Family Friendly Vacations at The Atlantis Resort

Aquaventure is the resort's unbelievable waterscape, and one of the largest water-themed attractions in the world, with more than 20 million gallons of water over 63 acres. Set in a Mayan themed atmosphere, Aquaventure is a bright and vibrant element of Atlantis with lush landscaping, exhilarating water rides and incredible animal interactions. The onsite water park includes a mile-long river and numerous exciting water slides and rides. This sensational water park and stunning landscape certainly is one of the main ingredients of the resort, and part of what makes a vacation to Atlantis so unique and exciting, however numerous attractions and activities can be found both inside and outside of the water, making Atlantis a fantastic choice for families with children of all ages.

Water Adventures

Power Tower offers guests four adrenaline-inducing water slides using master blaster technology, including The Abyss, a staggering 50 foot near vertical drop, followed by a thrilling 14 second, 200 foot long body slide through waterfalls and in and out of the Tower's darkness! Meanwhile The Drop and The Falls both propel riders upwards only to drop down at high speeds through the darkness of the tower, spiraling, and providing heart pounding excitement! Just beyond the Royal Towers lies the towering six-story Mayan Temple with its five water slides.

The Leap of Faith slide offers the daring and adventurous a 60 foot, almost vertical drop from the top of the Mayan Temple, propelling riders at a tremendous speed through a clear acrylic tunnel submerged in a shark-filled lagoon. The Jungle Slide is an exhilarating high speed safari ride, and the Serpent Slide is a five-story corkscrew ride, where guests travel on a tube at high speeds through the darkness of the Temple's core. The twisting and turning ride culminates with a leisurely pass through the acrylic tunnel submerged in the shark filled lagoon. Aquaventure features unlimited hours of fun for all the family, however all guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the water slides.

A more relaxed, yet equally thrilling water experience at Atlantis is the incredible Dolphin Cay. An extraordinary 14-acre dolphin habitat that is one of the largest and most sophisticated of its kind in the world, Dolphin Cay offers two ways to interact with these remarkable creatures, either the shallow water interaction, or the deep water swim. If you choose the shallow water interaction, you will wade in waist-high water to watch these playful animals show off some of their favorite skills. Come nose to bottlenose with the charismatic dolphins for an unforgettable, up-close encounter as you touch, hug and even kiss your new friend! Limited to only 10 guests, this intimate interaction begins with an orientation and includes 30 minutes in the water. Wetsuits, personal lockers, beach towels, and non-alcoholic refreshments are provided, along with all-day access to Dolphin Cay's private beach. The deep water swim meanwhile, is limited to just six guests, and provides a wide-open dolphin playground for you to explore. Hand-held water scooters let you control your speed, so you can race alongside dolphins, cruise along the surface, or dive to the depths of their saltwater lagoon. Snorkels and masks are provided, and the highlight of the encounter is certainly the signature 'foot push', where a pair of dolphins, one on each foot-propel you across the lagoon for a rush unlike any you've experienced! The deep water swim encounter also includes the wetsuits, personal lockers, beach towels and non-alcoholic refreshments, plus all-day access to Dolphin Cay's private beach.

In addition to the multitude of water based activities at Atlantis including six beautiful pools, four fabulous kids pools and the lazy river ride, guests can enjoy some very unique attractions such as the marine habitat. Experience up close views of more than 50,000 marine animals from over 200 species, walk through underwater tunnels surrounded by sharks, meander through passageways and observe stingrays, moon jellies and piranhas. Soak in beautiful open-air lagoons filled with tropical sea life and observe daily feedings of some of the world's most incredible aquatic life. Located below the Lagoon Bar & Grill, outside the Coral Towers, the Predator Lagoon is a fascinating wildlife habitat under the sea, featuring predominately deeper reef fish. Sharks, barracudas, rays, sawfish and giant grouper live among vibrant schools of fish in a natural environment, complete with beautiful coral in every color imaginable. The marine habitat is the world's largest open-air marine habitat and comprises of 11 million gallons of fresh and saltwater.

Kid Stuff

With so much to see and do at Atlantis, and for both adults and children to make the most of their vacation, parents can take advantage of the exceptional programs for children available at the resort. The Atlantis Kids Club is for children ages 3 to 5 years in the mornings and afternoons, and for children ages 3 to 12 years in the evenings. Morning and afternoon activities may include face painting, learning to play a musical instrument, creating a personal aquarium, going on a crayola hunt or decorating cupcakes, while evening activities feature Xbox 360 and Playstation, along with movies, musical games, crafts, tech time, storytelling and more. Aqua Tots is a fun fish feeding activity for children over 3 years of age, and five children are selected daily to take part in a 20 minute feeding experience located at the Estuary Lagoon, located outside the Reef Wing of the Coral Towers.

The Discovery Kids Adventure is designed in conjunction with the Discovery Channel, and offers children ages 6 to 12 years the opportunity to discover hidden treasure, decode Atlantean hieroglyphics and uncover the legend of ancient Atlantis by learning about the artifacts in The Dig. They can also discover what life may have been like for the Atlanteans over 11,000 years ago on a guided tour. Educational and fun, the Discovery Kids Adventure is a wonderful way to entertain your children while you enjoy some quiet time by the pool or relaxing on the beach. Kids can also spend time and make new friends at Gamers Reef, a world of entertainment where kids can beat their best scores on games such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Top Skater, or challenge a friend to a kung-fu dual in Tekken.

At night, the coolest place to hang out is Club Rush, where no parents are allowed, and teens and pre-teens can chat, dance and watch movies while mom and dad enjoy a quiet dinner at one of the resort's 22 superb restaurants. All children's programs and activities are supervised by experienced professionals, and parents can feel confident that their little ones are in safe hands while they experience attractions such as the casino, beaches, spa or golf course.

It is important that a well deserved vacation becomes an opportunity to spend quality time together as a family, create lasting memories, and enjoy activities together that you would not normally get to experience. At Atlantis Resort, there are unlimited ways to have fun, and many magical moments waiting to be discovered. No other resort offers more in the way of recreation and attractions for the whole family in such a picturesque and tropical beach setting. Your Atlantis Resort vacation will be one that your whole family will treasure for a lifetime.

Ellie Cominos is a travel expert and a content associate and travel guide writer for BookIt.com® - the online travel company offering discounted hotels and vacations wherever you are FROM! Visit the BookIt.com ® Travel Guides for additional travel information including articles, reviews and helpful travel tips.

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