When you think of Bahamas holidays, you might think of luxury resorts for adults and honeymooners. It’s true, the Bahamas is a stunning location and there is no shortage of luxury resorts or romantic sunsets. But thanks to its safe calm beaches and seemingly endless child-friendly activities, the Bahamas is also a great holiday destination for families. While it’s not a budget destination, there are plenty of great deals to be had, and going all-inclusive can make a trip to this stunning collection of islands great value.Five of the best places to visit and activities for families that can be done during Bahamas holidays.Take a look at this Bahamas holidays.
But how do you keep the kids entertained when they get bored of the beach? The Bahamas is a collection of 700 islands. New Providence Island is home to the city of Nassau — a fantastic base from which you can explore other islands. It’s only an hour’s flight from Florida, making it easy to get to, and when it comes to family activities, you’ll be spoilt for choice. We’ve put together our choice of the top five family activities you can enjoy in or near Nassau.
Bahamas Holidays with Kids
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Ardastra Gardens Zoo & Conservation Center
For young children, the Ardastra Gardens Zoo & Conservation Centre is a great choice. It’s the only zoo in the Bahamas and has both domestic and exotic animals — including flamingos, parrots, rabbits, lemurs, iguanas and more. A highlight of this day out is taking part in feeding time and watching animal shows. At specified times throughout the day, you can enter the lory — parrots with bright and vivid colours — enclosure and feed these gorgeous birds. There’s also a fun flamingo show, which provides a unique opportunity to interact with these stunning creatures.
The zoo is open daily from 9 am – 5 pm (with some exceptions, such as at Christmas). It’s not a cheap day out, with adult tickets approaching $20 and children’s tickets almost $10 (children under 4 go free), but there’s an on-site shop for snacks and refreshments, so you can pick up some lunch and make a day of it.
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The Aqua venture Water Park
The Aqua venture Water Park provides fun for the whole family. Encompassing 141 acres, this huge park offers 20 swimming areas, high-speed water slides, a kids water-play fort and a mile-long river with waves and rapids. While the park promises “an extreme level of excitement”, there are also 11 pools set in a beautiful tropical environment for those looking for a moment of calm. Younger children or those wanting a gentle option can also take a “lazy river cruise”, which lets you float down the river on inflatable tubes while watching the stunning scenery pass by. For older kids and thrill seekers, choose “the current” — giving you the excitement of a more lively route down the river complete with waves and rapids.
You can book for a day visit or if you’re a real family of water babies, there are cabanas available for overnight stays. Day passes can be bought at the Atlantis Tour Centre, but space is limited, so call and book early. Online bookings are not available.
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Pirates of Nassau Museum
For slightly older kids, the Pirates of Nassau Museum makes for a great day out. The museum offers an interactive experience, including the opportunity to climb aboard a pirate ship complete with sound effects and recreations of the island’s pirate stories, such as that of the infamous Blackbeard.
This is a fun and educational experience where you and your family can learn about female pirates, marooning, Captain Rogers and more. You will be fully immersed in recreations of a quayside shanty town and flag row. The museum is open seven days a week (excluding certain holidays) and is an affordable trip, with tickets ranging from $6.75 for children to $13.50 for adults.
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Blue Lagoon Island: Dolphin Encounters
Blue Lagoon Island offers a truly memorable experience. Start with a 20-minute scenic boat ride on a catamaran and enjoy spotting the most well known Nassau landmarks and luxury homes. When you arrive at the island, you and your family will spend a magical 30 minutes swimming with dolphins. Experience the thrill of receiving your first dolphin kiss, give them a hug, and even sing and dance with them!
The island also offers encounters with stingrays and sea lions, in addition to segway tours, beaches and guided walks.
As you’d expect, swimming with dolphins is not a cheap activity, but it’s an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family that you’ll never forget.
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Graycliff: The Art of Chocolate Tour
Take a tour of the Graycliff Chocolate Factory for an educational and fun family day out. Learn how chocolate is made from cocoa beans and see some impressive chocolatier demonstrations. The kids will love creating their own chocolate bar and — of course — sampling some of the sweet stuff!
Children from six and up are welcome and the experience lasts for one hour. The best way to secure your spot for the date and time you want is to book online. This is a more pricey option, but you’re on a Bahamas holiday, so why not?
Bahamas holidays have been a firm family favorite for years. While the beach will no doubt be where you spend a lot of your time, there are countless family experiences to enjoy if you want a change from sun, sea and sand. If you choose your holiday resort with care, you will also have a host of resort-based activities to choose from, such as scuba diving, kayaking and waterspouts. Check out the all-inclusive deals for a great value, hassle-free family trip of a lifetime to the Bahamas.
