Adventures for All Ages

By Alita Singh

If it’s adventure you seek, whether it be spying winged creatures, sinking into the deep blue or venturing off beaten tracks,

St. Maarten/St. Martin is the only password a fun-seeking family needs to know. The island with a long history is also full of modern delights that lift spirits and help make memories that live in the heart and can be relived on the next visit and forever.

St. Maarten/St. Martin is full of natural energy born from the warm sun, sprinkles of raindrops and the brush of cool breeze from the azure sea that surrounds it. It is an energy to match that of the young and the young at heart. Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime — an adventure you can plan yourself or leave all the details to the activities desk. One thing is certain, whatever you decide to do. The island is yours to explore, so arm yourself with a camera and endless smiles!

Into the Deep
St. Maarten/St. Martin is, of course, surrounded by water; and that water is full of delightful fish and other sea creatures waiting for a visit. Slip under the white-capped waves with Aqua Mania Adventures (721-544-2640) and journey to one of the island’s best-kept secrets: the Proselyte Reef, just off Great Bay. Get up close and personal with angelfish as they swim in divine serenity, sea turtles as the journey home and rainbow schools as they hold an underwater symphony while aboard Atlantis Submarines' semi-submarine, Seaworld Explorer (721-542-4078).

Display Your Feathers
Every family has its share of characters, and so do the families that call the St. Maarten Park in Madame Estate their home (721-543-2030). The peacocks are fond of showing off their plumage, the parrots are incredibly chatty and the bush dogs kind of act like Pumbaa from The Lion King. The monkeys make silly faces and some do a trick or two, like taking to the treetops outside the park, much to the zookeeper’s chagrin.

Fluttering in the Sun
Take to the air on the wings of butterflies at La Ferme des Papillions, The Butterfly Farm, on Le Galion Road (00-590-590-87-31-21). Early mornings are best for an encounter with a painted lady or a monarch butterfly surveying its domain. Watch amazement sweep across the faces of the little ones and feel your own heart lift in flight. Trace the short but beautiful life of the butterfly and remember to always savor life’s moments. After the butterflies, head to Le Galion Beach, just a stone’s throw away, to soak up the cool water and recall your day among the winged ones.

Knights and Ice Cream
The carousel is said to have been invented to teach young knights the proper way to mount their horse and stay in the saddle. Today, Carousel Gelateria Bar in Cole Bay (721-544-3112) makes training to be a gallant knight or a lady explorer much easier with delicious gelato and sorbets that vanquish any sweet tooth and an antique carousel that dances over Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Sailors Ahoy
Settle the age-old question of who are the strongest, the most hardworking and the laziest ones of the family by taking part in the St. Maarten 12-Metre Challenge (721-542-0045). Suit up your band of sea dogs and take to the waves in a race to end all future squabbles aboard an America’s Cup sailing boat.

Taming a Black Beauty
Nothing says freedom and excitement more than horseback riding along the beach and along the hillsides. Seaside Nature Park (721-544-5255) in Cay Bay offers a fine selection of horses for little riders and big first timers. The ride presents picturesque vantage points to claim a memory and for a gallop in the surf.

Take a Tip from Tarzan
Pay no mind to what anyone says. You can fly! Hold court from the trees and peer down at lesser mortals from the zip line at Loterie Farm (00-590-590-87-86-16) that runs along the slope of Pic Paradis, the island’s highest peak. It calls to everyone to race from treetop to treetop for a thrill that will last a lifetime and to work up an appetite that only the Hidden Forest Café can satisfy.

A Walk in the Park
Emilio Wilson Historical and Cultural Park in Dutch Cul de Sac is teeming with flamboyant and fruit trees. The small park is saturated with the island’s history and ringed by the sturdy stone walls built brick by brick without the aid of cement. It’s a great place for a simple picnic and family bonding. Step further into the past and visit the St. Maarten Museum (721-542-4917). Located in a tiny alley off Front Street, you can examine artifacts, snag a booklet on the historical houses and sites in Philipsburg, and get ready to explore on foot. Also visit On the Trail of the Arawaks Museum in Marigot (00-590-590-29-48-36) and St. Maarten Archaeological Center in Madame Estate (721-542-0201).

Stretch Your Legs 
There’s one place in Philipsburg that calls to travelers all day and well into the evening. The Boardwalk, hugging the town and bordering Great Bay Beach, is the perfect place for a family to build sand castles, enjoy a picnic or devour a gourmet lunch. The Boardwalk presents a splendid view of cruise ships in port and is a safe place for rollerblading, bicycling or taking a dip in the bay. It’s the place where the saying, “the family that plays together, stays together,” was minted.

Bottle It Up
Relive your time on the island not only through your photographs and stories, but with a bottle of perfume mixed by you at Tijon Parfumerie (00-590-590-52-08-12) in Grand Case. A skilled perfumer will guide you to the perfect scent that will conjure up memories of a special day on the beach full of sunshine and giggles. Even your young chemists can get in on the act and craft a bottle of their own memories.

Loterie Farm: Get Lost in the Forest 

By Alita Singh

Nestled in the forest of Pic Paradis is a place of adventure awaiting discovery. Loterie Farm has many moods; they’re all friendly, and each one captures the spirit of children and the inner child of parents.

Originally a sugar plantation established in 1721, Loterie Farm on Rte. de Pic du Paradis now beckons adventurers to zip-line in the FlyZone between 200-year-old mahogany and mango trees anchored on the island’s highest peak. Younger ones should try Ti’ Tarzan. Made of ropes, cables and platforms, the course takes guests between trees at heights ranging from 20–80 feet off the ground. For thrill-seeking adults, FlyZone Xtreme tests agility and strength on a more difficult course.

If keeping your feet firmly planted on solid ground is more your style, opt for a hike to trace the source of a babbling brook, which was once a mighty river that roared down the mountain. You can also hike to the top of Pic Paradis through the subtropical rain forest. Once you reach the summit, you’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world.

After all these adventures, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite. A great option is the Hidden Forest Café, a tree house-like eatery that’s famous for dishes that mix local favorites with some amazing twists.
(Tel: 590-590-87-86-16. Open Tuesday to Sunday.)

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