Adventures for Kids -- and Their Parents -- at Atlantis by Various Travel Authors on Creators.com

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Adventures for Kids -- and Their Parents -- at Atlantis

By Lesley Sauls

The thermostat outside my kitchen window read minus 7, and the snow fort in our backyard was glazed with ice. It was time to escape frigid winter temperatures for a weekend in the tropics. Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, we agreed, would be the perfect place to thaw out as a family.

Once we arrived in Nassau after a quick flight from New York, Derek Bain guided us across the 21-mile island to Atlantis, pointing out forts, historic cemeteries and significant architecture along the way. He regaled us with tales of hanging pirates and a southern Bahamian delicacy called "hush-hush": a less-than-legal preparation of native flamingo.

At the resort, we dressed in wet suits at Dolphin Cay and headed out to meet one of the 31 Atlantis dolphins. Our trainer, Dominic Rahming, taught us about his dolphin's anatomy and personality. He showed us how to hold Icaro's warm tail and stroke his belly. We even got to kiss our new flippered friend and then hug him for a photo.

After the dolphin interaction, Rahming showed us where 600 pounds of frozen fish are thawed daily to feed the dolphins and how they are given water with a tool that looks like a grease gun. He explained how the dolphins were transported in custom-made boxes and that special tanks have floors that move up and down for medical access to the animals.

Because Atlantis is based on Plato's mythical city that submerged 11,000 years ago, there is evidence of the lost civilization at every turn. Twenty million gallons of fresh and salt water pour from the "ruins" of fountains, temples and pyramids. More than 250 species of fish mingle with crumbled statues in tanks that are visible from many vantage points — even by snorkeling guests who become part of the underwater fantasy.

We opted to view the tanks from a warren of dark tunnels called The Dig, where giant, bright windows open into the aquarium. Made of acrylic that avoids the visual distortion of glass, the windows provide a nose-to-nose view of a goliath grouper or a gray reef shark that is as clear as being in the water with them.

Christiane Chertilus was our guide through The Dig. Her fish identifications were helpful in sorting out the many species in each tank, and her enthusiasm for the resort and its guests was welcoming.

"This beautiful place is paradise," she said reverently. "I take time to really appreciate it."

Even the 140-acre water park recalls the sea when delighted sliders swoosh through a tube in an active shark reef. Pools, rivers and slides twist swimmers past carefully landscaped buildings and ruins of Atlantis. One long edge of the property opens onto a deep-blue expanse of Bahamian sea that beats on off-shore rocks and invites children to race waves, dig moats and delight in the discovery of each tiny shell on its white sandy beach.

When they weren't playing in the waves, splashing around the water park or absorbing The Dig's aquarium, my daughters were excited to take part in the brand-new Atlantis Kids Adventures program that opened in December 2009. Parents aren't allowed in this area of the resort, and kid fun is the primary goal. Touch-screen computers, floors and walls are found throughout the supervised kids' club. A computer area, cozy story nook, pink playhouse, LEGO building area and market are flanked by bathrooms with talking mirrors and theme-based stalls.

A large, bright kitchen provides an arena where kids can learn how to make sparkling chocolate reefs from the energetic culinary staff.

Atlantis can be a destination in itself with golf, dining, shopping, ocean, casino, spa, aquatics and theater, but to taste local island life, the capital city of the Bahamas is only a water taxi ride away from the resort. We slipped away for an afternoon of conch fritters and tropical punch — served with or without rum — at the locally recommended Fish Fry. From there, we walked past Fort Charlotte into town and around parliament on our way to the famous Straw Market, where local artists sell personalized straw fans, bags and hats in addition to jewelry, shirts and toys. Our local foray was capped off by a brief guided tour of Nassau as we boated back to Atlantis in the evening.

When the sun sets, Atlantis does not go to sleep — even for kids. Its 40 restaurants vary in style from a beautifully presented cafeteria to elegant fine dining, theaters show movies for a variety of audiences, and there is a night club that is for tweens and teens only. For the youngest visitors, Atlantis provides bottle sterilizers, baby bath and lotion, and "Goodnight Moon" with their cribs. If necessary, baby-sitting by CPR-certified and heavily screened employees is available.

We took advantage of the creative souvenir activities available for Atlantis guests and spent one evening painting pottery. Another night we made Atlantis Pals stuffed animals that came with birth certificates and a full range of outfits. On our last evening, we built and raced remote-control cars at the Atlantis Speedway.

The next day we packed our mementos and headed home. Thanks to a mythical lost city, dedicated staff members and a few inspirational dolphins, we had memories to keep us warm through the rest of the winter.

IF YOU GO

To read before travel: "The Katrina Dolphins - One Way Ticket to Paradise" by Georgeanne Irvine, a book about the dolphins that survived hurricane Katrina in 2005 and found a new home at Atlantis; "Bahamas Handbook 2010" by Etienne Dupuch Jr Publications Ltd.

To book online:www.atlantis.com. Look for specials available throughout the year.

Getting there: JetBlue offers roomy seats, attentive flight crews and agents, and complimentary in-flight movies to and from Nassau for low prices.

To plan for Atlantis: Water park, library and movies are complimentary at Atlantis, but other activities, programs and dining come with an additional charge. Half-day, whole-day and evening AKA programs are available to fit the needs of young travelers.

To plan for Nassau: Find a taxi driver to give you a tour of the island. The locals are proud of their country and happy to share their knowledge with the tourists who make up most of their national income. That's how we discovered The Fish Fry, www.fishfrynassau.com. Souvenirs are available at the world-famous Straw Market, www.bahamasgo.com/treasures/strawmarket.htm.

Lesley Sauls is a freelance travel writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.