Atlantis Family Vacation

Atlantis...it is all over the television, our kids have been begging to go (since they are commercial junkies), and Joe had an opportunity to attend a medical conference there. So, we went (along with two other families, making a total of 8 kids around the same ages and 6 adults)! This hotel is gigantic - 5 miles from one end to the other. It is a cruise ship haven - four ships would dock each day and could purchase waterpark day passes, so the dozen pools would be packed in the midday. We stayed in the Reef Hotel (versus the centrally located Royal Towers), so it was a bit less crowded there each day (but there was still a 30 minute Starbucks wait each day!). Above is a picture of the entire hotel (obviously not taken by me), and below is a picture from our balcony.

On our first night we went to eat in the Harbor Village at Carmine's (outrageous portions!), and there was a fun street band when we were done eating. The kids had a great time with the parade props and musical instruments.

There was a wonderful aquarium inside the Royal Towers called "The Dig". We would wander through this area at night while walking back to our hotel. It was set up like the sunken Atlantis, and Joe felt it was very "Lost"-like. Here are the kids trying to get as flat as the fish!

Psst - Caden and Olivia - there are 2 giant fish behind you!

A pregnant seahorse, so I guess that that means it is the male?

Still inside the Dig - the kids (and Joe) had fun posing with these helmets.

Obviously the camera set up is completely wrong, but I still think that this is a cool picture of us with the Royal Towers' arch in the background.

Oh, yes, there was a beach too! The Reef had a private beach, making it much less crowded. There were beautiful large white fish that would swim between our legs, so we had a great time watching them and attempting to catch them.

Joe and Caden racing on the Challenger slides. I am proud to say that I raced Joe on this once, with a time of 5.45 seconds (but Joe won - I was more proud that I went on the slide to begin with!).

Joe on the Leap of Faith slide in the Mayan Temple slide area. I did not go on this one! You ended by going through a glass tunnel through the shark pool.

Joe and Olivia on the Serpent Slide (aka "shark slide"). This was a twisty slide that ended with a slow ride through the shark tunnel so you could enjoy watching them swim right next to you. We went on this ride multiple times.

Watching sliders go through the "shark slide".

This was another favorite area for the kids.

Ethan and Olivia splashing in the Mayan Temple Ruins pool area.

Not bad having this as a backdrop. The 82* in February wasn't bad, either.

The kids swimming in the Mayan Temple Ruins pool.

Ethan and Cole (best buddies with a love/hate relationship) did this a lot on the trip - relax on the beach chairs with an Avenger sticker book. They had a game the entire trip that touching a super hero sticker would transfer that hero's power to them.

Ethan and Cole on the shorter slides.

Olivia and Caden swimming next to the Mayan Temple Ruins' waterfalls.

Half of the kids posing with the Flying Fish statue.

Watching the many sting rays in their pool.

And, of course, some family pictures on the beach at sunset.