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| Caribbean Property Magazine Home / February 2009 / 'Escape To The Bahamas ' | SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND  |
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FEBRUARY
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| ESCAPE TO THE BAHAMAS By Lulu Basuil Need to relax? Need an escape? If you’ve never been to the Bahamas, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. The Bahamas have some of the major tourist destinations in the world, and they offer a truly unique experience. Many people dream of a vacation in the Bahamas, whether they get there through business or pleasure. THE CLEAREST WATER ON THE PLANET – WITH A VISIBILITY OF OVER 200 FEET...AND THE WORLD’S THIRD LARGEST BARRIER REEF The Bahamas is a tropical paradise made up of 700 islands sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of ocean. An ecological oasis featuring 2,000 breathtaking cays. An archipelago featuring the clearest water on the planet—with a visibility of over 200 feet, you can easily see your toes. And, the world’s third largest barrier reef. Your options are limited only by your imagination. The beaches are second to none, and strolling through the gentle wavelets where ocean meets land is an experience you won’t want to miss. If you like to sunbathe, there are tons of deserted (or relatively deserted) beaches. Grab a section of beach to yourself, and enjoy some sun! If you like to golf, there are several world-class golf courses located in the Bahamas. If you prefer gambling, there are several casinos that offer all sorts of sports betting, slot machines and table games to keep you busy for as long as you want to linger. The Bahamas is well known all around the world as one of the greatest travel destinations, and one of the main reasons is because of its pristine beaches and natural wonders. At the Bahamas, you can spend your vacation at the beach sipping tropical drinks or you could dive and discover the marine life that abounds near its shores. Whatever the reason, the Bahamas always offers a well deserved time for rest and relaxation…and escape! When to Go The Bahamas are blessed with beautiful sunny weather and relatively constant temperatures year-round. The high season for travel runs from the middle of December to mid-April, when people in the northern hemisphere try to escape the chilly temperatures back home. Airfares are highest during these months. Fares drop during the May to September period, called the ‘shoulder season’ in the industry, and you can get the best prices during the low season from October to mid-December. It is good to remember that flying on weekends ordinarily adds a few dollars to the fare. Top Ten Must See and Do List With that in mind here is your Top Ten Must See and Do List while visiting the paradise known as The Bahamas: 1.) Beaches in Bahamas 4.) Blue Lagoon Island 8.) The Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation MAIN ISLAND AND MAIN TOWNS NASSAU, NEW PROVIDENCE The capital city of The Bahamas is found on its 11th largest island, New Providence. Nassau’s history can be traced back to days of the legendary pirate Blackbeard. Its sheltered harbor, mansions, cathedrals and 18th-century fortresses have been beautifully preserved. Now if you only get to Nassau, and don’t have the opportunity to visit all of the experiences listed on the Top Ten “must see and dos” list, you need to at least ensure you get to the one’s offered in Nassau. Your Nassau must see and must do activities include: Paradise Island Once known as Hogg Island, Paradise Island is 685 acres of pure bliss connected to Nassau by two bridges. The island was developed almost exclusively to delight and entertain visitors. Bay Street Shops, pubs and cafes line Nassau’s historic Bay Street. Considered the city’s “Main Street”, it has maintained its historic feel while offering all the amenities our visitors’ desire. Duty Free shopping is the absolute must here... Blue Lagoon Island A relaxing 20-minute sail from Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has several programs that allow visitors to interact with dolphins. Meet these loving mammals from the edge of the water or get up close and personal right next to them in the ocean. Cable Beach Looking for some sand? Look no further than a few miles west of Nassau. There sits a two-and-a-half mile stretch of beach and beach life. Cable Beach is also home to the Crystal Palace Casino, as well as several luxury resorts, nightclubs and the Cable Beach golf course. GRAND BAHAMA Okay, let’s assume you’ve skipped some of the Out Islands and Nassau, so you can’t experience the entire Top Ten must see and do list…don’t worry because here on Grand Bahama Island you can see, do, explore and have the time of your life. GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND COMBINES A COSMOPOLITAN VACATION AT AN UPSCALE RESORT WITH THE CHARM OF A SMALL TOWN Grand Bahama Island combines a cosmopolitan vacation at an upscale resort with the charm of a small town. Most of the British influence is now hard to find but one can find all they want of that in the other main town of Nassau, New Providence. Here in Grand Bahama Island you’ll find one of the world's largest underwater cave systems, three national parks, endless beaches and crisp blue water with enchanting marine life. And, on Grand Bahama Island there is a plethora of both land-based and water-based treasures to explore. LAND BASED ACTIVITIES Birding For birdwatchers, the island is an absolute Mecca. It’s a place where nature lovers can see 18 of the 28 species of Bahamian birds that are not seen in the U.S., Canada or Europe. Rand Nature Center Most people come to the Rand Nature Center, only minutes from downtown Freeport, to see the variety of birds found there, including Antillean peewee birds, red-legged thrushes, stripe-headed tanagers, the endangered Bahama parrot and, occasionally, a Kirtland's warbler. Along the nature trail that winds through the park, at least 130 Bahamian plants have been identified, which are just as fascinating as the birds. The whiskbroom fern, for instance, is believed to have been the first plant in the world to stand upright. Many other species became very useful in the daily lives of early Grand Bahamians. Uniola, a springy grass, was used to stuff mattresses, the sharp-pointed agave leaves served as needles and threads and love vine is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Great Golfing The Lucayan Golf Course Well-bunkered greens and generous fairways wander through pine tree stands and dense tropical underbrush. Constant upgrades of the golf course and its facilities ensure the highest standards of golf. Tifdwarf grass creates a faster, truer putting surface.
