Turks and Caicos is a beautiful Caribbean destination that offers the perfect mix of sun, sand, and sea. The stunning white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and delectable seafood make this archipelago a dream vacation spot for families with kids of all ages. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach getaway (if you have young kids, we say that lightly) or an adventurous island exploration, Turks and Caicos has great family-friendly activities.
With its laid-back vibe, friendly locals, and excellent family-friendly accommodations and restaurants, Turks and Caicos is the perfect destination for a stress-free family vacation. We booked a trip to Turks and Caicos one week before and still had plenty of time to hit up all the hotspots. So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for an unforgettable family adventure in Turks and Caicos!
Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Turks and Caicos
We stayed at Villa Del Mar on Grace Bay for 4 nights. We highly recommend this resort-feel apartment for families that is a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Grace Bay Beach. Some of the perks of staying at Villa Del Mar include:
2 spacious bedrooms + living room and full kitchen
Quick (2 minutes) access to the beautiful Grace Bay Beach w/ chairs, umbrellas, towels, and drink service
Two pools
Free continental breakfast
Amazing staff
The staff at Villa Del Mar worked tirelessly to secure a rental car to be dropped off at the hotel for us via Grace Bay Car Rentals. While this seems like a pretty easy task, it's not. We require a left-hand side drive (most are right-hand side drives) with two child seats. Front-desk staff tried for hours before finally tracking down a vehicle that met our needs and was actually available. 🚗
Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Turks and Caicos
If you’re new to following us, welcome to our food section. We have a love for food, it’s very obvious. We seek out local favorites, try something new every time, and hope for a burst of fresh and flavorful dishes to land on our plate in front of us. We’ve tried to instill the love of food in our kids as well, and though the toddler phase of picky eating can never truly be overcome, we think we have pretty good eaters and feel blessed for it.
On our first night, we quickly dropped our things and enjoyed an early dinner on the beach at Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar with the beautiful ocean as our backdrop and a nice relaxing breeze. 🍽️ With great reviews online and options to make reservations, the food was delicious. We ordered fried chicken & green chickpea hummus.
On day two we had great coffee and breakfast at Tribe TCI. Kids loved the waffles, eggs, and baked goods, and we really liked the coffee, any place that can make a good cortado has our attention. It’s located on the second floor at Ports of Call and has a great covered outdoor patio.
For dinner, a local tip suggested we should try out Omar’s Beach Hut for dinner and it didn't disappoint. The road here from Taylor Bay Beach was extremely rough and rocky but we had a 4x4 so we were good, but I probably wouldn't attempt this with a normal car. We ordered grilled fish, blackened shrimp, and rice with beans for dinner, and it was amazing. The drinks here were also marvelous, and they had great mocktails for kids as well. 🐟 🦐 🍸
On Day 3 We had a great grab-and-go breakfast at Lemon 2 Go Coffee. The iced cortados were amazing and we tried our first Jamaican patties on the island. We loved the beef and lentil variety. The boys loved the patties as well and of course, they enjoyed a chocolate croissant 🥐.
For lunch, we were told that the best restaurant on Bight Beach was Somewhere Café and Lounge. These laid-back restaurants on the beach are perfect for just walking right up in your wet suit and towel. The fried fish sandwich is remarkable!
In the afternoon, we had to abort a trip to Bonefish Point where the roads were all rock and extremely rough. We were afraid of what might happen if we had any car trouble in such a remote area. We detoured to Sapodilla Beach to take in a brilliant sunset. While the plan was to enjoy dinner at the beach at a burger hut, it was about 7 pm and it didn't look like anyone was under any urgency to fire up the grill. So, we decided to try out the famous Las Brisas Restaurant. The food here was, again, amazing. Lusch went through two adult entrees of fish and chips, we also shared a shrimp linguine, and Jabari bare-fisted countless balls of white rice. The restaurant even helped us celebrate an early birthday for Jabari with a song and a sparkler candle. It was the perfect end to a great meal. 🎈 🎂
On our last full day in Turks and Caicos, we enjoyed a great lunch at Mango Reef Restaurant. The shrimp pasta here is really good and the bread and butter were enjoyed by all. Enjoy it dockside where you can also board the Undersea Explorer.
