When taking the kids with you on holiday it is important to find exciting things for them to do.Of course there is the beach, where hours can be spent playing in the sand or surfing the waves, but there will be days when you want to do something different, or simply want a break from the sun.
Catamaran sailing and swimming with the turtles
There are several catamaran trips available but we like Cool Runnings.They offer a lunch cruise from 9:30am to 2:30pm.Price includes pick up from villa, drinks, lunch and two snorkeling stops, one of which allows you to feed and swim with the turtles.
Bicycle and horseback riding tours, plus shorter hikes for the children.Also, paddock rides on retired thoroughbred horses, a children’s playground, and zoo with monkeys, sheep, mongoose, peacocks, and rabbits.Great location for children’s parties and events.
Your quest begins when you board the shuttle vessel "Ocean Quest" as you sit back and enjoy the seven-minute scenic cruise to the Atlantis Submarine as the Atlantis crew gives an informative talk.
Once arriving at the dive site, you are treated to the sight of the Submarine surfacing. Then you will make the easy transfer from the Ocean Quest to the Atlantis.
First the submarine will dive to 55 feet to view the beautiful coral reef and the abundance of marine life, including spectacular coral, sponge, and colorful fish through large, clear viewing windows. The 45-minute underwater journey is narrated by a knowledgeable co-pilot who will point out and explain the amazing sea life as well as give a history of Atlantis and the submarine itself. The submarine then descends to depths of 115 to 150 feet to view a sunken shipwreck.
After resurfacing, you are transferred back onboard the Ocean Quest for the return to Shallow Draught.
As a special bonus, your adult ticket aboard the Atlantis Submarine includes one free lunch or a t-shirt. All guests receive a complimentary drink as well as free transportation to and from their hotel.
Kids must be 3ft tall and tour takes about 2 ½ hours, operating daily with morning and afternoon dive times.
“Flightseeing” is a totally unique way of touring Barbados.Familiar sights take on new proportions and previously hidden sights suddenly loom into view.It is truly a mesmerizing experience.Be sure to take a camera or video – you will have ample must see photographic opportunities.There are currently two exciting tours – “Discover Barbados”, a 20 minute tour that takes you over 30 miles of lush countryside with visits to both the rugged East coast and the tranquil West coast beaches.The “Island Tour”, a 30 minute tour, is a spectacular 50 mile journey around the awesome coastline of Barbados.
US$140 adults / $80 children 3-12 for the 20 minute tour
US$180 adults / US$110 children 3-12 for the 30 minute tour
OceanPark is a unique marine life attraction that allows visitors to explore life under the ocean and observe marine life up close without getting wet. Ocean ParkBarbados is the only park of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean. There are touch tanks, a shark pool, ray pool with southern sting rays, a freshwater display with cardinals, tetras and piranha, sea anemones and sea horses, eel tank and many corals.Throughout the day, there are informative talks on marine life, feeding demonstrations to teach visitors more about the exciting marine life featured in the park.Visit the new Pirate Adventure miniature golf course – with 2 nine hole mini putt courses, a club house which over looks waterfalls and ponds, Pirates who watch over their booty from their look outs, a sunken galleon and picnic tables. An ideal venue for birthday parties and fun days! Closed on Mondays.
US$17.50 adult / $10 child 4-12 (3 and under free)
Add an additional US$2.50 per person to play the mini golf
Graham Hall Nature Sanctuary
Located in the parish of ChristChurch, the Graham Hall Nature Sanctuary is the largest expanse of inland water in Barbados and is home to hundreds of species of beautiful birds and animals.The swamp is also a temporary home for a large number of migrant and wintering water and shore birds.This wildlife habitat includes the island's largest inland lake, as well as ponds and wading pools, marshes and mangroves, two enormous walk-through aviaries. It's interesting, educational, peaceful, and a delightful attraction for both adults and kids.
The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary includes a snack bar and souvenir shop.Open every day from 8am to 6pm.
US$12.50 adults / $6.25 children 5-11, under 5 free.
Barbados Wildlife Reserve
The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is located in the parish of St Joseph and is a natural mahogany wood.Visitors are offered a unique opportunity to stroll freely through the Reserve, which is primarily a monkey sanctuary. You will also tortoises, birds, including the exotic flamingo, peacocks, raccoons, agouti, deer as well as snakes.There are few cages and the animals can be observed as they eat, play and interact with the other animals. Most of the animals roam freely around the reserve. Kids especially enjoy the monkeys feeding time. Open every day.
US$11.50 adults / $5.75 children 3-12, under 3 free.
Bajan Roots and Rhythms, held at The Plantation Theatre on the SouthCoast every Wednesday and Friday, is the only dinner and stage show in Barbados designed to offer visitors a genuine representation of West Indian culture.Uniquely known for its interactive segments and party atmosphere, Bajan Roots and Rhythms affords its guests plenty of opportunities to join in the fun.
