Overview
Bahamian tour guides will tell you that it doesn’t snow on their Caribbean island chain. You can swim and sunbathe 365 days a year. Conveniently located off the coast of Florida, you won’t have to travel too far either. Quench your thirst with a tropical frozen drink sipped from a coconut cup – fashioned before you with a machete below a coconut palm – as you decide how to relax. Located on the fourth largest island, Freeport gives you access to miles of white sandy beaches. You can cave dive, explore the shoreline from a banana boat, snorkel in coral reefs, spot fish from a glass bottom boat, go deep sea fishing or explore one of three national parks on the island.
Hop on a taxi van and take the left side of the road to Port Lucaya, the place to be for dining, shopping and entertainment. Here, everyone is a “pretty lady,” and you’ll be advised that it doesn’t “cost to look” at the locally run straw market. Come ready to barter with American bills for straw hats, sun dresses, jewelry, wood carvings and a slew of Bahamian souvenirs. Designer clothing stores line the streets too. Caribbean restaurants and bars offer conch salad, seafood and $1 shots, in addition to a wide range of cold tropical drinks. As mid-afternoon hits, take refuge in the cold air conditioning of the island’s only casino as you try your luck at cards.
Make sure you earn some bragging rights during your stay. Lucayan National Park has one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems, not to mention was the setting for Pirates of the Caribbean II and III. Parasailing is a thrilling experience, and booze cruises certainly help you forget about life back home. If you’re just looking for a party, Señor Frogs knows how to throw one for you and your new friends, complete with yummy food, endless drinks, hilarious karaoke and spontaneous games. Craving adventure? Ask about diving in abandoned shipwrecks or with sharks or dolphins. For a quiet morning, stroll through the gorgeous Garden of the Groves. And before you return home, eat with the locals at a laidback fish fry.