Aruba remains one of the safest and most reliably storm-free Caribbean destinations out there. With the creation of one water park on DePalm Island and the pending completion of another close to Oranjestad, Aruba is even more kid-friendly than ever. Most hotels and resorts have well-run children's programs as well as special activities for young guests that include introductions to snorkeling and underwater exploration and supervised participation in other outdoor watersports and games.
Some top kid-pleasers include:
Windsurfing lessons in Lac Bay
The Donkey Sanctuary
The Blue Parrotfish water park on DePalm Island
The Ostrich Farm
The Butterfly Farm
Miniature golf and paddle boats at Adventure Golf
Atlantis Submarine
Snorkeling and/or snuba on any catamaran sail
Landsailing on the flats near Sourbon
Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com) regularly prints articles about destinations including Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao and also offers discounts, deals, and trip-planning consultants to guide parents to appropriate vacation destinations for the entire family. Monthly fees range from $3.95 to $9.95 depending on the level of membership, so be sure to cancel the plan when your travel is concluded. Some good books on the market that address specific concerns of traveling with kids are Caribbean with Kids (2000) by Paris Permenter and John Bigley or The Everything Family Guide to the Caribbean: A Complete Guide to the Best Resorts, Beaches And Attractions -- Island by Island! (2005) by Jason Rich. Both are available online.
