Family trip to Abaco with children. Ideas on where to go with your child

If your kids are the ones who can’t imagine a vacation without different activities, then the Abaco Islands are the perfect option. There is a great variety of entertainment programs in large hotels, kids rooms, small playgrounds with different rides, and even a cinema in Marsh Harbour, as well as pure nature and deserted beaches – the main merits of the archipelago. If your child is already eight years old, then they can try themselves in diving. There are various marvelous reefs, underwater caves and sunken ships here on the Abaco Islands and you don’t have to dive too deep to see it. Besides, even sophisticated young divers would be admired by the diversity of the local underwater world. Kids can attend training and then get a special children license in any local diving centre (equipment is only available).

Nevertheless, you can also enjoy the view without immersion in water (in case if a child is too young or simply don’t want to try it). You can enjoy seeing reefs just on a surface in such places as Fowl Cays National Park. In addition, young snorkelers can also reach Mermaid Reef in the serene bay (strong waves are quite a rare phenomenon there). Another place your children and you must visit is Castaway Cay. There is an «almost true» abounded Pirate’s ship there and, what is more, a child can see lots of statues of Disney characters. There is only one drawback: cruise ships moor to the cay often, so a tranquil piece of nature turns into a centre of noise and bustling.

Basically, children can cry snorkeling on any beach you’d like. For instance, Treasure Cay Beach is large but really tranquil and you don’t have to worry that your child would get into trouble; Guana Cay Beach is for those who can’t live without adventures as the only way you can get there is by a buggy; Nippers Beach is a perfect choice for kids who can’t just sit down and doing nothing as they can spend their time there having fun on a playground. But remember that local beaches that are far from the main touristic centers (e.g. Hope Town, Marsh Harbour) are absolutely wild: it’s just about 1-2 cafes there and nothing more. The archipelago is an ideal place where you can teach your child fishing. You can rent a boat, special equipment, hire an instructor and go enjoy fishing in the open sea. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Kids can also try surfing, windsurfing, water skiing, and even to steer a sailing yacht (you can try it in Marsh Harbour). In addition, those kids who are keen on discovering nature and enjoy landscapes would like here as well. For example, you can visit the Abaco National Park and enjoy seeing a great diversity of fauna: Bahama parrots (endangered species), microbats, frogs, lizards, and snakes. It’s a peculiar fact that the archipelago is the home of swimming pigs. You can see them on Big Major Cay (Pig Beach). If your child wants to see the local flora, then you can visit Elbow Cay and enjoy gorgeous gardens that grew up on the deserted plantations.

Children can also learn something about the history of the settling of Bahamas. So, you can visit the bar-gallery called Pete's where you can find a small museum invented by the first colonists. Another exciting activity is a trip to Hope Town. There is a 37-meters-high acting lighthouse there and you can even get to the top of it (if the keeper permits) and visit two museums. Fans of Moby-Dick would especially like the exhibit in the whale museum, and kids who are extremely interested in history would like to visit the historical museum.

There is quite a big collection of artifacts for such a small island which belonged to the first colonists who brought it here many centuries ago or were found on the sunken Pirate’s, French’s, Englishmen’s or Spaniard’s sunken ships. Perhaps your kids would be interested in the park dedicated to the colonists-heroes and famous rulers of the Abaco Islands. It’s also a nice idea to take a walk along the Marsh Harbour’s streets (the city is the third-bid among all the Bahamas’ islands). It was founded in the 18th century by Americans. The central districts haven’t changed since then. One more special sight is the Seaview Castle which was built in 1944. It’s become one of the most attractive sights and it’s definitely worth visiting. It’s also really quirky that its walls are painted in yellow, which makes it even more magical.