Anegada feels completely different from the rest of the British Virgin Islands — flat, wild, and surrounded by endless beaches. It’s a favorite for families who want something unique and adventurous.
Where Is Anegada & Why It’s Different
Unlike the volcanic islands of the BVI, Anegada is a coral atoll. The water here is unbelievably clear, and the island feels remote in the best way possible.
Moorings at Anegada: First Come, First Serve
Anegada uses first come, first serve moorings, with no reservations available.
They can fill up quickly due to limited options
Arriving early is strongly recommended
Exploring Anegada by Mini Moke
Renting mini mokes is the best way to explore the island. You will love driving around and hopping between beaches. It is such a unique way to see the beauty of the island. My girls picked this moke for my husband to drive 😊
Virgin Gorda is home to one of the most famous attractions in the Caribbean — The Baths — and is an absolute must-stop on any BVI family sailing itinerary. This island combines natural adventure with great dining and comfortable marina options.
Where Is Virgin Gorda & What Makes It Special
Virgin Gorda is the third-largest island in the British Virgin Islands and offers a mix of dramatic landscapes and developed marinas. It’s the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and creature comforts.
Moorings at Virgin Gorda: A Mix of Options
Virgin Gorda offers both reservable and first come, first serve options, depending on where you stay:
The Baths (Day Use):
NPT moorings are first come, first serve and typically day-use only.
Bitter End Yacht Club:
Offers reservable slips and moorings, making it a great overnight stop.
North Sound area:
Multiple marinas with reservable options.
Having reservation options here is a big plus for families traveling during peak season.
Cooper Island is one of the most relaxing and family-friendly stops on a British Virgin Islands catamaran itinerary. Located just east of Tortola, this small island is known for calm waters, excellent snorkeling, and the eco-conscious Cooper Island Beach Club, which becomes the social heart of the anchorage.
Where Is Cooper Island & Why Sailors Love It
Cooper Island sits near the southeastern edge of the BVI and is an easy sail from Norman Island or The Baths. The island feels quieter and more laid-back than some of the busier stops, which makes it ideal for families with teens who want downtime without being bored. Everything here is close together — snorkel spots, the beach club, and moorings — so it’s an easy place to settle in and relax.
Moorings at Cooper Island: First Come, First Serve
Cooper Island uses National Parks Trust (NPT) moorings, and they are first come, first serve with no reservations available.
The mooring field is large but fills up quickly during peak season.
Arriving by early afternoon is recommended, especially during holidays.
This setup makes Cooper Island approachable for families and newer sailors.
Snorkeling & Swimming Off the Boat
One of the best parts of Cooper Island is how easy it is to enjoy the water. Teens can swim and snorkel right off the back of the catamaran, often spotting fish and rays close to the boat.
Cooper Island Beach Club: Rum Bar, Microbrewery & Dining
The Cooper Island Beach Club is a highlight of this stop. The rum bar features one of the largest rum selections in the Caribbean, while the microbrewery adds a fun, unexpected twist. Families love that the vibe is social but relaxed — teens can hang out by the beach while adults enjoy a drink.
If you’re sailing the British Virgin Islands, Norman Island is almost always one of the first stops — and for good reason. It’s close to Tortola, packed with great snorkeling, and home to some of the most iconic spots in the BVI. For families traveling with teens, Norman Island strikes the perfect balance between adventure, history, and just plain fun.
Where Is Norman Island & Why It’s So Popular
Norman Island is located just south of Tortola and is often considered the gateway stop on a BVI sailing itinerary. Legend has it that this island helped inspire Treasure Island, and once you’re there, it’s easy to see why — hidden coves, dramatic rock formations, and clear turquoise water everywhere you look. The island itself is uninhabited, which gives it a wild, untouched feel, but the anchorages are lively and social, especially in the afternoons.
For first-time sailors and families, Norman Island is an easy and exciting introduction to island hopping in the British Virgin Islands.
Moorings at Norman Island: What You Need to Know
Norman Island has National Parks Trust (NPT) moorings, and they are first come, first serve so you cannot reserve them in advance.
