We participate in affiliate marketing programs, including Amazon’s. As a member of these programs, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Our full advertising disclosure is available here.

We just took our first international family trip to the Bahamas, and it was INCREDIBLE! We stayed at the Cove at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. (Bonus for Marriott loyalists: You can use points to stay here!). Air travel with two kids proved to be slightly more difficult than we’d imagined (queue the rookie traveler feels), and we definitely learned a few lessons. Airport struggles aside, we’re so glad we travelled as a family, and we’re looking forward to future trips together!

The Atlantis itself did not disappoint. There was something for everyone. The casinos were lively, and the adults-only pool looked impeccably maintained. Those were obviously not at the top of our to-do list, but here are our family favorites from the Atlantis:

1. The Kids Pool and River Rapids

We underestimated the power of a kids pool with toddlers. And I don’t just mean a baby pool — I mean a full playground, with water slides, that dumps gallons upon gallons of water on unsuspecting parents and thrills their children. Our kids spent a huge chunk of time at the Splashers family pool, and it actually entertained them so well that it felt relaxing to us, too!! The lazy river was nearby, and provided a fun break from the kids pool, too. (Grab a double tube if you’re riding with young children & make sure you grab a life vest for them, just in case.)

2. Shallow Water Dolphin Encounter at Dolphin Cay

The kids LOVED the Shallow Water Dolphin Encounter at Dolphin Cay. They’re really into animals, and jumped right in to pet the dolphin and feed it fish. A few things to remember with toddlers for this one: Under 3 is free, the participation groups are larger than anticipated but well managed, and cameras are not permitted in the water. The kids still talk about this, so it was definitely worth it!

3. The Cove Beach

The Cove beach is accessible only to Cove and Reef guests, so it’s a bit quieter and less overwhelming for little ones than the main beach. The Reef is aptly named, so if you’d like to go out in the water, walk toward the right to avoid walking over a rocky area!

4. Sea Squirts

Another great opportunity for younger kids in the Sea Squirts program. Preston was able to feed sharks and sea turtles from the side of the aquarium, and he was able to feed stingrays while in the water with them. Victoria wasn’t yet old enough (it’s for ages 3+), but Preston gave her some of his cabbage to feed the sea turtles. This was a relatively inexpensive experience (<$50), and Preston really enjoyed it, so we think it was worth it!

5. The Dig Aquarium

Some people may not realize when they are booking their Atlantis trip that it actually has a fabulous Marine Habitat “encompassing 14 lagoons, eight million gallons of ocean water and more than 50,000 aquatic animals representing over 250 marine species.” Nearly every night after dinner, we went to the aquarium at the Royal Tower. The kids really looked forward to this, and particularly loved seeing their “friend Ray” (the spotted eagle ray) and the giant manta ray. Don’t miss walking through The Dig — during the day, there’s a touch tank for starfish and other marine critters.

Also, we want to tell you about the dining plans. If you’re planning to eat out each day for breakfast and dinner, it’s absolutely worth it. This is what we did, and we also packed a ton of healthy snacks for the kids (and some days these sufficed as lunch). We met Shannon’s parents in the Bahamas, and meals together were a nice way to start and end the days together without subjecting everyone to 24/7 kid pool duty. While the food everywhere was really fantastic, our top restaurant recommendation is definitely the Seafire Steakhouse.

If you’re looking for a way to save some cash, you could look into hitting a grocery or convenience store and taking the DIY route. The one downside to the Atlantis is that the food (including the $11 bottles of Fiji water) is quite expensive. We definitely recommend packing snacks in a checked bag!

Atlantis at Paradise Island with Toddlers: Top 5