Just For Kids At Atlantis, Bahamas

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Nassau designed just for kids, look no farther than the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, just across a footbridge. While there’s no excuse for not getting out and enjoying some of the Bahamas’ local sights, Atlantis has so many activities for the entire family that there’s bound to be something to keep everyone on your Caribbean beach vacation very, very busy.

To make trip planning easier, we’ve highlighted just a few of the Atlantis Resort’s many amenities and kid-friendly programs, including what’s new for 2013.

Hours of Fun in the Atlantis Kids Adventure Program

With one of the most extensive children’s packages in the Caribbean, the Atlantis Resort has no problem catering to kids of every age. For kids ages 3 to 12, there’s the Atlantis Kids Adventure program, a supervised day camp that offers a range of fun, from cooking lessons to high-tech games.

For ages 3 to 5, the Atlantis Kid Adventures program offers a special Imagination Station for hours of pretend. Here, kids can shop in a grocery store, host a dress-up tea party in the Victorian Dollhouse, build a miniature metropolis at the LEGO Center, or curl up with a book.

Aspiring chefs will love the Atlantis Resort’s pint-sized culinary center where professional cooking lessons are offered each day.  Like art? Then be sure to try the Atlantis Resort’s digital art experience. Here, kids get the chance to use some of the latest technology to create digital artwork on the resort’s iTables.

Kids & Tweens Activities at Atlantis

The resort also offers the latest in gaming technology, with over a dozen gaming stations. Traditional arcade games and a tech room at the Kids’ Club allow for virtual dodgeball, hockey, and basketball as well.

For your actors and actresses, the Atlantis Resort offers the chance to get up and belt it out on their kids’ stage. The experience comes complete with costumes, lights, cameras, and makeup to help kids put on their very own performance.

But the fun doesn’t end there. Visit the Atlantis Speedway to design your own race car, then test your sills out on the track. Build your very own friend at the Atlantis Pals stuffed animal creation center, or paint your own pottery at the Earth and Fire Pottery Studio.

These fee-based programs are fully supervised but require that all participants be diaper-free, potty-trained, and have proof of age.

Kid’s Night Out in Atlantis (Teen Style)

For the older kids in the crowd, try a taste of the Caribbean night life at Crush, the teen’s club at Atlantis (ages 13 to 17, open to 1 am). This 14,000-square-foot club includes an interactive internet area where photos can be taken then published on Facebook. The game room includes a floor-to-ceiling gaming tower with 24 consoles, 10 private internet consoles, and iPads.

Crush also includes a Dance Club VIP section with a live DJ and a touch-screen song request system. In the club, there is a teen bar serving non-alcoholic drinks; and Crush Cafe serves a variety of late-night snacks.

Not old enough for Crush, but still want to have a night out with friends? Don’t worry, the Atlantis Resort has you covered: Club Rush, designed for kids 9 to 13, offers a similar experience to Crush. Enjoy video games of all kinds, watch the latest movies on a big-screen projector, surf the internet, dance to live DJ music, or compete in a karaoke competition.

For some more free, indoor entertainment, be sure to check out the Hollywood Blockbusters in Paradise theater. Here, the latest films are shown, and snacks are available for purchase at the concession stand.

Atlantis Water Play & a Waterpark for All Ages

For fun for the whole family, the Atlantis Resort’s Paradise Island Adventure Water Park is a must. An added perk: This 141-acre park is free for all guests staying at the hotel. The mood is set with Atlantean-themed water towers — the perfect backdrop for the high speed water slides, a mile-long river ride (complete with rolling rapids), 20 swimming areas, 11 unique refreshing pools, and three distinctive kiddy-pools.

Just in time for the 2013 summer season, Atlantis vacations will be filled with more thrills as the Cartoon Network Lagoon takes over Paradise Lagoon, transforming it into an intensive obstacle course based on the hit show, Adventure Time. Guests will have the chance to encounter the show’s colorful characters, including heroes Jake and Finn, as they battle their way through an inflatable 9,000-square-foot floating obstacle course to save the Princess Bubblegum from the evil Ice King. Guests will encounter Adventure Time-themed slides, launch-pads, floaties, and other Atlantis-exclusive features that bring this award-winning show to life.

