IT’S BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS

BAHAMAS,"700 ISLANDS"

BY CLAY LARROY

The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. I think that some of the best destinations in the world are located in the Caribbean. So I am continuing my tour across around the Caribbean Islands. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Things to see and do in Bahamas

Andros

Revel in the natural creeks, bird-filled forests, thick mangroves, and pastel-coloured coral on unexplored Andros - the world's third-longest barrier reef, set amongst the Out Islands.

Beaches

The pale pink sands of Harbour Island are a sight to behold, while the powder-fine alabaster beaches of Paradise Island are home to soaring seabirds and gently rustling palms.

Blue Lagoon Island

At Blue Lagoon Island you can interact with sea-lions displaced by Hurricane Katrina and frolic with bottle-nosed dolphins in waist-high pools - many played starring roles in the movie Flipper. Whilst dolphin shows in much of the Caribbean have notoriously dubious ecological credentials, this experience is a class above: it’s interaction, rather than getting dolphins to perform.

Columbus' landing spot

Stand in Columbus' first 'New World' landing place near Cockburn Town on San Salvador, home to 40,000 Lucayans at the time of his 15th-century arrival and now a prime scuba-diving spot.

Eleuthera's colonial charm

Eleuthera – the jewel of the Out Islands - is where the first colony on the Bahamas was established and wandering the streets of the charming colonial villages and rolling pineapple plantations is certainly a scenic trip back in time. There are some memorable seafood restaurants to sample, too.

Fishing in the Abacos Islands

Ok, so fishing is possible almost anywhere in the Bahamas, but the Abacos have cultivated a reputation as the angler's choice port of call. It's not just the several annual world-class fishing tournaments here, but also the top-quality professional guides (like the incomparable Edward Rolle, with twenty years' experience) to show you tricks of the trade. Besides the Abacos, there's also Andros, the "bone-fishing capital of the world" and Bimini, dubbed "big-game fishing capital of the world." Meanwhile, at 1,800m (6,000ft) the fertile deep water trench dubbed Tongue of the Ocean is a prime deep-water spot for a major haul.

Golf

The islands have some memorable golf courses. Perhaps the prettiest course, at Cable Beach, is also the oldest. Take advantage of the twilight green fees to get a cheap round in on the beautifully-kept fairways. There are five other world-class courses on Grand Bahama Island to choose from. Exuma's Emerald Reef course (www.thereefexumas.com) was designed by golfer Greg Norman, while the Abaco Club (www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Abaco/Golf)boasts a Scottish links-style course.

Grand Bahama Island

Outside fancy Freeport and Lucaya with their wide tree-lined streets, restaurants and cruise port facilities, the smaller settlements of Grand Bahama are surprisingly low-key, and among the friendliest places in the country to boot. Towns like McLean's Town and Eight Mile Rock are fabulous places to get to grips with real Bahamian culture.

Inagua

Inagua, the two islands making up the southern-most part of the Bahamas archipelago, is an eco-lovers paradise, with much of Great Inagua being taken up by a large body of water, Lake Windsor. This is an internationally important bird reserve with an 80,000-strong population of West Indian flamingoes (nesting time is April/May) as well as several fascinating endemic bird species. Besides the birds, there's limestone caves to explore and great scuba diving.

Junkanoo festivities

This is the nation’s number one party: street processions and dance bands fill the streets, along with a lively party crowd, at the Bahamian Junkanoo festivities on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The event follows the pattern of the Caribbean carnival, with revelers in elaborate costumes made from crepe paper and cardboard wheeling through the streets. Nassau’s Junkanoo is the liveliest, but there are other processions in Eleuthera, the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island. There are also Junkanoo summer festivities - see Events. (www.bahamassummerjunkanoo.co.uk)

Long Island

An expansive, soft, stretch of sand, as its name suggests, Long Island is 130km (80 miles) in length but easily navigable at rarely more than 6km (4 miles) wide.

Lucayan National Park

This 40-acre protected reserve on Grand Bahama secretes one of the world's longest underwater cave systems, and with it its own unique wildlife (such as the Remipedia bat) – incredible given the diminutive size of the park. A great way to see the park highlights is to kayak through: much of it is made up of navigable waterways.

Meet the locals

The Bahamas' People-to-People scheme (www.bahamas.co.uk) helps you learn about the cultures, music and oratory traditions of the islanders. You'll be paired with Bahamian locals of a similar age to enjoy rocking-chair tales, church meetings, family lunches, local bands or just plain out-fashioned sip-sip (local gossip).

Mount Alvernia, Cat Island

Climb to the highest point in the Bahamas on Cat Island's Mount Alvernia, 63m (206 ft) above sea level. Straddling the summit is a photogenic medieval-style monastery, a labour of love by one father Jerome, who had the steps carved out of solid rock. It's one of the best viewpoints on the Bahamas too, and a great spot to get away from it all. With its high cliffs and emerald forests there's plenty more opportunities for solitude-seeking on Cat Island too.

Nassau Old Town

Explore the 18th-century forts and pastel-coloured Georgian architecture of Bahamian capital Nassau on New Providence Island – on foot or, better still, by Surrey, a kind of horse-drawn cart. Climb the 18th century Queen's Staircase, carved out of solid rock, for superb panoramas of the city. For more fascinating history and culture, check out the Pompey Museum and its fine collection of island artefacts and exhibits.

Rum cocktails

There are few pleasures in life as simple as sipping rum-laden cocktails (a Bahama Mama is an essential experience) on Abaco Beach at sundown, watching the golden sky turn a dramatic pink-crimson. To add to the magic, fairy-lights illuminate the shore as dozens of boats gently bob out in the harbour.

Sailing

The picture-perfect pristine cays and spectacular reefs of the Exumas archipelago are perfect for a leisurely sail. There's also an upscale boating scene in the marinas, bays and regattas of Nassau/Paradise Island to enjoy.

Shopping in Nassau

Dozens of colourful stalls at Nassau's bustling straw market produce a melee of crowds bartering over local goods. You can join them, or, for a sophisticated shop, splash some cash in the swish stores at Bay Street, a haven of designer brands.

Wreck-diving and scuba-diving off the Abacos

Amongst the wrecks strewn off the coast of the Abacos lies America's first steamship, the San Jacinto. Some of the best dive instructors in the Bahamas are on hand in the Abacos to make your dive experience first class. There are also the stone ruins off Bimini, said to be the remains of the lost city of Atlantis, to explore. The underwater preserve of Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park are also open to divers.

 REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/blog/index.php/destination-guides/

“... everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world.”

― Guy Gavriel Kay

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!