Rock Cottage

If the home comforts of Rock Cottage and the villa’s beautiful swimming pool are not enough to keep everyone entertained, then the excellent family-friendly activities at the Blue Waters resort should do the trick. The Blue Waters Kids Club is open all year round, available each weekday for children aged between five and twelve. Here, the resort’s experienced and enthusiastic staff will supervise younger visitors as they enjoy a wide variety of fun activities, from arts and crafts to sports days, with pizza and movie nights or dance parties come the evening time. For older children, an afternoon spent swimming and snorkeling along the resort’s beach coves is always popular. Later on, children aged twelve and over can pay a visit to the resort’s dedicated games room, featuring a pool table, table tennis and plenty of board games.

For those who wish to explore more of Antigua, the island’s amazing landscape has plenty to offer the whole family. Drive inland towards Fig Tree Drive and within forty minutes you will reach the incredible Antigua Rainforest Canopy Park, where a day of ziplining and rainforest adventure awaits! There are a range of fun and friendly eco-activities available here, with options to suit all age groups. With knowledgeable instructors to guide you at every step along the way, you will cross suspension bridges and rope obstacles whilst ziplining your way above the tree-tops and crisscrossing a stunning gorge. Not for the faint-hearted, this exhilarating day out varies in intensity, with ziplines throughout the rainforest at various heights and lengths. Don’t forget to take a break in the magical twin tree houses tucked away in the dense rainforest.

The hiking and trekking trails of Nelson’s Dockyard are another great way to get closer to nature, this time with your feet planted firmly on the ground! Make your way from the marina at Nelson’s Dockyard up to the panoramic views of Shirley Heights on a quiet weekday afternoon, for a scenic hike that everyone will remember. This is a relatively easy hike but do make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and pack plenty of water. There are handy downloadable trail maps available online.

Back down at Nelson’s Dockyard, there is plenty of fun to be had out on the water, with sailing excursions for beginners and more experienced sailors available. Watersports are widely available throughout the island, with sea kayaking and kitesurfing among the most popular. On land, horse riding enthusiasts can saddle up by arranging a visit to a local riding club. Horseback tours can be booked to suit a range of age groups and abilities, taking in gorgeous valleys and pristine beaches with the help of new friends. For an introduction to a truly important facet of Antiguan culture, why not take the family to watch a local cricket match? The island is fiercely devoted to its national sport, which is played everywhere, though official matches tend to take place on weekends.