Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Easter. My Easter was pretty low-key, which is just what I needed after a couple of jam-packed months! On Good Friday, we went to Tania’s mom’s for a traditional fish fry, then yesterday, to my parents’ house for a yummy brunch. We spent the afternoon playing Scrabble and going for a nice walk in the sunshine, and wrapped up the day with a not-so-traditional Easter dinner, but one that’s nevertheless become tradition for many a holiday in my family: takeout from Etobicoke’s Hong Kong Gardens, our favourite Chinese restaurant. However you celebrated, I hope you had a great holiday!
If you’ve been following along for the past little while, you know that Tania and I were recently in the beautiful Bahamas (if you missed my recent posts, click here to read them, and you can also check out my Instagram reel of our trip here.) You also may know that we were staying on Paradise Island – which definitely lives up to its name! Located right by the capital city of Nassau, Paradise Island is a popular spot for travelers because it’s home to several resorts. It’s perhaps best known for being home to the iconic Atlantis Resort, but there are a ton of other accommodations to choose from: from luxury hotels like the SLS Baha Mar and the Four Seasons, to beach vacation staples like Margaritaville, to all-inclusives like the Riu Palace and The Warwick. (We stayed at The Warwick and had a great time – click here for my full review of the resort.)
Now, I love lazing around poolside with a pina colada in hand as much as the next person, but I’m also not the type of traveler who’d be content with just that. The good news is that if you’re staying on Paradise Island, there’s plenty to do off the resort! And since the island is small and the resorts are close to one another, it’s very walkable. There’s also lots to explore in nearby Nassau, which is just a 10-minute car or boat ride away – my next post will be all about Nassau! But today, I’m sharing my favourite things to see and do on Paradise Island, starting with…
Cabbage Beach – With their white sandy shores and turquoise waters, Bahamas beaches are just something else, and Cabbage Beach is no exception! This 3 km beach is located on the north coast of Paradise Island, and it’s one of the most popular beaches in The Bahamas. This is a public beach so there’s no cost to enter, although there are beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent. There are also stands along the beach where you can buy snacks and cocktails served in pineapples and coconuts. The beach is stunning and very clean; it was so relaxing watching the crashing waves. A word of caution: Cabbage Beach is known for having rough waters, rip currents and a strong undertow, and there aren’t any lifeguards. So be extra careful – even if you’re a strong swimmer – and swim at your own risk. We pretty much just sunbathed and waded along the shoreline, and even there, we could feel the intense power of the waves! One other tip about Cabbage Beach: the public entrance can be difficult to find if you’re not familiar with the area. We decided to walk there since it was only 10 minutes from our hotel, but Google Maps led us to a private entrance that was totally closed off, and we had a tough time finding a publicly accessible entrance. After about 20 minutes of walking and not having any luck, we gave up, went back to our resort and took advantage of their free shuttle service. (I should have read this helpful article ahead of time!)
Versailles Gardens & Cloisters – These stunning medieval cloisters are located at the Four Seasons Ocean Club Resort. Technically they’re on resort property, but they’re located on the south side of Paradise Island Drive, so they are open to the public and anyone can access them. The cloisters were built by Augustinian monks in 12th century France. In 1968, they were purchased by A&P heir Huntington Hartford, disassembled, transported to The Bahamas, and rebuilt stone by stone. The cloisters surround a formal French-style garden with a marble statue in the centre (“Silence” by Scottish sculptor William Reid Dick.) The cloisters overlook an immaculately manicured lawn that slopes down towards Nassau Harbour. From the lush greenery to the hot pink bougainvillea to the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the colours here are so vibrant and spectacular. This is definitely the most unique attraction on Paradise Island, and well worth the visit!
Atlantis Resort – This iconic hotel is synonymous with Paradise Island, and rightfully so. Its soaring coral towers are the first sight that greets visitors when they cross over the bridge to the island, and it’s truly a destination in itself. The resort sits on 400 acres and has 4000 guest rooms, 40 restaurants and bars, 11 pools, a 141-acre Aquaventure water park, and a 7100-yard golf course. It also boasts the largest casino in the Caribbean, and the largest open-air marine habitat in the world. In other words: yes, it’s big.