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| The Reef Golf Course This 6,930-yard course showcases picturesque lakes on 13 of the 18 holes. Large, undulating greens and wide-winding fairways complete the experience on this unique links-style course. WATER BASED ACTIVITIES Whether it is exploring the beaches, diving, or fishing – you’ll find some amazing water based activities to enjoy in Grand Bahama Island. And as beaches go, Grand Bahama Island features two types - the “activity beach” and the “secluded beach.” Depending on what you are looking for you’ll never find a more captivating group of beaches anywhere on earth. Beaches Fortune Beach Fortune Beach, named for a shipwreck discovered there with goods worth over $2 million, is a quiet stretch of beach, five miles from the Port Lucaya Marketplace. Gold Rock Beach Part of the Lucayan National Park, this secluded beach is a must-see during low tide. Across the road are the Lucayan Caverns, the world's longest underground surveyed cave system. Lucayan Beach Across from the Port Lucaya Hotel, this popular tourist beach has just about every water-sport activity, from snorkeling to parasailing, but is also great just for a stroll. Mather Town Beach Mather Town Beach is about three miles from Port Lucaya. With limited water activities, it is a great beach for swimming, eating, drinking and hanging out with the locals. Paradise Cove Beach Fifteen miles from the International Bazaar in Freeport, Paradise Cove is tucked away on the southwestern shore of the island. This quiet, secluded beach offers great places for snorkeling as well as beach volleyball. There’s also direct access to Deadman's Reef, which has myriad of marine life. Smith's Point Beach Famous for its Wednesday night fish fry, Smith’s Point Beach is found, adjacent to Taino Beach in Lucaya. Taino Beach With limited water activity and a small playground, Taino Beach is ideal for families with children. During holidays the beach is the site of many local cook-outs. The annual Junkanoo Summer Festival is also held there. William's Town Beach In the center of the William's Town settlement lies William’s Town Beach. Water activities, such as banana boats, jet skis and snorkeling, can be found on the eastern side of the beach at Island Seas Resort. Xanadu Beach Xanadu Beach is a popular tourist beach, three miles from the International Bazaar, offering water sports, straw goods, and a variety of food and beverages. Diving Cave  Advanced divers will want to explore Ben's Cavern, a spectacular underwater sinkhole located in the Lucayan Caves National Park. Another amazing dive is The Cave, which is closed during the summer months. Other caverns include Devil's Face in Hawksbill Creek and Mermaid's Lair. Dolphin Grand Bahama Island is the only place where you can dive with dolphins in the wild. Through the Underwater Explorers' Society's (UNEXSO) "Dolphin Dive" program you'll get to hand-feed and interact with these amazing animals in their natural habitat. Reef Shallow, medium and deep are the three types of reef diving you’ll find off Grand Bahama Island. Depending on how far you want to go and what you want to see, you’ll find a large variety of sea creatures. Shark Shark Junction is home to one of the world's first and best shark encounters. This dive gives you a close encounter with the most beautiful large Caribbean reef sharks. If you’re interested in diving with sharks, there are also two highly rated feeding programs on the island. Wreck Explore Bahamian history by diving through the numerous shipwrecks in and around Grand Bahama Island, including “Theo’s Wreck,” a former 230-foot bulk cement carrier that was the first artificial reef created in The Islands Of The Bahamas. Fishing One of the world's best game fish – the bonefish – not only likes the waters of Grand Bahama Island, but is more at home here than anywhere else in the world. The flats off Deep Water Cay, in the east, are praised year after year by fishing writers from around the globe. Fly-fishing is quickly gaining popularity on Grand Bahama Island and throughout The Bahamas. The best time to go fishing is between April and September, though winter is good too. In addition to independent fishing guides, there are several water-sports companies, marinas and hotels that cater to fishing exclusively. Whether you want high octane adventure or just to lounge on the beach there are plenty of choices. You are sure to find exactly what you are looking for in a Bahamas vacation – it’s the ultimate escape. Author : Lulu Basuil is an environmentalist, avid diver, a lover of nature, and an educator by vocation. Born in Portugal, she considers herself a global citizen and spends as much time as possible traveling around the globe and writing of her travels and observations. |
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Floating Links In The Chain
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