This cultural show is an all inclusive value package, complete with costumes, thrilling choreography, music, song, dance and the red-hot excitement of fire-eater and flaming limbo.
The evening begins with the sweet sounds of the steel pan that you can enjoy during your dinner.After dinner, sit back and enjoy a spectacular dance show.If you like a challenge, join in the fun with the limbo queen and then end the evening with dancing to the music of The Plantation Band.
Price for the buffet dinner, drinks and show:
US$77.50 adults / $60 children 13-18 / $35 children 3-12
Price for drinks and show only:
US$45 adults / $30 children 13-18 / $20 children 3-12
(currently closed for renovations andwill re-open in April 2007 for Cricket World Cup, after April, Harrison's Cave will be closed again until Winter 2007)
With an abundance of stalactites, stalagmites, streams, lakes and waterfalls, leading speleologists consider it to be among the finest showcases in the world.
The Caves are located near the geographical centre of Barbados, in the parish of St. Thomas and is a natural phenomenon affording an experience unique in the tropical world.
The trip starts with a short video of Barbados and its geology.You then climb into a special tram, taking a ride through the exciting subterranean stream passages.
First mentioned in historical documents in 1795, the caves were virtually forgotten for nearly two centuries until Barbadian Tony Mason and Danish speleologist Ole Sorensen "rediscovered" them in 1976.
In 1981, Harrison's Cave was officially opened to the public as a "show" cave, giving visitors an opportunity to view a variety of natural features unique to the geophysical structure of Barbados.
Now Barbados' number one attraction, Harrison's Cave truly is a unique experience that should not be missed during your Barbados vacation.
Welchman Hall Gully Welchman Hall Gully is hidden away in the centre of the island, not far from Harrison’s Cave. Everywhere there is rock, the same limestone, and former coral reefs, that have been pushed up from under the sea. The difference is that at Welchman Hall the roof collapsed and the cavern has been turned into a gully - there are even a few old stalactites on view there. It meanders for several hundred yards, with walls a hundred and fifty feet high either side.
As you walk there is a series of numbered signs with descriptions of plants. Some have gone missing, but there are enough to retain your interest. Coconut palms, royal palms, trumpet trees, ferns and creepers. There are some 200 species in the gully.
Glass Bottom Boat Trip You can pick one up anywhere along the West Coast.Cruising over reefs and turtle spotting.
Drive over to the East Coast The Island’s most scenic drive is the East Coast Road, an eye-catching stretch of undeveloped beach. Breaking waves and a rocky coast are on one side of the road, and banana plantations, mango trees, cane fields and green hills are on the other side. Driving here gifts us with a sense of space. The East Coast Road is unmarred by hotels, condominiums or big restaurants. The sunlit seascape, lush green fields, and the sound of crashing waves energize us.
The big boulders on the beach signal Bathsheba, also called the "Soup Bowl," a favorite spot for accomplished surfers.
The BarbadosMuseum, located at the Garrison in St Michael, is housed in the former British Military Prison. The prison, whose upper section was built in 1817 and lower section in 1853, became the headquarters of the BarbadosMuseum and Historical Society in 1930.
Of educational interest is a visit to the BarbadosMuseum for an Exhibition entitled 'Yesterday's Children.' This is an entire gallery completely dedicated to children and provides an exciting and educational travel back into history.
Some of the main displays and features of the BarbadosMuseum are:
A natural history display that describes the coral structure of Barbados.
Artifacts of the Amerindians, the early inhabitants of the Caribbean islands.
Furnishings of an eighteenth century plantation house.
A collection of rare historical maps of the island.
A reference library which is available for research on the island's history and genealogy.
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, 2pm -6pm Sunday.
US$5.75 adults / $2.88 children 5-16
Off RoadIsland Safari
View Barbados from an entirely different perspective in a 4x4 Land Rover.Discover a whole host of new beauty spots, fascinating points of interest and vantage points offering spectacular views previously known only to a few residents in the immediate area.Off road safaris are the best way to see the hidden sightseeing reassures of Barbados.
There are two safari companies – Island Safari and Adventureland:
Island Safari: US$69.50 adults / $47.50 children 4-12 (under 4 now allowed), includes tour, drinks, snacks and lunch.Pick up around 8am, drop off around 2pm.
Adventure Tours:US$70 adults / $50 children 12 and over (no kids under 5), includes tour, drinks, buffet lunch on the East Coast.
Harbour Lights Beach Extravaganza
Mondays and Wednesdays only.
A truly tropical evening.... barefoot dancing in the sand under coconut trees, to the pulsating beat of a live calypso band. Sipping exotic free drinks (including our Bajan Sno Cone served from our authentic Sno Cone Cart), feasting on a sumptuous Bar-B-Que dinner (complete with roasted marshmallows for dessert!)
And enjoying the best of local entertainment including... fire eating, limbo and Caribbean dancing, amazing stiltmen and the acrobatics of the agile green monkey.
From 7:00pm to 10:30pm - all ages welcome until 10:30pm. Free Drinks until 2am.
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