The Daily Herald

BY / VANESSA MOLINA SANTAMARIA Amuseum Naturalis

A museum to help tell the story of St. Martin.

Now open for self-guided tours, the free Amuseum Naturalis on the French side maintains a bush tea garden showcasing the island’s medicinal plants. Located at the historic Old House in French Quarter, this unique museum showcases the nature and heritage of St. Martin. In addition to the bush tea garden, you can enjoy the open-air Amuseum exhibit hall, agriculture displays, poetry exhibits and more. Find out what future initiatives are planned or become a volunteer during your stay. Learn more at www.amuseumnaturalis.com. You can also donate to the nonprofit museum by visiting www.globalgiving.org/projects/amuseum-naturalis.

Amuseum Naturalis

FUN FOR ALL

The Rusty Parrot

It’s always a family affair in St. Maarten/ St. Martin.

BY / ALITA SINGH

There is no end to the fun and adventures you’ll discover while on vacation in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Everyone in the family — from tiny ones to grandparents and everyone in between — can find something to enjoy. Most resorts offer activities to keep children busy on property, but it’s well worth the effort to head out with your brood and explore. Here are some options to add to your family’s must-do list. BE A PIRATE Enter the world of a real pirate. At The Rusty Parrot in Philipsburg learn about the life and times of Jack Rackham, one of the most fearsome pirates to roam the Caribbean Sea. This is one swashbuckling adventure that will sweep everyone off their feet. At the end, go topside to relive the day.

FLY HIGH At Rainforest Adventures St. Maarten, you can take flight safely by braving the steepest zip line in the world: The Flying Dutchman. Not such a big adventurer? You can opt for the Sky Explorer chairlift to the highest point on the Dutch side, Sentry Hill, for an eagle’s-eye view of the island. Tuck into The Schooner, a fast tube ride, and zoom down the hillside where you can enjoy another adrenaline boost. Don’t forget to check out the on-site museum.

TAKE ON THE JUNGLE Loterie Farm’s Jungle Kids Adventure Park is a world of its own for young ones. There’s a designated play area with challenging, fun activities, a kids’ pool and a good place for moms and dads to keep an eye on safety. You can take to the treetops on the Fly Zone for a heady rush or hike up to the highest point on the island — Pic Paradis (Paradise Peak). Your reward will be stunning views of Marigot and Anguilla. ALL SCREAM FOR GELATO! Cool down a bit at Gelateria Milano on the Boardwalk in Philipsburg. The gelatos are bursting with flavors that make for fun combos or are great on their own. What makes this location the place to be is its super-cool playground right on Great Bay Beach. It’s a destination unto itself for little and big kids.

FEATHERED FRIENDS Parotte Ville on Bishop Hill Road is for the birds. The walk-in park is home to quite a few exotic birds, including sun parakeets, ring-necked parakeets, black-headed caiques and more. The park also has a heritage (family) museum featuring antique items and a medicinal garden.

PEDAL PUSHERS Get sporty with a bike from Tri-Sport for a unique perspective on The Friendly Island. Biking is great for sightseeing and exploring. What’s more, you can bond as a family team in the Adventure Race. It’s a challenge and lots of fun.

HORSING AROUND Saddle up at Seaside Nature Park and explore the trails for Instagram-worthy shots of spectacular scenery. Then take a swim with your trusty steed in the Caribbean Sea. The 30-acre park also has kayaks, a playground and a petting zoo in Cay Bay.

UNDER THE SEA Sign up for a snorkeling tour with Aqua Mania’s Sand Dollar Adventure. A good place to start is Creole Rock, an unusual rock formation with a reef extending toward shore. Calm, shallow waters make for excellent snorkeling. Greet tropical reef fish as they dart in and out of their hiding places, and be on the lookout for barracuda, puffer fish and the rare frogfish.

BEACH BABY A multitude of beaches dot the coastline of the island. One favorite for kids is Le Galion Beach or “Baby Beach.” The beach gets its nickname from calm waters made for wading. Island beaches are perfect for a family picnic. Stock up on your musthave beach snacks, blankets and beach towels. Don’t forget the sunscreen.

TAKE A STROLL Evenings are a lovely time to stroll along the Boardwalk in Philipsburg or the Marigot waterfront.

Join the locals in saying goodbye to the sun, and plan your next adventure as the two towns take on their nighttime personalities.

BY / ALITA SINGH

Chasing Murals

Discover the Dutch side on an art walk like no other.

BY / ALITA SINGH

Looking for a novel way to spend a day and learn more about the island you’re visiting? Take a selfguided walking tour of Philipsburg and see how many colorful murals you can spot.

ColorMeSXM, a project by St. Maarten’s Be The Change Foundation, brings together artists and the naked fronts and sides of buildings. On these blank canvases, artists selected for the first phase of the project bring their visions to life. The murals tell stories of the past, manifest fanciful imaginings and pay homage to nature and art itself.

The project was conceived to encourage residents and visitors to explore Philipsburg in a different way. Project directors scouted prime locations for murals. Some are in plain sight, while others are hidden and must be discovered. The fun and challenge are not only in seeing the murals but in finding them.

Zillah Duzon-Hazel’s Caribbean Through My Eyes and Annemiek van Kerkhof-Posthuma’s Freedom Run are two of the murals you can visit during your tour.

Caribbean Through My Eyes is on Front Street across from Oranje School. The mural took the artist and fashion designer four weeks of working mostly nights with the help of volunteers.

The concept and inspiration behind the piece come from the artist’s life and her other creative projects. “I create these bold colorful prints for my brand Jolie Duzon,” she says. “I am inspired by nature: the beautiful colors and lifestyle of the Caribbean. The prints on the mural are three out of over 100 prints that I have created for clothing designs and hand-painted clutches.”

Freedom Run by van Kerkhof-Posthuma is on St. Jansteeg, the first alley on your left, past the Methodist Church on Front Street. The piece took 13 days to complete and incorporates a piece of historic rock wall.

Van Kerkhof-Posthuma’s mural is inspired by history. “Twice, I have been a participant in the reenactment of the Freedom Run from Diamond Estate to Bellevue, which made a great impression on me,” she says.

In her mural, she imagines the many emotions the slaves felt as they ran from their captors and finally were free. “I hope to have captured some of these emotions,” she says.

Ready to discover more? You can simply start exploring or download the Art Walk Challenge Map from www.bethechangesxm.com/colormesxm. Either way, the murals will spark your imagination and, perhaps, inspire your own creativity.

WAVES OF FUN

If you’ve ever dreamed of trying your hand at a water sport, this is the place to do it.

BY / JEFFREY LAIGN

Aqua Mania Adventures