Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island

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Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas is home to sand, surf, and family-friendly accommodations (like the mega-resort Atlantis), but families on spring break will find that the destination also offers immersive and educational experiences fit for kids and adults alike.  Have you ever considered taking the kids to Atlantis in the Bahamas? There are so many things offered that will make this a vacation to remember, from Dolphin Cay (an experience on 14 acres and almost 7 million gallons of crystal clear water) to Aquaventure (the island’s water park on 141 acres) and more pools and slides then you will have time to visit in a long weekend. Then there is the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, where you can learn how they are working to conserve the reefs. Should you care to venture off the resort, Paradise Island has many activities that your children can enjoy at any age.

Atlantis has a great habitat that supports marine life and animal rescue and rehabilitation facilities. You can see tanks and aquariums all over the resort, which is enormous.  You have to take buses all over in order to get from place to place- it’s as big as a town, for sure.  Walking would be nearly impossible.  You pick up the buses in the lobby of your hotel, and each of them has the names of the stops they make on the side and top of it.

Aquaventure is of course the water park and has non-stop action. There are Atlantean-themed towers, water slides and a mile long river that has rolling rapids. This thrill of a place has over twenty million gallons of water, 20 swimming areas, a kids water play fort, and 11 swimming pools. Everything is connected together by a tropical environment and is sure to please everyone visiting from young to old. There is also a “Cartoon Lagoon” which looked very cool, but we were not able to try out.  Turns out you need to make an appointment to use it, and it often fills up months in advance for a time slot, so if you want to use it, book it when you book your stay, and don’t be late or forget to show up or you miss your chance.

There is a fun cartoon character parade through Atlantis, check with the desk for times and locations.  You can also see Caribbean dancing, music, and more depending on the date and time. My son loved seeing his favorite TV toons in person!

As I mentioned,  you can learn how scientists are conserving the coral reefs through the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation. You can ask about any of the Blue Adventures at the center that is operated by Stuart Cove. As you learn, you will also be donating to the foundation as a portion of the the proceeds of each adventure goes to help the foundation.

You can also experience activities that involve fitness, golf, shopping, pottery, rock climbing, Atlantis theater and of course a spa. The Mandara Spa brings together Balinese healing touches, traditional European therapies and natural elements that are specific to the Bahamas. The Taking of the Waters has both warm and cool pools as well as steam and sauna rooms for you to enjoy. There is even a Couple’s Spa Suite and a women’s aromatherapy area. Men can experience  time for themselves too with barber services and a plasma TV in the lounge. The Earth and Fire Pottery Studio was a big hit with my son, who loved making and taking home his own painted creation (note- you only paint it, you don’t mold it).

Kids will fall in love with the colorful sea creatures they will get to see, the water slides, and of course searching for treasures on the beach. There are things that will surely bring a smile to their faces and they will remember always. As tweens and teens, they will also want to explore Atlantis on their own and not just with their parents. Atlantis has something to offer for them, too. Preteens can have tons of fun in the sun by going on snorkeling and scuba adventures to come face to face with marine life. Atlantis also has a kids-only nightclub along with them adventure play rooms and an “underwater” video arcade.

Teens that vacation on Paradise Island can have non-stop fun and excitement with the Aquaventure Waterpark, up close encounters with dolphins, and rides in the shark filled lagoons. And as the sun goes down, there are multiple activities such as a nightclub where there are no parents allowed, the “underwater” video arcade, and the Atlantis Movie Theatre.  There are also movies and TV shows offered on a large screen on the lawn each night (weather permitting) for everyone to enjoy.  We were able to see “We Bare Bears” before it was on TV back home, which thrilled my boy.

Also available (for an extra fee) is  in room babysitting- all sitters are CPR-certified. You will have to call one week prior to travel in order to book the babysitting. Something else to think about is that children must be free of diapers and pull-ups to go to the Atlantis Kids Adventure Club, and proof of their age will be required. Some of the waterslides that the children will want to get on will have the requirement that  they are at least 48 inches tall.

Atlantis aims to please those of all ages. With all that there is to do in paradise, you can be sure that you will be wanting to come back again and again to experience the thrills that Atlantis has to offer- this will be a vacation to remember forever. As your children get older there will be different things that they can enjoy, there is something for everyone and all ages.

Should you feel like spending time off resort, head to some of the very cool museums and see what the island is all about.  The The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas will give you a brief history of the island (complete with real and original artifacts on display) and houses a collection of items spanning more than a 1000 years . The Pirates of Nassau Interactive Museum is not to be missed, either. From 1690 to 1720, Nassau had the highest concentration of pirates ever seen in the New World. At the Pirates of Nassau Museum, which provides the perfect mix of entertainment and education, kids and parents alike will love learning about the Golden Age of Piracy. Guests can board the “Revenge,” a replica of a real-life pirate ship, and feel as if they’ve gone back in time for a truly interactive history lesson.

For more information, and to book your stay visit www.nassauparadiseisland.com.