Families

Fun Things to Do with Younger Children

By Janet Fusco

With its kid-friendly resorts, white-sand beaches and warm weather year-round, Nassau / Paradise Island is a favorite family getaway. And while there’s much to see and do at your hotel for both young children and adults, you won’t regret jumping ship to go exploring (and the kids won’t either). Here are some ideas for how you can make the most of your time in The Bahamas:

If you have half a day, don’t miss:

Families with kids from toddler age on up will enjoy touring Ardastra Gardens & Zoo, The Bahamas’ only zoo. Check out the wild cats, as well as many species of exotic birds, including beautiful Eclectus parrots native to Australia and Indonesia. Don’t miss the native "marching" flamingos that perform three times a day. Afterwards, wander over to the Lorry parrot exhibit to feed these colorful creatures by hand.

Museum ahoy, mateys! A different half-day option for Johnny Depp fans or families with kids older than five is Pirates of Nassau, downtown, where you can walk through the Revenge, a re-created pirate ship. The museum debunks pirate myths and teaches kids fascinating facts about real-life pirates, many of whom sailed The Bahamas’ waters. If your children are suckers for a happy ending, however, they won’t find it here (most pirates were sent to the gallows). But, as Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts said somewhere around 1720, theirs was “A short life but a merry one.”

Take some time to explore downtown Nassau’s Straw Market and Festival Place for inexpensive local souvenirs, such as hand-woven baskets and hats (and, of course, the 3-for-$10 T-shirts).

If you have a full day, make some time for:

Pair one of the half-day choices above with a morning or afternoon spent relaxing on the beach or by the pool. Many area resorts offer laid-back watersports options suited to young children such as pedal boats, water trikes and sea kayaks.

Get out on the water for a low-key adventure with one of the island’s excursion boats such as Robinson Crusoe Shipwreck Cruises or Sea Island Adventures. The serene aquamarine of local waters is a nice contrast to the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Nassau. Alternately, book a Dolphin Encounter at Blue Lagoon Island, which even young children can participate in.

For the little equestrian in your crowd, head to Woodes Rogers Walk behind the Straw Market in downtown Nassau for a horse-drawn carriage ride.

If your resort offers a kids’ program, consider letting the kids play there, safely supervised, while you spend some serious shopping time downtown or have dinner with your spouse.

Or, you could make mealtime a real family affair by taking part in the country’s People-to-People Programme, which pairs you with a Bahamian family (sometimes with children of similar ages) to have dinner in their home. (Make arrangements prior to your trip.)

If this is your last day, make it a relaxing one, with plenty of time spent waterside at the pool or the beach. If you’re a guest at Atlantis, revisit the amazing aquariums and lagoons around the property. If you’re staying elsewhere on Nassau/Paradise Island, you can arrange to tour the resort to see its more than 700,000 marine creatures first-hand.