What to Do on Vacation in the Bahamas
Vacation Sightseeing, Activities and Adventures
Helpful Info to Plan Your Vacation

Vacation in the Bahamas for the warm sunshine, crystal clear ocean, sandy beaches, and a rollicking good time. Enjoy water sports, swimming, snorkeling over a marine coral reef, underwater diving, and sailing. Take time to relax in a hammock rocking between two stately palm trees. In Nassau, discover the charming old-world attractions and duty-free shopping. Dine on delicious cuisine and fish so fresh it almost walks into the restaurant. Chill out with the local beverages. Here are great suggestions for what to do on your Bahama vacation. Welcome to the Bahamas.

All About Nassau and the Bahamas

The Bahamas, officially known as the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is an English-speaking country spread over 29 blissful islands. You'll find it just 50 nautical miles east of Florida, and north of Cuba. The population is about 330,000. Here you'll feel very welcome, because 80% of the people said they like having tourists on their island.

Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, sits on the northeast coast of the island of New Providence. Tourism and offshore banking are a big part of the Bahamian economy. The American dollar is accepted everywhere, and the Bahamian dollar is worth exactly $1.00 US. The country is politically stable. The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical all year round, thanks to the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream. Tourism is at its peak during high season from mid-December to mid-April, but if you come during the low season, mid-April to mid-December, prices are greatly reduced and the crowds thin out.

Quick History of the Bahama Islands

When Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World in 1492, he actually found the Bahamas, and landed on San Salvador Island. Then in 1648, English Puritans came from Bermuda to settle in the Bahamas. They named their island Eleuthera, which is Greek for "freedom." In 1670 King Charles II of England granted the islands to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas, who paid the king rent. The Bahamas were a haven for pirates like the infamous Blackbeard. In 1718, when the Bahamas became a British crown colony, civil order was restored. Governor Woodes Rogers is famous for driving the pirates out of the Bahamas. After the Duke of Windsor renounced the throne of England for love of Wallis Simpson, he served as Governor of the Bahamas during World War II.

The Bahamas became completely independent of Great Britain in 1973. Now the Bahamas is a sovereign nation, with a Constitution to protect individual rights. The government is organized on the English system, with the prime minister and the cabinet in the executive branch, and a parliament to legislate the laws.

Enjoy the Natural Beauty of the Bahamas

Practically the entire Bahama island shoreline is white or pinkish sand beaches. The islands are dotted with blue holes, water-filled circular pits that open to underground and submarine caves as deep as 600 feet.

Offshore, the coral reefs are home to many species of fish, bonito, stingrays, sharks, kingfish, jewelfish. Diving and snorkeling are very popular. Humpback whales and blue whales can be spotted out in the ocean.

Bird watchers will be rewarded with sights of the Bahama parrot, the Bahama swallow and the woodstar hummingbird. You are likely to encounter egrets and herons, Bahama pintails, ruddy ducks and Caribbean coots. Then feast your eyes on the beautiful ospreys and belted kingfishers. The national bird is the pink flamingo, which lives wild on some of the islands.

In this climate flowers thrive. You'll come across orchids, frangipani, bougainvillea, hibiscus, jacaranda, birds of paradise and ginger.

What To Do on Vacation in the Bahamas

Nassau, the capital of the Bahama Islands, has seen a lot of history since its days as a pirate hangout. The centuries-old mansions, cathedrals and fortresses are open for your visit. You might want to take a tour of Nassau by horse-drawn carriage, open jitney, sea plane, taxi, ferry boat or water taxi. Happy memories are the best vacation souvenir. Here are a few of the many things to see and do on your vacation in the Bahamas.