In addition, guests can enjoy advance screenings of never-before-seen Cartoon Network shows on the beach, as well as character parades throughout the resort.

Rock climbing is also available to guests staying at the Atlantis Resort. With 12 rock climbing surfaces, the Climbers Rush rock climbing wall allows guests to choose from courses that range in difficulty. Parents and kids should note that age and safety regulations are in place.

Looking to experience some of the best aquatic scenery the Caribbean has to offer? Try one of the three snorkel excursions offered by the Atlantis Resort. Two scuba diving excursions are also offered, including lessons for beginners.

Can’t choose between scuba diving and snorkeling? Not a problem, the Atlantis Resort has a program for you. Snuba, or a combination of diving and snorkeling, allows guests the chance to experience the scuba depths without all of the heavy equipment. It’s the perfect experience for guests too young to manage the weight of a diving tank.

The Atlantis Resort’s Dolphin Cay also offers guests the chance to get up-close-and-personal with some of the friendliest animals in the Caribbean Sea.

Dining In at Atlantis: Fun, Food, & Music for Everyone

Dining in at Atlantis? Variety is still an option. With restaurants ranging from fine dining to quick snacks, the Atlantis Resort has 11 casual restaurants, nine upscale venues, and eight snack shops, so it’s sure to accommodate every craving.

Some kid-friendly, on-site restaurants are Carmine’s, Seagrapes, Bimini Road, and Johnny Rockets. While many restaurants are in the hotels, others are in the adjacent shopping village, and some have age restrictions.

Dining plans are also offered for families looking to spend most of their meals at the resort. For a flat, per-day fee, kids and adults who purchase the plan can dine at most of the restaurants without regard to prices — it’s their version of an all-inclusive meal plan. There is complete information on packages and prices, typically a good value, on the Atlantis Resort’s web page.

Another perk: Guests booking online can participate in the package where kids 6 years and under can eat breakfast and dinner for free. Guests should, however, note that not all of the Atlantis’ restaurants are included in this package.

Indoor Aquariums at the Atlantis Resort

Finished eating but don’t want to go back up to your room yet? Check out the Atlantis Resort’s 12 amazing in-house aquariums.

The Dig is an especially cool area to walk through. With plenty of passages and “underwater” walkways to explore, The Dig offers families a look at over 100 venomous Indo-Pacific Ocean Lionfish, 500 piranhas, iridescent jellyfish, six-foot Moray Eels, colorful tropical fish, and more — all housed in a “Lost City of Atlantis” themed aquarium.

The Mayan Temple Lagoon is also a must see. Like any of the Atlantis Resort’s many aquariums, the Mayan Temple Lagoon can be seen from indoors, offering families a peaceful (and dry) viewing. However, unlike the other aquariums, the Mayan Temple Lagoon is also connected to the water rides at the Atlantis waterpark. That means that families looking to swim with the sharks without actually getting in the tank can hop on an inner tube ride that takes them directly though the aquarium.

Activities & Facilities at Atlantis: Trip Planning Tips

The Atlantis Resort also offers guests a chance to gamble, golf, play tennis, go to the spa, sit in the library, or charter a yacht at the Atlantis Resort’s marina. Unlike many of the other activities offered by the Atlantis, many of these outings (the library excluded) are not complimentary. So choose carefully.

Book a single room or a suite, or even stay in one of the newest condos or The Cove adults area. With rooms ranging from standard to deluxe luxury, the Atlantis Resort is sure to have a space for all families of any size. And, while the price is not trivial, the activities offered are sure to be the highlight of any stay.

Babysitting services are offered, too, but guests should call at least one week in advance to schedule the sitter. Prices differ, depending on when you need the sitter, and a minimum of a three-hour booking is required.

In Town For A Day: Day Packages for Non-Guests

Whether you’re staying at the Atlantis Resort or not, you can still experience much of the Atlantis fun by purchasing day passes that allow you to use the resort facilities. With each pass offering limited access to particular resort facilities, non-guests can still swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cay, visit The Dig, hit the beach, or even hit up Aquaventure; price and availability is seasonal.

Photos courtesy of the Atlantis Resort.