Approximately 700 islands, spread over nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, constitute The Bahamas. The term Out Islands (or Family Islands) refer to all of the islands except New Providence, home to Nassau and Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama, home to Freeport/Lucaya. There are flights to all of the island centers from Nassau. It’s also possible to charter a plane, take a high-speed catamaran ferry, or hop aboard a chartered sailboat or motorboat.
Bahamas
Home to the Bahamas capital of Nassau and the resort development of Paradise Island, New Providence Island is the most visited Bahamian island, thanks to its international airport and busy cruise ship dock. Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island is a popular destination offering excellent golf courses including ones designed by Dick Wilson, Joe Lee and Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Grand Bahama Island is the headquarters of UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society, providing numerous scuba opportunities. The Lucayan National Park offers such birds as flamingos, red legged thrushes and the rare Bahama parrot. The largest of the Bahamas’ islands, Andros, boasts freshwater creeks, lakes, mangrove swamps, and miles of unspoilt beaches. The island boasts the second-largest reef in the Western Hemisphere, and fishing for bonefish is the island’s biggest tourist industry. The Berry Islands, home to Chub Cay and the Billfish capital of The Bahamas. Bimini is a popular destination for first-rate big-game fishing. Inagua is home to more than 80,000 flamingos and other exotic birds. Long Island is known for broad beaches on its west coast and rocky cliffs on the east.
Cat Island’s deserted beaches make for a total getaway. The Abacos and their string of cays are known for their sheltered waters and easy boating. The Exumas have a lot to offer both above and below the surface of the water. At the north end lies the astounding Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Great Exuma, in the south, is home to lodgings and restaurants and Stocking Island, with its untouched beaches separated by towering, rocky cliffs. Eleuthera is 100 miles long but just a few yards wide at some points. At the Glass Window Bridge, you can see the Bahama Bank on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Harbour Island offers good snorkeling and fishing on the bayside and is famous for a 3 mile pink sand beach.
AIRPORT/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:
Airport: Lynden Pindling International Airport. To Cable Beach – 10 minutes. To Downtown Nassau – 20 minutes. To Paradise Island – 30 minutes. Grand Bahama International Airport – to downtown – 5 minutes. To International Bazaar – 10 minutes. By Sea: Discovery Cruise Line – Operates a daily service between Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Grand Bahama Island. Imperial Majesty Cruise Line’s Regal Empress sails every two days between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau.
Gateways/Flying Times: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly from Gatwick to Nassau (NAS). American Airlines, Continental, Delta and United all fly from the UK to Nassau via the US. to Nassau from London: 8 hours, Miami: 35 minutes, New York: 2.5 hours.
CLIMATE:
Average temperature – Summer: High 90, Low 78. Winter : High 75, Low 60. Average humidity 78. Average rainfall – Rain showers occur any time of the year, but rainy months are from May to October. Approximate sunrise – Summer: 0630 – 0700. Winter: 0630 – 0700. Approximate sunset – Summer: 2000. Winter: 1730.
DINING:
Restaurants available – Local. American. Fast Food. Gourmet. Continental. French. Italian. Chinese. Japanese. Polynesian. Mexican. Caribbean. French. Greek. Mediterranean. Seafood. 15% service charge is usually added. Dress code is casual. Some restaurants may require slightly more formal attire.
NIGHTLIFE:
Entertainment available includes – Nightclubs. Discos. Casinos. Cabarets. Theatre. Cinema. Live music. Native shows.
SIGHTSEEING:
Abaco: Hope Town Light House. Wyannie Malone Museum. Albert Lowe Museum. Memorial Sculpture Garden. Exuma: Exuma Land and Sea Park. Stocking Island. Plantation ruins. Underwater caves. Eleuthera: Preacher’s Cave. Glass Window Bridge Ocean Hole. Harbour Island: Pink sand beaches. Grand Bahama: International Bazaar. Glass-bottom Boat. Port Lucaya. UNEXSO Dive Centre: The Dolphin Experience. Lucayan National Park. East End Adventures. Kayak tours. Nassau: Straw Market. Bay Street. Pompey Museum. Pirates of Nassau. Horse and carriage rides. Government House. Historical Forts. Ardastra Gardens. The Fish Fry At Arawak Cay. Queen’s Staircase. Water Tower. Walking Tours. Discover Atlantis.
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