10 Best Family Things to Do in Antigua

Ffryes Beach is a popular family beach that buzzes with activity and offers a stretch of soft sand and dark blue waters for snorkelling and swimming, plus amazing restaurants. The ocean here is the spot where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic, and the waters tend to be very calm, making for ideal swimming experiences. A beach bar on the shore offers cool drinks under beach umbrella shade when you need a break from the hot sun.

This is a stretch of pristine, well-kept beach that is built for families. It's a place where there's always something going on, and where you'll never be bored. You'll find this beach on the southwestern part of the island.

Swash Water Park allows you to jump, swim, bounce, and splash in an epic water park with more than 28 inflatable obstacles to navigate and challenge kids of every age. When you're not jumping and climbing your way through the obstacles, you can play beach volleyball or just relax in the floating pool. It's not your typical water park — there are no waterslides, rapids, or lazy rivers — but it offers worlds of fun to occupy grown-ups and kids for hours.

Get out and get ready for some friendly competition as you race your family through the obstacles. When you're done, while away the afternoon in sheer relaxation. You'll find the park in the southwestern parish of Saint Mary.

Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary Humane Society shelters 150 well-cared-for donkeys that you can pet and brush, along with other animals you can get up close and personal with. Each donkey has its own name and storey, which you can read about inside the gift shop. You can also visit with the free-roaming dogs and cats, many of which are available for adoption.

You can even sponsor a donkey to guarantee that it gets a year's worth of food and care supplies. This is a fun place to go in Saint Paul Parish for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Stingray City in Saint Philip Parish offers a sandy lagoon, a safari tour, and the opportunity to go swimming with playful and gentle stingrays that you can pet and touch. Despite their sinister name and reputation, these creatures are used to people, and you will have a guide present to teach you just how to approach them to make friends. If you choose the full safari tour, you can also meet tortoises, parrots, iguanas, and other wildlife of the island and learn all about the natural ecology and habitat here.

Many people find this to be a highlight amongst kids' things to do in Antigua. Toddlers as young as 3 years old can jump in with the stingrays.

Fig Tree Drive offers 5 miles of rainforest in the heart of Antigua where you'll see wild Antiguan black pineapples, mango trees, and banana trees. If you're looking for something a little more adventurous than driving or hiking along the road, you can take a zip-line tour that will allow you to rocket over the canopy and see it race by as you fly above.

Along the way, you'll pass through peaceful small villages where you can view handcrafted works from local artisans. When you reach the crest of the jungle's highest hill, you'll find a shop selling fresh homemade jams and jams as well as freshly squeezed seasonal juices straight from the forest.

Nelson's Dockyard is a mansion, parkland, and museum dedicated to Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson on a dockyard that was home to the British fleet in the Napoleonic Wars. The docks were built in 1740, while the mansion that houses the museum was constructed in 1855. Formerly the headquarters of Admiral Nelson, today it houses exhibits about the history of Antigua with artefacts gathered from all over the island.

After you explore the museum, you can head for the gift shops to find an ideal souvenir, explore art galleries showcasing local artists, and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. There's so much to do you may need more than one day here. The dockyard is in English Harbour.

Prickly Pear Island is just off Antigua's north shore and offers family adventure with sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling, and even a seafood buffet to grab some food while you're here. Snorkelling equipment can be rented here to swim amongst the colourful sea life, and if you're not an experienced snorkeller, free professional instruction is included to get you off and running. The beach offers umbrellas and other amenities to ensure that you're comfortable while you lie in the sand as the kids splash and play in the calm, warm waters.

You can reach this island with a 5-minute boat ride from Hodges Bay. This is a great spot for kids of any age.

Devil's Bridge is a spot where you can witness the fury of the Atlantic and Caribbean crashing together with giant rock formations, waterspouts, geysers, and blowholes. Seawater and salt air rage during certain weather conditions and offer an incredible chance to see the true power of nature in all its glory, as well as take awe-inspiring pictures that are certain to light up your social media with comments and likes.

The bridge is named for its shape, which looks like a natural rock bridge. It's just outside the village of Willikies and is free to visit any time. Just keep away from the edge!

Shirley Heights in English Harbour is a former British military lookout dating to the 1700s that offers stunning views of the island and harbour as well as tended colourful gardens. The lookout allows you to see some of the most spectacular sunsets on the island from 490 feet above the beach and the city below. Every Sunday, they host Caribbean celebrations that feature music and plenty of kid-friendly fun. History buffs can also tour the former military complex including a guardhouse, a kitchen, officers' quarters, a canteen, a hospital, and even a cemetery.

This is a great site for adults and kids of every age. The Sunday fun in particular is worth the visit.

The Pillars of Hercules are gigantic natural stone pillars that were carved out by millions of years of weather erosion and appear to hold up the cliffs above. You'll not only get stunning photos of the power of nature, but you might see ocean animals from sea turtles to squids, sharks, lobsters, eels, and sea urchins on the coral reefs in the water. This area is a prime snorkelling spot.

You can visit the pillars on a boat tour or take a hike up Galleon Beach to see them from high above. Boat tours are good for all ages, while hikers should be at least age 10. The pillars are located along the southernmost shore of the island.