Unfortunately as our luck would have it the flight times have changed since our original booking. So we now have a 2 hour layover on the way to anguilla and about 3 1/2 hours on our return to the states. We are staying in anguilla for 8 days and plan on visiting st. maarten one day, but my question is what can I see or do during the layover rather than just sitting in the airport.

Thanks

What time does your St. Maarten flight arrive? There's a ferry leaving Marigot every 30 minutes I think that will take you to Anguilla. They also have a boat service that will pick you up at the airport in St. Maarten and take you directly to your hotel I believe. If you arrive before 5/6 PM, then I would head for the ferry. Same on your way back. Take the ferry straight to St. Maarten then a taxi from Marigot to the a/p. Take the ferry over one day during the week and visit Phillipsburg for some great shopping. My wife love the jewelry. Find out which day cruise ships are there and don't go that day.

Not sure about what you mean by lay over in SXM. I assume you are flying over to Anguilla? I would take the ferry. the boat service-The Link no longer does the airport run. Just private pick ups at $250/ trip. Quite a few boats do this run. As far as 3.5 hours on your way back, again the ferry. Unless you are locked into the plane hop. SXM can be busy, Marigot is about 20-to 30 minutes away, depending on the traffic, so you could do a quick shopping spree, after you check in and pay your tax too. Remember shops are closed on Sunday. Maybe catch a cab outside for a tour, depending on the time you will have once you check in.
There is a little beach bar restauant (not good) across the street, and the upstairs restauarant at the airport is a very good, french bread, and plane watching. At the end of the runway is Sunset Beach Bar, and lots of beach.

If you decided not to take the ferry, a two hour layover in SXM is not really that long. Mine is usually four. By the time you arrive, go thru immigration, claim your bags (if you have to), check in for your connection (if you have to), get your airport departure tax (don't pay, though, since you are connecting), and get in line for the departure hall, one hour will very possibly be used up.

As Penny said, the airport bar upstairs is good, there are some shops to browse, Sunset Beach Bar and the Maho area are nearby (but you have to take a cab), and there is also Stop & Shop across from the airport, which has an American/Japanese restaurant out back on the lagoon, as well as an Indian restaurant. You could also walk it to Turtle Pier restaurant on the lagoon, as long as you don't have much luggage.

Two hours in SXM is not too long....opposite the airport are two nice waterfront restaurants, one is an Indian restaurant, the other one is a Chineses one, both are very nice. If you don't want to leave the airport, there's a restaurant which serves very good food, it's upstairs 1st floor. Shopping in SXM: Cuban Cigars.