I had my reservations about Atlantis, Paradise Island, even before we stepped off our American Airlines flight in Nassau, Bahamas. The mega-resort clich?, after all, can conjure up images of mass-market experiences like endless buffet lines and crowded beaches.

Coral Towers Atlantis pool

I needn’t have worried. As we started to explore this 34-acre complex on Paradise Island (an islet a half-mile off New Providence Island) I realized that this Neptunian Disneyland is so far beyond the realm of mega-resorts, it defines a separate category for itself as a once-in-a-lifetime destination packed with attractions. Looking for a pool to unwind in? Atlantis has 11. Feel like hitting a ball? There are 10 tennis courts and two golf courses to choose from. And if you feel like flirting with Lady Luck, you can always spend an exciting evening in the Caribbean’s largest casino.

Happily, the more subtle touches of a first-class resort weren’t lost in the scale of the Bedrock-meets-Waterworld landscape and impressive architecture. The careful attention to detail shone through in everything from the delicate beauty of blown-glass sculptures in the hallways and casino to the cheerful smiles of the attentive staff.

We weren’t the only ones who have discovered the charm of this ‘lost’ continent. So strong is its magic, that Atlantis has even drawn the stars. Glitterati including Sean Connery, Tiger Woods, Sharon Stone and Pierce Brosnan have visited Atlantis. We wandered past the $15 million marina with its 63 yacht slips and tried to guess which boat belonged to which star. The resort is also popular with cruise ships. While the sudden surge in visitors can seem a bit daunting, the resort is large enough to easily absorb these day trippers.

Day trippers might enjoy the sights and activities on Atlantis, but they miss out on a wide range of accommodations. Our room on the 16th floor of the new $850 million Royal Towers was comfortable and spacious. While the Royal Towers are the most luxurious, there are other more modest accommodations available at the Coral Towers and Beach Tower, and even family-style villas at the Harborside Resort beside the marina.

The challenge with Atlantis, we found, was not trying to do it all. With just a long weekend to explore the property, Thom, Wesley and I went with the flow and embarked on our own version of an aquatic adventure. The very first thing we did was to pick up a detailed map of the property.

We didn’t need a map, however, to find the star attraction at Atlantis. The 11-million-gallon salt-water aquarium meanders throughout the property. This is the largest aquarium in the world, inhabited by more than 50,000 sea creatures from 200 species. They range from the delicious?lobster and grouper - to the awe-inspiring spotted eagle rays and eels. Pausing on a lagoon bridge, Wesley excitedly pointed out a patrol of six-foot Caribbean reef sharks cruising beneath us.

Not all of the larger species make your heart pound; some just make you giggle. At the Dolphin Encounter-a nearby tour run by an outside operator-we spent an hour observing trainers work with dolphins. After watching these highly intelligent and mischievous mammals perform tricks, we were able to pat, hug and even dance with them in the water. One cheeky dolphin even gave Wesley a big, wet goodbye kiss on the cheek.

There are, of course, plenty of fun aquatic attractions right in Atlantis. At the Mayan Temple, a six-story ruin with five waterslides, Thom shot down the Leap of Faith, a nearly vertical 60-foot slide. Wesley, under the 48-inch limit for the adult slides, instead discovered a maze of low-angle child-friendly slides that meander around the bottom of the Mayan Temple, slipping children from one shallow pool to the next until they finally splash down into one of the main pools.

Water isn’t the only attraction at Atlantis. After toweling off, Wesley hit the links at the 18-hole putt-putt golf course and explored The Dig, a 600-foot maze of rooms and corridors replicating an archaeological excavation of the mythical civilization. He checked out the Discovery Channel Camp, a camp for kids ages 4 to 12, where finding buried treasure and exploring “the deep” on a cool computer is only scratching the surface of all there is to discover. We all agreed that this will definitely be on the itinerary for Wesley on our next trip to Atlantis.

Thom and I even felt a bit like archaeologists exploring a lost treasure. Every corner in Atlantis seemed to open us up to new sights, and new attractions. The week after we returned, the buzz from Atlantis was still vivid - Wesley was telling classmates about dancing with a dolphin and Thom was regaling friends with his fear?factor waterslides.

Atlantis, I realized, isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime destination at all. It’s a resort that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences every time you visit. We are already planning our return. The lost continent of Atlantis, it seems, has not been fully explored.