tandem jet skiing but my son was a little scared. We did something called “Big Martha” (I think), which was a big raft you secured into, and a jet ski towed you around. We spent a lot of time at Mullet Bay and there were two big boats that would anchor there, they let my son climb aboard and jump off which he loved. In Philipsburg, there was this giant, portable, floating gymnasium in the water. My son absolutely loved it but ended up with severe chafing from the life vest and his 100 jumps into the sea. I really don’t know if any of these activities are still going on? We also did a day trip to St. Barths which was cool because they also have a famous airport and the beach next to it is just beautiful. Good luck!! I hope someone will comment as to whether or not any of these things are up and running again. Enjoy your trip!

Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #170568
09/18/2018 08:02 PM
09/18/2018 08:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 41
A
Airlegs Offline
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Airlegs  Offline
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Also, my son’s favorite beach, with three years of visits, accumulating many months of staying in St.M, is Karakter! He loves the beach, the music, the food and the nonstop airplane activity. And he always met other kids there too, usually from Canada. Though we always traveled in Dec/Jan or June/July/August.

Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #170569
09/18/2018 08:14 PM
09/18/2018 08:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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I know for sure the portable gym (WISPA) is gone.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: BillandElaine] #170570
09/18/2018 08:43 PM
09/18/2018 08:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Maryland/DC Metro
Elaine,

Do they have the floating playground at Kim Sha that used to be there?


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #170571
09/18/2018 08:48 PM
09/18/2018 08:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
If your kids are swimmers, Soualiga Destinations out of the marina in P’berg next to Chesterfields, has awesome power boats for a three stop snorkeling trip. They get very high reviews on Trip Advisor and really do offer fun excursions. We’ve also taken a daysail to Anguilla with snorkeling stops along the way and finally, lunch with beach and pool time at Rendevous Bay. This trip was out of Simpson Bay-and a very pleasant day.

If you’re up for other Island trips, the flight to and the landing on Saba are exciting all by themselves and Saba is known for the hike up Mt. Scenery. But it’s not a beach destination so that might be a negative with kids. There’s a small museum there with some interesting artifacts and a taxi tour will take you through the hydroponic garden. Again, it’s small but interesting but maybe not for kids the age of yours.

And as already suggested, the flight to St.Barts is always fun and the landing is definitely a hoot. In all honesty, I think ‘other island’ day trips are a waste of time and money for that age group since Anguilla and St. Bart’s are basically just more but different beaches which become expensive options for a young family.

Have you considered the rhino safari or the atv trips? We haven’t done either since I doubt my back would enjoy them. I’m not sure about zip lining at Loterie Farm - it may not have survived last year’s hurricane - but a day there at their pool is nice, too. And lastly, there’s the gondola up to the top at the Emilio Wilson property. That’s about all I can think of since so many of the things we used to do with our family no longer exist. And truthfully, our daughters at that age were usually pretty content to spend most of their days swimming and snorkeling at Zmullet Bay Beach.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: BeachKitten] #170574
09/18/2018 09:14 PM
09/18/2018 09:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
Don't think the Tiki Hut is back up and running


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: BeachKitten] #170575
09/18/2018 09:14 PM
09/18/2018 09:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
Never saw one there


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: Airlegs] #171124
09/20/2018 06:51 PM
09/20/2018 06:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
the captain Offline OP
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the captain  Offline OP
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the Long Island
Originally Posted by bdeeley
When are you planning to arrive on your trip? What vacation dates?


Presidents day week. WOW, thanks for all the replies and recommendations. Actually we just did ziplining and kayaking on Long Island, so we have some adventurous types here. Didnt know about the rhinos and atvs.

yeah I figured ther butterfly farm was no more. now that they are older, time to check out new venues and support the island with our tourist $$$

Thank you all again and keep em coming!

Re: Post Irma kids to do? [Re: the captain] #171125
09/20/2018 06:56 PM
09/20/2018 06:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
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bdeeley  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
You should revisit this thread and ask the question again right after the first of the year. I am quite sure there will be quite a few more opti9ns available that people can share with you.


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁

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