Atlantis resort. Credit: Pixabay license

A Nassau Bahamas family vacation offers a wide variety of cultural, historical and recreational attractions for both adults and children.

This sprawling city of more than a quarter of a million people is better known as a cruise port than a place where people stay in hotels for a week or more. Quite a few cruises from the east coast of the United States go only to Nassau for more than one night.

Family cruise visitors arriving at the port in Nassau will see the beauty of the surrounding ocean and the quaintness of the port city. The city has tree-lined streets, many historic sites and plenty of shopping and dining. Hotel visitors who want a break from the beaches will find the same.

Must See Family Attractions

The Atlantis Aquarium: Atlantis Aquarium at the Atlantis resort complex is one of the most highly recommended aquariums in the world. Aquaventure is a 141-acre water park at Atlantis that contains 200 million gallons of water. The park has slides, lazy rivers and rapids. Power Tower has four waterslides. Visitors also can shop, dine and relax on a beach.

Fort Charlotte: Fort Charlotte is the largest fort on the island and covers 100 acres. The fort is on West Bay Street. It is about one and a half miles west of the cruise port by Clifford Park.

Fort Fincastle: The 126-foot-tall fort allows visitors to get plenty of pictures of the island from its high vantage point. Families will find it is an educational experience as well. The small fort isn’t as impressive as Charlotte—if you go to just one fort, go to Charlotte. But it offers good photo opportunities of the surrounding area.

The Queen’s Staircase: The staircase, which is a few hundred feet from Fort Fincastle, is impressive because it was carved deeply through limestone rock. It was originally built by slaves to honor Queen Victoria and her abolition of slavery. Visit time is brief. It is best seen in combination with a visit to Fort Fincastle.

Favorite Family Beaches

Cable Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. Credit: Wikimedia Creative Commons license

Cable Beach: This small and quiet beach is great for families. It is never overcrowded so cruise visitors do not have to worry about keeping an eye on their kids while searching through crowds of people.

Cabbage Beach: While not perfect for all families, this is the beach that is known to host a party all of the time. For families with older children, it is a good choice with lots of activity and a fun, party-like vibe.

Best Family Shopping

Bay Street Shopping: The best local shopping in Nassau is at Bay Street. It features tons of local arts and crafts as well as anything that one could imagine wanting to take home from the islands.

Nassau Straw Market: The highlight of shopping on Bay Street is the Nassau Straw Market, which is a short walk west of the cruise terminal along the waterfront. It has many vendors with both local and imported arts and crafts.

Adventures and Excursions to Check Out

Sandy Toes Rose Island: Sandy Toes beach is a great place for families to go for excursions.  It offers full day and half day tours of the island as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and a day at a great beach.

Blue Lagoon Island: This attraction offers one’s family the ability to be able to swim with the dolphins at the Dolphin Encounter. This is an experience that is sure to leave everyone with memories that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Visiting Nassau Bahamas is an experience that families will always remember. It offers many different choices for activities, excursions and adventures that will leave both parents and children with life-long memories.