Atlantis Family Activities

Note: All activities and attractions are available when staying at any of the six Atlantis hotels.

Water Parks and Pools
Most kids big and small will want to make a beeline for the waterslides. There are two interconnected water parks at Atlantis -- the Mayan Temple complex next to the Royal Towers, and the Power Tower near The Cove Atlantis hotel. The two are connected by the Lazy River, a river rafting ride combining both peaceful stretches and exciting rapids. Interspersed between the waterslide complexes are several kids' pools, including the Splashers kids' pool, an area with several kid-sized waterslides on the backside of the Mayan Temple, and two zero-entry pools with shallow areas perfect for youngest kids. In addition, there are several other pool areas in the other hotel areas, including the Poseidon kids pool at the Beach Tower, and the lagoon next to Royal Towers that has paddleboats and other watercraft for rent. The best beaches at the resort, meanwhile, are off Coral Towers.

Aquariums
Apart from the water activities, kids have many other options for fun. Each hotel has its own unique aquarium, from the Ruins Lagoon at the Royal Towers, to the Predator Lagoon at Beach Tower, and the sea turtle river at Coral Towers.

Kids Clubs
The main kids' club is in the center of Royal Towers, and includes both onsite programs such as cooking classes and a Rock Band stage and field trips to other parts of the resort. For rainy days, the Beach Tower also has a movie theater showing complimentary family movies day and night.

Teen Clubs
In addition, the resort has two clubs catering to older kids -- Club Rush, which features both videogames and dancing for pre-teens, and the brand new Club Crush for teens, decked out with the latest video games and touch-screen entertainment.

Ardastra Gardens & Zoo
While it's easy to spend an entire week at the resort itself, families should also consider getting off Paradise Island for activities during the time of their stay. One of the best options for an excursion is Ardastra Gardens & Zoo, a small but interactive zoo with a jaguar exhibit, trained flamingo shows, and popular parrot feedings in which young kids can hold apples while Amazon parrots perch on their hands (and heads) and nibble away.

Pirates of Nassau Museum
Another fun excursion off resort is the pirate museum. Kids can explore below-decks on a recreated pirate galleon as well as exhibits on Blackbeard and other famous swashbucklers.

Water Adventures
In addition, Atlantis can also coordinate off-site adventures such as deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and diving -- or you can find private companies in Nassau such as Chubasco Charters (Harbour View Marina) or Lyford Lure Yacht Charter (Lyford Cay Marina) for fishing, and Stuart's Cove Dive Bahamas (South West Bay Road) for dive trips.

Fantasy Camps
During the slower summer season, Atlantis keeps things exciting with special "fantasy camps" for kids ages 7 to 11 to learn a variety of skills in a fun environment. They might include Kids Culinary Adventure, in which kids learn how to cook dishes culminating in their own birthday cake; LEGO Fantasy Camp, where kids learn how to build incredible large-scale LEGO structures, including of course Atlantis LEGOS; and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Fantasy Camp (stop what you are thinking, Dad), in which kids learn how to follow cheers and choreographed cheerleading routines directly from the masters of the trade.

Mandara Spa
Teens and pre-teens are able to partake in special treatments at Mandara Spa starting at age 9 (parents must accompany kids under 18). Treatments range from "beach babe hair" to "acne attack facial," and parents and teens can undergo treatments together in special dual treatment rooms.