In the evening, we headed to Kin Khao Thai for dinner. All of the food here is authentic and had great flavorful combinations. We had one last fried fish for dinner, and we were set! Kids enjoyed their chicken sate and tried to sip on our Thai tea. 🐟 There’s mostly outdoor seating, great for kids but outdoor eating can have its challenges (fly-mageddon).
Turks and Caicos Breakfast Recommendations:
Tribe TCI
Lemon 2 Go
Turks and Caicos Lunch/Dinner Recommendations:
Omar’s Beach Hut (a must)
Somewhere Café
Las Brisas
Mango Reef
Kin Khao Thai
Kid-Friendly Beaches in Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay: We had an entire morning dedicated to the beautiful Grace Bay Beach; we still can't believe how close it is to where we were staying in our kid-friendly accommodations: Villa Del Mar. The resort also has a friendly beach service that will set you up with umbrellas and chairs, so you don’t have to sit in the sand with all of your stuff. The water at Grace Bay Beach is an unreal blue color and so clear. It’s a perfect place to get one with the beautiful blue waves. This was a very kid-friendly beach with tons of restaurants nearby that you could easily settle in for hours. Bring sunblock and toys for the kids. We were glad we did when the kids decided to go between taking a dip in the ocean and playing in the sand several times.
Taylor Beach: We made our way to Taylor Beach based on a recommendation, thinking it would just be a variation from Grace Bay Beach. However, it was a completely different experience. Taylor Beach was THE most kid-friendly beach we visited, by far. The water was so clear and so shallow that the locals say you can go a mile out and still only be waist deep. We had so much fun here spotting little fish, and a few crabs, making sand castles, and wading in the shallow warm waters. The boys were in heaven and was difficult to get them out until everyone was starving! 🦀 🏖️ We definitely recommend visiting Taylor Bay Beach for kids. It was a bit of a drive, preferably a better driver if you have a 4x4, but we heard that a taxi can take you there as well.
Sapodilla Beach: We went to Sapodilla Beach to take in a brilliant sunset. A shallow shore with soft sand and food huts rights on the sand. It gave off more party vibes than family vibes but then again, it also allowed the kids to run around without judgment.
Things to do with Kids in Turks and Caicos
UnderSea Explorer: The UnderSea Explorer is a semi-submarine and is super cool, it has a below-deck viewing area with windows on both sides and the ladies here did an amazing job taking us through multiple reefs and sea grasses where we saw countless fish, turtles, stingrays, and impressive corals. We were blessed to have very calm waters and excellent visibility. This is a great adventure for young kids, especially if they were unable to see anything themselves via snorkeling.
Snorkel at Coral Gardens Reef @ Bight Beach: The water is just as beautiful at Coral Gardens Reef but the waves were stronger and there were a lot of large rocks under the water, which made it difficult to walk far out. It is, however, one of the closest-to-shore snorkeling sites we’ve ever seen. There was a huge roped-off circle right off the short where the Coral Gardens reef was accessible to the public. You can rent everything you need right on the beach including chairs, umbrellas, and snorkel gear. It was not cheap, but then again nothing in Turks and Caicos was cheap.
Shopping: Ports of Call and Salt Mills were two areas that had small shops to buy souvenirs, and artwork and make accommodations for adventures.
Kid-Friendly Beaches: Grace Bay Beach, Sapodilla Beach, Taylor Bay Beach, and Bight Beach.
Turks and Caicos with Kids
Our weekend in Turks and Caicos with the kids concluded with a final dip in the pool. They absolutely love the pool and just splashing around. When everyone got tired and cold, we dipped into the hot tub for a few mins before calling it a night.
In conclusion, Turks and Caicos is a fantastic destination for families with kids who are looking for a memorable and fun-filled vacation. With its breathtaking beaches, crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and a plethora of family-friendly activities, this tropical paradise has something to offer everyone. With numerous kid-friendly accommodations and restaurants, families can relax and enjoy the island's laid-back vibe without any worries. So, if you're looking for a perfect family vacation destination, look no further than Turks and Caicos. Start planning your trip today and get ready to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones!
Check out the full reel on Instagram > The Ghazalis in Turks and Caicos
Check out the day-to-day recap > Day to Day Recap