• Nassau has three eighteenth-century forts to visit. Fort Charlotte is the largest at 100 acres, and Fort Montagu, built in 1741, is the oldest. At Fort Fincastle, you can climb the Queen's Staircase of sixty-six steps. The steps, an important landmark in Nassau, were cut from solid rock by African slaves.
• Don't miss the Nassau Public Library, a former jail built in 1797. The dungeons are located underneath it.
• Bay Street is the main street in Nassau. The duty-free shops carry liquor, perfumes, jewelry and Cuban cigars.
• There are 18 acres of tropical flowers at the Botanical Gardens.
• Take time to enjoy the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, which has over 300 birds, mammals and reptiles. The trained marching flamingos will perform for visitors.
• Balcony House Museum is a wooden house dating from 1788, Nassau's oldest residence still standing.
• 
  Pirate Museum, Nassau
  Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation at Vendue House honors a courageous plantation slave named Pompey.
• The Bahamas Historical Society Museum and the Lighthouse Museum are also worth a visit.
• Children particularly enjoy the Pirate Museum, with animatronic pirates and a fun gift shop.
• The Primeval Forest National Park is a remarkable natural site to visit. This undisturbed hardwood forest features sinkholes and limestone caverns up to 50 feet long and over 30 feet deep.
• The Retreat Gardens has one of the largest private collection of rare and exotic palms in the world.
• Whatever your handicap, you'll be welcome at One&Only Ocean Club Golf Course or Cable Beach Golf Course.
• Junkanoo is the national festival of the Bahamas, a street parade of costumes, masks, music, dance, and art held after Christmas in Nassau and many other cities of the Bahamas.
• Nassau is a popular vacation destination for cruise ships; you'll see them docked at Prince George Wharf.
• 
  Swim with the Dolphins
  Everyone should swim with the dolphins at least once. Blue Lagoon Island, a 20-minute boat ride from Nassau, offers you the dolphin experience, with these friendly, gentle giants up close and personal.
• The other islands of the Bahamas are equally exquisite, and can be reached by air shuttle: Grand Bahamas, Treasure Cay, Elbow Cay, Great Exuma, Stocking Island, Thunderball grotto. Long Island is known for blue holes and deserted beaches. Take the Ferry ride to Harbour Island for the pink sandy beaches.
• Gaming is legal in the Bahamas. Atlantis Paradise Island Resort Casino and Crystal Palace Casino offer the widest selection in the Caribbean, roulette, poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, slots, and sports-book betting. A few miles west of Nassau is Cable Beach where you'll find Crystal Palace Casino, luxury resorts and nightclubs.
• The movies Pirates of the Caribbean II and III were partly filmed on Grand Bahama Island. The shell of Captain Sparrow's ship is still sitting at Gold Rock Creek.
• When you have a spare moment left over, visit a lighthouse, dance to Calypso music, root for the local soccer club, and chat with the locals.

What To Do on Paradise Island in the Bahamas

Paradise Island is connected to Nassau by two bridges. Sometimes called Las Vegas By The Sea, this Bahama island is the home of the glamorous Atlantis tourist resort. There are casinos, dining, shopping and lots of vacation activities. You and the family can enjoy a spectacular 63-acre water park called Aquaventure. Paradise Island also has an amazing underwater aquarium. The Seaworld Explorer is a submarine ride with windows that look down on the coral reefs of Sea Gardens Marine Park. Visitors have public access to two wonderful beaches on the island, along with Versailles Gardens and Cloisters, a real fourteenth-century cloister. Many movies were filmed on Paradise Island. At different times, Donald Trump, Merv Griffin, and Sol Kerzner have owned Paradise Island.

Food and Drinks on Vacation in the Bahamas

Try the local shellfish delicacy, conch, pronounced "konk." It is served many different ways, deep fried, fritters, conch chowder, scorched, or in a sandwich. Chicken, rice and pit-roasted pork are always popular. Many local meals include fried plantain and peas 'n' rice. Because the Bahamas were under English rule for a long time, traditional English foods like fish and chips, and steak and kidney pie can be had. You'll find lots of familiar American food, too. Delicious tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, banana, guava and mango are served in a salad or a drink. The Caribbean is famous for its local rum and the fruity rum drink, goombay smash. Cuban cigars are available here, but of course you can't bring them into the U.S. when you return.

Vacation Water Sports in the Bahamas

With water temperatures averaging about 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, swimming and other vacation water sports are very popular. You can canoe on Lake Nancy, or travel the open water on jet ski, kite board, para sail, or kayak.

Boating and sailing in the blue waters around the Bahama Islands is a grand experience. Boat rentals are available, either bare-boat or with a full crew and caterer.

Did you know that 50 world catch records have been set by fishermen and women in Bahama waters? Charter a boat to go deep-sea fishing, or fish from the pier or on the beach.

Snorkeling and Diving in the Bahamas

Snorkeling and diving are rewarding experiences in the Bahamas. The warm water teems with marine life. Divers are in for the time of their lives. Nassau is famous for cave diving at the Lost Blue Hole, with its sharks and stingrays. There is also reef diving at the Fish Hotel and Barracuda Shoals. Because of its pirate history, Nassau has many sunken wrecks to explore. The Graveyard has the remains of four sunken freighters, including two oil tankers. Tears of Allah is the wreck of a freighter in 40-foot water. Shark Wall has Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks and bull sharks among the sponges.

I hope life brings you much success.
I wish you a very happy day.

>> Please Return to the Top

Return to the best cheap vacation holiday travel guide