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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#182544
01/31/2019 04:24 PM
01/31/2019 04:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,161 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,161
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Karakter is a beach bar on Simpson Bay Beach. The beach is lovely but not always calm water there.
Pinel island is a small island off the French side of St. Martin. You take a small boat to get there and it is only about a 10 min. ride. The beach is lovely and water usually very calm. There are 2 great restaurants on the island and it is an enjoyable day with rental of beach chairs and umbrellas. Anguilla is an island about 12 miles off the island of St. martin and you can take a ferry to get there from Marigot. More expensive ferry ride and the day costs more overall. You need your passport as Anguilla is another country and you must go through immigration. These are two very different days. You can also take some boat cruises and spend the day in the waters of Anguilla but that does not give you the real feel of the island as a whole.
There are different places where you can book snorkling adventures. Aqua mania is one that is highly recommended. They also book many other island adventures.
Kim Sha Beach is in the Simpson Bay area and is great for families with several restaurants near by and always calm waters for the children .Buccaneer beach bar is right on Kim Sha Beach and is always a fun place.
Loterie Farm is always interesting to visit but it is an expensive day but does have several activities available.
Parrott Ville is a great place to visit and the children love it there. Often classes of school children come for school excursions several days each week. I visited there recently and totally enjoyed the experience.
I have never eaten at Fat Tony's but would recommend a dinner or lunch at Mark's Place. Great food and reasonable prices. You might also like to try Yvettes for local cuisine located in the Orleans area on the French side. There are also several LOLOS in the Grand Case area that have good food at reasonable prices. Not gourmet food but Caribbean cuisine as well. Of course there are several restaurants on both sides of the island that offer excellent food at higher prices so lots for you to try.
You can enjoy jet skiing on Orient Beach. the hurricane damaged almost all of the beautiful area but many businesses are coming back and the beach is one of the best on the island. A must see.
You can also visit Maho Beach to watch the plans arriving and departing right over the beach. Truly a sight to see! Have a drink at Driftwood Boat Bar or spend the day there as you prefer.
So many wonderful things to enjoy on this beautiful island I have been blessed to visit for over 25 years!
Hope I have helped to answer some of your questions and if you have more do not hesitate to ask.
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#182548
01/31/2019 04:45 PM
01/31/2019 04:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
SammyM
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
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Hello Captain ... you sure have a lot of questions, but that's what these forums are for! Some I can help answer, but there are folks on this site that know much more than I do about certain parts of St. Martin so maybe they will chime in too. La Galion beach was terrific for kids, and I believe the facilities there (snack bar, etc.) are long gone. But, the beach would still be there for a visit. And sadly, the Butterfly Farm -- one of my personal favorites -- got destroyed in the hurricane and has not been rebuilt the last time I checked. They were trying to raise something like 50,000 euros to rebuild, but I think that never really got going. As for an equivalent there are several other good choices. Might want to consider Great Bay Beach along the boardwalk in Philipsburg if calm seas are desired.
Pinel Island is really cool, and would be a shorter trip than Anguilla. There is one popular beach here, and a more isolated beach to the north that you can take a short hike to. You can also grab a quick bite to eat here. Just drive or take a taxi up to Cul-de-Sac on the French side and catch the small ferry across to the island. I believe it costs about 12 euros per person, but I'm not positive. Snorkeling can be somewhat limited on St. Martin. Maybe some others with experience will be able to lend some advice here.
Karakter is the beach area along the north shore of Simpson Bay that begins just west of Mary Boon's Resort and extends west towards Zafiro's Resort. It is a lovely stretch of beach for a day trip. Kim Sha is a beach at the east end of Simpson Bay. There were always water related activities here (boat charters, etc.), but I'm not sure what's presently up-and-running today. There were a few casinos nearby, but scratch that thought when visiting with a younger family.
Loterie Farm is known for there hiking trails, and this would be fine for older kids but maybe not for real young ones. There used to be a pool and a snack bar here, but I haven't heard much about this place since the hurricane. Maybe someone else on this board has made a recent visit? Also, I have no idea what the 'Flying Dutchman' is, but I assume it's the big zip line that was added a few years back. Not sure of it's present status, either.
Good idea to visit Parrot Ville. I believe it opens daily at 9:00 or 9:30 so a nice day trip would be to stop here and visit in the morning, and maybe continue on to Pinel Island in the afternoon. There's also a few other places that you may want to research such as the Yoda Guy Museum in Philipsburg (super nice guy when I met him, but I believe he's back in England), Fort Amsterdam, and the St. Maarten museum (also in Philipsburg). But, the museum might be a bit boring for kids. If heading west out towards Simpson Bay then I would suggest visiting Maho Beach and watching the planes land right on top of your head! Children that I've observed love this and between landings you have the beach right there.
Finally, when it comes to eating there is no shortage of excellent dining on SXM. That's why so many people are on this message board! Mark's Place is excellent, as are several other restaurants in the Simpson Bay/Maho area. We also like Chesterfield's near the cruise port in Philipsburg. Most are budget friendly, as well.
I hope this was helpful!
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#182556
01/31/2019 05:22 PM
01/31/2019 05:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,496 Rhode Island
RonDon
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,496
Rhode Island
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Also on Tuesday evenings in Grand Case there's Harmony Night. Street closes, foods, vendors, ice cream, nuts, crepes, clothing, jewelry, made by locals, music, parade. Go early to find parking. A lolo might be a good choice that night for eating.
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#182633
02/01/2019 09:42 AM
02/01/2019 09:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,592 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,592
St Maarten
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Gave Fat Tony's a third try last week since everyone seemed to like their pizza. It was a decent pizza, but both Bill and I had a bad stomach for two says after. Three strikes and you're out!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: BillandElaine]
#182656
02/01/2019 11:36 AM
02/01/2019 11:36 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,188 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,188
Auburn, WA
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Gave Fat Tony's a third try last week since everyone seemed to like their pizza. It was a decent pizza, but both Bill and I had a bad stomach for two says after. Three strikes and you're out! That's good enough for me not to want to go there. Thanks.
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#182669
02/01/2019 12:27 PM
02/01/2019 12:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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We've never tried Fat Tony's, but in the same area (maybe a block away & across the street) is Bar Code. Excellent casual dining, laid back atmosphere.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: the captain]
#183515
02/09/2019 06:40 AM
02/09/2019 06:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,592 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,592
St Maarten
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Island Water World for the water gear.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: SXM with 12y.o.- Please bear with me
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#184192
02/14/2019 09:51 PM
02/14/2019 09:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 306 Tustin CA
d_fish
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 306
Tustin CA
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Agree... I do not believe a 12 year old would qualify to "drive" the dinghy. I am sure a driver's license is required. With that said, it would be fun for the 12 year old to be a passenger.
Last edited by d_fish; 02/14/2019 09:52 PM.
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