De Palm Island is a wonderful place to escape to spend the day relaxing and playing in the sun. Swim, eat, drink, and enjoy a stunning little island.
Getting to the Island
If you have your own transportation, you can drive yourself to the ferry terminal. However, if you have no car, no worries…you can get picked up from your hotel by the De Palm bus and they’ll drive you over. Once you get to the terminal, jump on the small ferry and take a lovely 10-minute ride over to the island.
Check Out the Beach
We found a great spot in the first row of papillons and had an amazing view of the stunning beach area. Just look at this view! To warn you, a lot of the beach had rough coral at the entrance. We figured out that if you went in through the left side of the beach, there was no coral. I felt bad for people walking into the water and twisting their faces in pain. You may want to bring water shoes. The beach is smaller than I expected, but it was fine since people seem to spread out on the island.
Snorkel Time
This was our favorite activity we did n the island and we actually did it twice. They provide flippers and snorkels and everyone must wear a floatation device.
You enter the water off this dock.
As soon as you enter the water you start seeing fish.
The reef is not colorful, but it is still really pretty. There were so many different fish and many of them come right up to you.
We had such a great time! You may want to bring an underwater camera.
Adorable Flamingos
These adorable birds were so beautiful and we couldn’t get enough of them.
You could take turns going into the enclosure to take pictures with them but you can’t touch or feed them.
Look at how beautiful they are!
Slides
A set of cement steps (lots of them) bring you to a Body Drop Slide. I was in awe of my daughter as I watched the tube close around her, heard the countdown, and then watched the floor drop from under her as she slid down the steep slide. I didn’t do that one, but I loved the two twisting slides. They were especially fun when you’re racing each other down.
Kids’ Waterpark
Young kids looked like they were having a blast in the kids’ waterpark. It has water cannons, tipping water buckets, slides, and more.
Time to Eat
The island has two spots to eat…the grill and the buffet. The grill has items like burgers, French fries, and hot dogs.
There is also a buffet with salads, potato salad, coleslaw, fish, chicken, desserts, etc. All food on the island is all-you-can-eat! Look at the gorgeous view you have as you eat.
There is also a bar that has cocktails, beer, and soft drinks. Best part…it’s an open bar!
What Else Can You Do There?
For an extra cost, you can do Sea Treks, Snuba, hair braiding, massages, temporary tattoos, and premium seating.
How Long Can Your Stay on the Island?
It is open daily from 10:00- 5:00.
How Much Does it Cost?
Adults (13+) $119
Kids (4-12) $95
Kids under 4 are free
Tips for a Perfect Day
You can rent beach cabanas and private cabanas but you may want to do it in advance because there was none left when we got there.
They offer daily salsa lessons.
Banana boat rides are offered throughout the day.
Bring a change of clothes. There are outdoor showers to get all the sand and salt off your skin.
Our next stop on our mother/daughter Aruba trip was the beautiful Marriott Aruba Ocean Club. We chose to stay here because we wanted a little more space to stretch out after sharing a room for the first two nights. This hotel was more of a condo style, so we had a bit more privacy. We didn’t have far to walk since the hotel is right next door to the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, where we had spent our last two nights.
We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.
As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!
We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.
As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!
Last Christmas, we decided to leave our freezing town in New England and head to the gorgeous island of Jamaica. It was the perfect place to have some fun in the sun and create some memories together. The island has powder white sand and crystal-clear water. The best thing about the island are the wonderful, kind locals that want to share their love of Jamaica with you. So, what can you do with your family while you’re there? Here are five of the best things to do with kids in Jamaica.
Mystic Mountain
This outdoor park offers families the chance to do a few different adventures while visiting. All guests start their adventure with a ride 700 feet up the mountain aboard the sky explorer chair lift. Along the way you’ll coast over a forest and get a gorgeous view of the Caribbean Sea and the Ocho Rios cruise port.
One of the most popular attractions on the mountain is the bobsled. You’ll sit into a specially made bobsled and hold on as it plunges through 3280 feet of twists and turns down the mountain. Head back up the mountain to try out the zipline tour that sends you flying along five ziplines through the forest. Keep in mind that kids need to be 48 inches tall for the bobsleds and 6 years old for the ziplines.
