By J.C. Lewis
The Bahamas consists of over 2,000 island, rocks and cays in the Atlantic Ocean, north of the
Caribbean. It hosts a tropical climate, miles of sandy
beaches and coves, tropical waters abundant with marine life, and historical gardens and architecture to explore. It's a tourist's paradise. Whether the larger, more developed islands and towns like Nassau, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama or the more remote, secluded "Outer Islands" appeal to you, there is as much or as little activity to suit any vacationer. It's all within beautiful, lush and scenic surroundings.
Climate and Geography
All the islands of The Bahamas are low and flat, with the highest point in the nation only 210 feet above sea level. The landscape is dominated by coastal sandy beaches, tropical vegetation and rugged caves. Temperatures range throughout the year between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit with trade winds consistently cooling the air. The Bahamas experience a hurricane season from June to November, and there's a rainy season from May until October.
Nassau & Paradise Island
Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas and the biggest city, located on New Providence Island. The city features colonial architecture and historical government buildings, botanical gardens and national parks filled with native birds, mammals and reptiles. In December and January Nassau hosts Junkanoo, a day-long carnival of music, parades and other colorful festivities. Nassau is connected by two bridges to Paradise Island, dominated by the large Atlantis Hotel. The hotel features a large park with water rides and slides as well as a series of aquariums.
Grand Bahama Island
The island of Grand Bahama is a hub for cruise ships and is home to many luxury resorts. Activities on Grand Bahama revolve mainly around the ocean and beaches, with one of the biggest underwater cave complexes in the world, coral reefs and shipwrecks making this an ideal location for diving enthusiasts. Marine life includes corals, sponges and thousands of tropical fish species. As one of the more developed islands, Grand Bahama provides plentiful amenities for tourists, including organized excursions and equipment rentals for diving, snorkeling, fishing and water sports. On the land, Grand Bahama is home to 18 of 28 species of native birds with Rand Nature Center offering nature-lovers the chance to see such birds as the endangered Bahaman Parrot.
The Out Islands
The "Out Islands" of the Bahamas are less developed but still very welcoming to tourists looking for a more secluded location. They include Bimini, whose two main islands were made famous by one-time resident Ernest Hemingway and have some of the best big game fishing in the world. The largest Out Island, Andros, boasts the third longest barrier reef in the world and is well known for bone fishing. The secluded Berry Islands consist of 30 cays with only around 12 square miles of land, attracting divers and snorkelers and those looking for isolation. Harbor Island is home to "Devil's Backbone" a dive site featuring dozens of wrecks. Naturalists will love the island of Great Inagua, where ecotourism has been embraced and tourists can visit The Inagua National Park, home to over 80,000 flamingos and other tropical birds.
About the Author:
J.C. Lewis is the editor and co-owner of a weekly newspaper, as well as a staffer and regular contributor to a group of three newspapers in Los Angeles, Calif. Her writing has appeared on USAToday.com, Hotels.com and various other websites. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
