Colours opens the live Today Show with high energy junkanoo. (Photos: Derek Smith/BIS)

Nassau, Bahamas - A Today Show blitz of The Bahamas over two days gave approximately 3 million Americans per day a close look at the many islands and vacation experiences the country offers.  

The fourth hour of the United States’ number-one television morning show was broadcast live from Atlantis Paradise Island on February 8 and a taped episode aired for audiences on February 9. Hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb whipped through a wide array of Nassau/Paradise Island’s offerings – from the water slides of Atlantis to beach volleyball with the country’s national beach volleyball team to eats and drinks at Arawak Cay and Junkanoo Beach.  

Meanwhile, other segments of the show took viewers to some of the beautiful Out Islands.  Television audiences saw scenes of boating and snorkeling in the Exumas and sightseeing in the Abacos.  

Kathie Lee Griffith barks her own coconut at Junkanoo Beach. (Photos: Derek Smith/BIS)

The show’s celebrity hosts in an interview said they have been won over by the beauty of The Islands Of The Bahamas and the hospitality of Bahamians.  

“It’s something I have been feeling from everybody,” said Kotb. “There is a real love, and they want you to love it, and you can’t help but fall in love.”  

Kotb said she has been enticed to visit The Bahamas again, even if it is apart from The Today Show.  

“The fact is that you can get on a plane and in two and a half hours go from freezing cold and snow to tropical paradise like that,” she said, snapping her fingers on the set at Atlantis’ Royal Towers. “I am going to be on the plane a lot, and this spot is just perfect.”  

The highlight of Gifford’s visit was swimming with a dolphin at Paradise Island.  

“We did complain about one thing to the Minister of Tourism (Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace), and that is there are not enough nonstops from New York, and he said that changes March 1,” Gifford said.  

In addition to the broadcasts of the special Bahamas episodes, segments from the shows are still available for viewing online.

Hosts Hoda and Kathie Lee give conch a try. (Photos: Derek Smith/BIS)