At the top of the mountain kids can tackle the new ropes course, Annancy’s Web, or try to climb to the top of Reggae Rock. And if you’re looking for some relaxation, they have an infinity pool and waterslide, that look out over the sea and Ocho Rios. It is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation!
I remember when I was a kid, I was jealous of the characters on Gilligan’s Island because they had this beautiful piece of paradise all to themselves. I dreamed of being Maryanne (Ginger’s voice drove me nuts!) Well, with Sandy Toes, on Rose Island you can live that dream as you spend the day on your own private island.Â
 Your adventure begins when you are picked up at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal in their double decker catamaran. Since we decided to take a water taxi to cross under the bridge (huge mistake!!!) we ran to catch the ferry because it only leaves once…10:00…after that you’re out of luck. We were thrilled that we made it and with our complimentary rum punch in our hands, we settled in for our ride. Check out where my youngest got to sit.
During
your 25-minute boat ride, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Bahamas coastline
as the wind blows through your hair. Sit back and watch the crystal blue water
soar under you as you head to Paradise.
The
biggest surprise of the day was that no one else except the people on our boat
would be on the island. We would have
this paradise all to ourselves.
The sand was a white powder and the water was
transparent. The beach was immaculately
clean, which I had wondered about since I knew there were pigs that swam here. We grabbed one of the many lounge chairs and
settled in for a bit before we couldn’t resist the water anymore.
The
crystal-clear water was calling to us and we were so excited to spend our day
basking in the sunshine and having more fun.
After a
quick dip, we decided to hang out in one of the beach hammocks.
As I
lounged, I stared at the rocky coastline and listened to the waves crashing
onto the shore.
It really was Heaven…see…
I could have spent hours there and was considering taking a nap when all of the sudden I saw these cutie pies come out for a swim. I jumped up and ran over to give them a pat. We loved hanging out with these big guys!
And we
fell in love with the 14-week-old piglets!
Seriously…how could you not!!! They were so well-behaved and knew more
tricks than my puppy…sit, stay, come, heal.
It was very impressive.
My girls
got to swim with them
And give
them some love.
We wanted
to take them home with us!! The staff
loves them so much and you can see the care that they take in keeping them
healthy. I love that they never make the
pigs do anything they don’t want to do. These
adorable pigs have been raised here since birth. They are vet checked and cared
for on the regular, and only given the cleanest diet. They are given plenty of love, sunshine,
shade, and even sunscreen!
Since we
had brought snorkel equipment to use at the condo, we decided to bring
them. We had so much fun swimming around
the coral reef and felt comforted that a guide was with us. We saw huge fan
coral, tons of tropical fish, and lots of brain coral. We couldn’t get enough of it, and they didn’t
rush us. They have snorkel equipment
for all ages and they also provide life jackets. This is where we started our snorkeling adventure.
Lunch was served from 1:00-2:00. They had a buffet that served a variety of local cuisine such as barbecue chicken, peas and rice, vegetable pasta salad, hot dogs, garden salad, and fresh rolls. There was a beautiful view from the dining area. There were also lounge chairs if you’re too full to go too far…lol.
The Beach
Bar had sweeping views of the water!
I enjoyed
a frozen margarita…ok ok…I enjoyed three!
And my
girls loved their frozen virgin Pina coladas.
I can’t believe how inexpensive it is to spend the day here!
$119 for
adults and
$75 for
children ages 4-12.
Tips for a perfect day
The
island offers restrooms, changing rooms, and shower facilities.
There is
a gift shop on the island.
Kayaks
are available to rent for $15.
Tubes are
available to rent for $10
You can
purchase a bus transfer from your hotel.
Boat
leaves daily at 10:00 from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.
Boat
leaves Rose Island at 3:30 to take you back.
Get there
early so you don’t have to rush like we did!
Take a
cab across the bridge…NOT the water taxi because they only run when they’re
full.
 A warm THANK YOU to Sandy Toes for having us as your guest. We had an incredible last day in the Bahamas and it was the perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy all the sun, sand, and water that is so unique to your lovely island. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Nassau area. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% that of MyTravelingKids.com.
