It’s no surprise that Barbados is a favorite Caribbean destination for families, with plenty to do for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Its postcard-perfect white sand beaches will burn in your memory forever, and a strong tourism infrastructure means there are plenty of fun and exciting activities your family can safely enjoy together.
Choosing Where to Stay
To begin planning your getaway, start looking through some of the luxury Barbados vacation rentals on the beach. This will give you a feel for some of the different areas of the island; generally speaking, the large resorts and tourism sector sit on the island’s west and south coasts, while the north and east tend to be more wild and/or rural. Proximity to your preferred activities shouldn’t be a major concern; at just 168 square miles, most everything in Barbados is within easily manageable distance.
Family Activities in Barbados
Once you have a general idea of where you want to stay, start compiling a list of activities that you think members of your family will enjoy. If they love water sports, the west coast is great for swimming, kayaking, and scuba diving, while the east coast has bigger waves and is thus more popular with surfers. If they prefer hiking, the more undeveloped eastern and northern areas feature great trails of unspoiled natural beauty.
Family Adventures
After running all over the island you’ll naturally want to catch your breath; luckily, the island has plenty of fun ways to relax when the time comes. Atlantis Adventures offers a famous submarine ride down to the ocean floor, with sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and eels in full view. You can also take a jeep safari tour of the island, or visit the Barbados Wildlife Reserve to check out some of the local creatures.
One special note: the island is home to a healthy population of hawksbill and leatherback turtles, and kids go crazy at the chance to swim and spend time with them. If you visit during winter, you can even assist with the release of tiny turtle hatchlings. Check with the Barbados Sea Turtle Project (BSTP) for more information.
Planning for the Whole Family
Try to include family members as much as possible when planning these activities – this will ensure everyone’s desires are being met, but also encourage a natural balance of physical adventure and relaxing cultural experiences.
Finally, as with all family vacations, remember to schedule some special alone time for mom and dad. A nice romantic dinner or relaxing day at the spa can really recharge the batteries, not to mention making the vacation that much more memorable.
