The Bahamas is more than a playground for international jetsetters... it can entertain kids of any age. Searching for the right seashell, building castles in the sand, playing in the waves, or swimming with dolphins are just a few of the unique activities you can pursue here.
Even though water activities are the first thing most people think of, these peaceful islands have quite a bit more to offer, especially in Nassau and on Paradise Island at the Atlantis Bahamas.
Nassau is full of history... enough to impress any history buff. The Momentous Bahamas Historical Society Museum and Parliament Square offer a couple must-see spots for any historian. A large collection of military uniforms, weapons, tools, photographs and documents are on full display. Some of the items are quite ancient. Pirates ran rampant in this area, so be sure and take in some of the exhibits and artifacts from the days when pirates tried to rule the seas.
In Nassau, you can swim with trained dolphins. At the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounter, near Cable Beach, wade waist-deep into the beautiful water to visit with dolphins. If you wish, you can borrow snorkeling gear and actually swim with them, too.
If dolphins are your thing, you can interact with them in Freeport. UNEXSO (formerly the Underwater Exploration Society) can help you learn more about dolphins. UNEXSO was co-founded by the renowned Jacques Cousteau.
Another dolphin program is located at Sanctuary Bay. Here they run a refuge for these friendly aquatic mammals. The dolphins do a regular show for visitors, and will actually snuggle up, asking to be petted. This site has a lot of opportunities to learn about dolphins, and what methods they use in training them.
For those who wish to combine their love of nature with sporting activities, choose from diving, snorkeling and parasailing, as well as many more water activities. Boats are available for cruising around the islands.
In Exuma, rent a boat to hop over to Hog Beach on Big Major Island. Here you can see a legend come to life. The tale goes that fifty years or more ago, a farmer brought a few pigs over to the island so they could forage in the wild. His plan was to let them populate the island, so he'd have a handy source of meat for his family. Now that the farmer is long gone, the pigs are still on the island. They will actually swim out to welcome the boats and beg for goodies to eat.
Not all of the activities at the Atlantis Bahamas are above the water. Some of the best scenery is underwater. Parents with children five years old or more can walk the sea floor. There are several tours, only one of which is Hartley's Undersea Walk. Between the beautiful coral reefs and the brightly colored fish, this is an experience you won't want to miss.
Guests on these tours are equipped with special diving helmets with an air tube and pump. This helmet allows you to see the diversity of sea life at a depth of ten to fifteen feet.
If you'd like to see the sea life but don't want to get wet, the aquarium at Atlantis houses over 50,000 sea creatures. This is truly an outstanding aquarium, and you're sure to see something unusual.
While you're exploring Atlantis, take wild ride on the waterslides, or float in a tube all the way through a shark-filled lagoon. Better take some photos... your friends back home will never believe your tales!
The Garden of the Groves in Freeport is named for the famous American, Wallace Groves. Family-oriented, you'll enjoy the company of pot-bellied pigs, extravagant pink flamingos, bright macaws, and other parrots and cockatoos. The animals all roam free in this beautiful 12-acre garden.