What Your Kids Will Want To Do At St. Thomas This Summer

Aug   12
2009

Ritz Carlton St. Thomas can definitely be the romantic getaway you’re looking for, but why can’t the kids have fun too? St. Thomas has an unlimited amount of activities and entertainment to occupy your kids or the whole family alike.

St. Thomas is known for its stunning views of the clear blue water and the neighboring Caribbean islands that can be seen from the beach. Your kids can appreciate the scenery too by taking watercolor art class, which is offered at the Ritz Carlton Resort, where they can paint the view and take a memento home with them. *The class is offered on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. It is taught by renowned St. Thomas Watercolor artist, Lucinda O’Connell. The cost of a class is $65 and can be scheduled through a Ritz Carlton Club Concierge.

The Ritz Carlton Club, St. Thomas is located on the Great Bay of St. Thomas, the closest point to St. John Island. Because of it’s orientation to the wind and water, the Great Bay is an ideal place for fun island activities. Try hobie cat sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and blue water cruising. There is also a plethora of underwater wildlife to explore with scuba diving and snorkeling. When you stay at The Ritz Carlton Club in St. Thomas, access to all non-motorized water sport equipment during daylight is part of the resort fee.
~ Hobie cats are small boats that can carry up to four seated passengers using ropes to control direction based on the angle the wind will hit the sail’s surface.

~ On windsurf boards, as opposed to the hobie cats, one person will stand on the board and with body motion, use the direction of wind against the sail to propel themselves around the bay.
On site, Island Sol, U.S. Certified, Sailing Instructors are available to provide lessons for your kids on hobie cats, windsurfing, and sailing. The company boasts that one of their best instructors is Olympic Windsurfer, Paul Stoeken! *For a camp lesson, with multiple kids, but individual attention, the fee is $45 and may last up to three hours. For a private lesson for one child, the cost is $85 and for two children, the cost is $120. Reservations can be made through Island Sol. Click the link to learn more.

When you venture into the city of Charlotte Amalie, an absolute must see is Blackbeard’s Castle. The famous pirate of the caribbean made port on St. Thomas with his ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, in December of 1717. If the kids can make it up the 99 steps, they will be in for a real treat when they get to tour the castle and listen to the tall tales of the high sea when the deadliest pirate ruled the Caribbean. Reservations can be made through the Ritz Carlton Club Concierge and private tours are available.
*If you kids want to get excited before their trip, there are several good books they can read before or during the flight:

~ “Blackbeard the Pirate King” by J. Patrick Lewis (Ages 11-13)
A collection of poems and stories about the infamous pirate’s life.

~ “Claude’s Adventure” by Wendy Ann Diaz (Ages 9-12)
A 14 yr old boy, with a chip on his shoulder, time warps to the Caribbean and learns important life lessons.

~ “Caribbean Capers” by Marco and Joan Santomenna (Ages 8-14)
A ‘Hardy Boys’ type adventure tale of two friends who save a US nuclear submarine from piracy in Maho Bay, St. John, also in the U.S. Virgin Islands

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