Places to Stay in Bahamas

Nassau

Nassau, the nation's capital, is steeped in modern American ways but has an undeniable quasi-Caribbean flavor. It exudes a special charm, imparted by a blend of Old World architecture and contemporary vitality. It's a far cry from the rustic and rowdy village once favored by pirates. The center of touristic affairs is the waterfront, a beehive of activity when the ships disgorge their hordes. The historic downtown has many well-preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings. Parliament Square is surrounded by the country's major government buildings.

You can get a taste of the darker side of the city's past by visiting the Historical Library and Museum, an 18th-century building with an underground dungeon, model ships and a museum of Lucayan Indian history. Tropical plant fanciers can browse over 300 species at the lush Royal Victoria Garden. The heart of the shopping district is Bay Street, where you can shop at the largest straw market in the world. The Queen's Staircase, dating from the late 18th century, was built by over 500 slaves who labored for 16 years to carve a gorge-like roadway through the limestone ridge south of downtown Nassau until abandoning it, unfinished, with the abolition of slavery in 1834.

Andros

Andros is a rough-edged, wild place, covered with vast swathes of palm savannas, eerie forests of mahogany, pine and palmettos and a huge mangrove wetlands. The primeval forest is so imposing that islanders swear they're inhabited by little red-eyed elves called chickcharneys who prey on those hapless enough to disturb them. The eastern shore has few outposts of civilization: scruffy shacks surrounded by rusty cars and discarded refrigerators are a common sight.

Andros is not geared for tourism; apart from those who come to dive the world's third-longest barrier reef, birdwatchers and beachbums are the most frequent visitors. There are some colorful, down-at-heels places on the islands, including a town with a dolphin mascot that returns each season, a dilapidated lighthouse, and Somerset Beach, a gem at low tide. Red Bay, at the northwestern tip of North Andros, is inhabited by descendants of Seminole Indians who are famous for their beautiful basketry.

Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama is the second most popular destination in the Bahamas - meaning that its largely overrun with North American snowbirds and its attractions are geared appropriately. Unless you come for the smattering of natural attractions, you'd better be sure that gambling, duty-free shopping and beach lounging are your thing. Luckily, the island's few natural assets are worth the trip: sugar-white beaches, thick forests of Cuban pine and abundant wildlife.

The island's largest town, Freeport, is a modern, planned affair with little charm and less that's authentically Bahamian. Located on the western end of the southern shore, Freeport is home to the Rand Memorial Nature Centre, which boasts excellent horticultural displays and nature trails, and the Garden of the Groves, a lush Eden filled with 5000 species of exotic plants and shrubs from around the world. The Gardens also contain the Grand Bahama Museum, dedicated to the history of the island from the time of the Lucayans. Peterson Cay National Park, just east and offshore from Freeport, is a heavily used getaway spot popular with locals; but it's a beautiful spot all the same, with splendid diving and snorkeling. You can hire a boat at any Freeport marina.