Activities
Family-Friendly Aruba by Susan Campbell
Your idea of tropical vacation bliss might differ from what your offspring consider to be a “fun-filled” Caribbean vacation. So, follow our lead to family fun for all...
For most parents, the thought of leisurely sipping exotic drinks surfside in paradise is the stuff of dreams. With children along, there are only so many sandcastles to make, waves to jump over and seashells to find before the risk of boredom and even downright crankiness sets in. The best way to please even the tiniest of tots is to plan ahead, yet remain very flexible. An activity that sounds good on paper won’t necessarily appeal to all interests and ages, while some of the best times can be had in the most unexpected places along the way. Whatever you do, don’t forget your camera! Awesome Aruban family memories are waiting to be made… 68 Nights
Give them wings…
The Butterfly Farm is a must visit for all ages. Go in the early morning to witness the miracle of these winged wonders emerging from their pupae. Alternately, comical feathered friends that have wings but don’t fly can be enjoyed and fed at the Aruba Ostrich Farm. Older children will enjoy having their own wings by taking to the skies 왘 Top photo by Fernando Arroniz. Bottom photo by Dennis Hinaris
Activities
Go wild…
via windsurfing, parasailing or with the new cool sport of kitesurfing. Constant trade winds here also make kite flying on the beach a popular pastime.
Explore the wonderful wilderness of Arikok National Park by jeep, bus or horseback and discover cool wildlife like iguanas and parrots. Young riders will enjoy shorter treks and parents can request gentler horses. Or, introduce your children to some new four-legged friends at the Donkey Sanctuary where petting is not only permitted, but expected!
Make waves…
More play places…
There’s something for all ages at Red Sail Sports and Pelican Adventures – paddleboats, banana-boats, Sunfish, children’s Bubblemaker (pre-scuba) and snorkel programs, and exciting sailing trips for the whole family. The Atlantis Adventures submarine tour, is another option and a wonderful way to get up close to marvelous marine life without even getting wet! If you really want to make big waves with the whole family, head out to Morgan’s Island piratethemed aqua park for a plethora of splish-splashing pleasures. This huge new attraction has 70-foot-high waterslides that are so fast they are dubbed “speed slides”, as well as a gigantic wave pool. A full day here promises to be a memorable one for young and old.
Adventure Golf Aruba offers miniature golf, go-karting, batting cages and more. Aruba also has movie theaters, a drive-in, bowling lanes and even paintball adventures to keep the younger set entertained. For playgrounds, ask your hotel information desk for directions to Tira Koochi Park or Neptalle Henriquez Playground. A visit to the historic California Lighthouse is also an interesting adventure or how about dune sliding at the Boca Prins sand dunes? In fact, there are so many great activities to do with your children on Aruba that overscheduling could become an issue. So, remember to slow down long enough to simply enjoy each other’s company, because childhood flies by far too fast… even in paradise. 쮿
Please refer to the listing on page 72 for more fun activities. 70 Nights
Top left photo by Pierre Arsenault. Top right photo by Mark Wineman. Bottom left photo by Sergiy Timashov