Atlantis is certainly one of the most popular hotels in The Bahamas, but even if you’re not staying there, there’s plenty to explore! If you want the full Atlantis experience, you can purchase a day pass to get access to their pools, beaches, water park and marine habitats. But there are lots of activities you can enjoy at Atlantis that are open to the public: no day pass nor hotel reservation necessary. Here are some of my favourite things you can do for free(ish) at Atlantis:
Try your luck at the casino. (This is why I said “free-ish“!) The Atlantis Casino rivals the splashy, grand casinos of Las Vegas with its sheer size, multitude of slot machines and table games, and extravagant design. The resort commissioned renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly to create four stunning (and massive) glass sculptures for the casino. Even if you’re not a gambler, you’ll want to take a peek for the artwork alone! Tania played a few rounds of her favourite game, roulette, while I tried my luck at the slot machines. (When I saw an Elvira-themed machine, I couldn’t resist!) No big winners here – we walked away a whopping $5 richer – but hey, at least we didn’t lose!
Indulge in some retail therapy at the Crystal Court Shoppes. This indoor mall is home to several luxury fashion retailers, from Balenciaga to Cartier to David Yurman. While we weren’t in the market to do any purchasing, it was fun to window-shop and ogle at the resort’s over-the-top decor. In addition to high-end designer boutiques, you’ll also find souvenir shops and some local retailers like Cole’s of Nassau: think a Bahamian version of Lilly Pulitzer.
Admire the resort’s over-the-top themed decor. If there’s anything I love more than kitsch, it’s kitsch on a grand scale. And Atlantis is certainly grand! One of the best things you can do for free is simply walk around and take in the extravagant, ocean-themed decor located in every nook and cranny of the resort. From life-sized dolphin sculptures to clam shell fountains to seashell-stamped dome ceilings, it’s an under-the-sea fantasy come to life.
Stroll through Marina Village. This outdoor marketplace spans 65,000 square feet and features over 20 shops, restaurants and cafés, painted in a rainbow of pastel colours. Browse handmade local crafts at a kiosk, try free rum cake samples at the Tortuga Rum Cake Factory, or treat yourself to a five-course tasting menu at the upscale Café Martinique. Two of my favourite stores in Marina Village are Local Tings and Bahamas At Heart: the latter sells delightfully vibrant clothes, home goods and even rolls of fabric.
Enjoy a coffee or cocktail at The Dilly Club. A new addition to Marina Village, this café and cocktail bar absolutely nails the island-chic aesthetic. The pastel pink building has turquoise blue shutters and a white wraparound porch where guests can sit and “dilly dally” for a while. The interior is a maximalist’s dream: think bold tropical wallpaper, rattan peacock chairs, pink Victorian sofas, bone inlay tables and green bamboo bar stools. In other words… everything I adore! Oh, and the coffee is really good too.
Explore the lost kingdom of Atlantis. Located in The Royal Lobby, The Dig is an immersive experience designed to resemble the sunken city of Atlantis. Its majestic aquarium is home to thousands of tropical fish and sea creatures, all swimming among ancient-inspired statues and artifacts. It’s the largest Atlantis recreation in the world! We saw clownfish, angelfish, giant grouper, eels, stingrays, jellyfish and so much more. The Dig has 15 chambers, and was designed to imitate a 600-foot-long archeological dig in search of signs of the lost city. The chambers include a navigation room, a submarine room, a research lab, and a crystal machining room filled with gorgeous amethyst geodes. If you want to have the full Atlantis aquarium experience and explore all of their various lagoons – along with their famous cenote, dolphin cay and shark tunnel – you’ll need to purchase a day pass. But just visiting The Dig is free!
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fun things to see and do on Paradise Island! If you’re planning a Bahamas vacation of your own, I hope the above suggestions were helpful. Next week, I’ll be sharing my best recommendations for things to see and do in the nearby capital city of Nassau. Until then, thanks so much for reading and I hope you all have a great week!
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