| For tropical vacations, the Bahamas are legendary. | | | | Hemingway and Zane Grey, is all about fishing, fishing, |
| And with good reason. Even as one of the smallest | | | | and fishing. It comprises two distinct islands, with a |
| countries in the world, the Bahamas archipelago, with | | | | combined land mass of less than 10 square miles, and |
| its approximately 700 tiny islands and 2,000 tinier | | | | a population of around 1,600, most of whom live in |
| islets, offers a broad spectrum of topography, | | | | Bailey Town in North Bimini. However, Alice Town, |
| facilities and recreational opportunities, and gorgeous, | | | | the other Bimini population center, is the primary |
| pristine beaches besides. There are nearly 30 | | | | tourist hub, with all the hotels, restaurants and fishing |
| inhabited islands here, and of those more than a | | | | charter companies located there. Most visitors go to |
| dozen hold tourist interest. | | | | Bimini to fish, and the island, besides, is the locale of |
| So, for those visiting the Bahamas for the first time, | | | | more than 20 well-known fishing tournaments. |
| or even those revisiting, here are the 'Top 10' islands | | | | 6. Eleuthera |
| in the archipelago, which are also the ones most | | | | Eleuthera, which is perhaps the longest of the |
| easily accessible to visitors. | | | | Bahamian islands, more than 110 miles long, and which |
| 1. New Providence | | | | lies 60 miles west of Nassau, is the playground of the |
| New Providence is the principal island in the Bahamas. | | | | rich and famous. It is consequently also one of the |
| It is by far the most populous, most popular, and | | | | most accessible of the Bahamas islands, with daily |
| literally a magnet for vacationers, particularly | | | | flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Nassau. The |
| Americans. On it is located Nassau, the largest and | | | | island has a population of 10,800, and its principal |
| best known Bahamian city, which claims more than | | | | towns are Spanish Wells, the wealthiest colony in the |
| 175,000 people and over 400 banks (oh, did we | | | | Bahamas; Harbour Island, a resort island with clear |
| mention that the Bahamas is a tax haven? No? Well, | | | | water and a pink-tinged beach; Gregory Town, the |
| it is!)! Accommodations, dining choices and other | | | | locale of the island's Pineapple Festival; Governor's |
| visitor facilities are plentiful here, as are other real | | | | Harbour, a typical tropical town with history and |
| time tourist attractions. Besides its history-laden | | | | charm; and Tarpum Bay, an artists' community |
| narrow streets and British-era forts, the chief draws | | | | where, among others, artists Mal Flanders, an |
| here are the Atlantis International Resort and Casino | | | | American, and MacMillan Hughes, a Scotsman, went |
| and the Queen's Staircase, the latter a 65-step stone | | | | to paint the scenery. |
| stairway, representing one step for each year of | | | | 7. The Exumas |
| Queen Victoria's rule, which climbs 102 feet to Fort | | | | Situated 35 miles east of New Providence, the |
| Fincastle. Popular activities include swimming, | | | | Exumas comprise a chain of roughly 350 islands and |
| snorkeling, windsurfing, parasailing, diving, sport fishing, | | | | cays, strung out along some 95 miles of open ocean, |
| walking and bicycling. | | | | all the way down to Long Island. There are about |
| 2. Grand Bahama | | | | 3,500 inhabitants in the Exumas, the majority of |
| Grand Bahama is the fourth largest island in the | | | | whom live on Greater Exuma and Little Exuma, |
| Bahamas. A travel brochure for the island describes it | | | | located in the southern part of the island chain, in the |
| as "cosmopolitan glitz and glamour, coupled with miles | | | | principal population centers of George Town and |
| of pristine beaches and endless turquoise seas." And | | | | Williams Town, respectively. The Exumas are also |
| that really sums it up. The island has a dozen or so | | | | well connected via daily flights to both Miami and |
| good hotels, several excellent waterfront restaurants, | | | | Nassau. Boating, fishing, beachcombing and swimming |
| outstanding shopping venues, two casinos, and miles | | | | are the main pursuits here, with good, modern |
| and miles of sandy beaches. The main city here is | | | | amenities for vacationers. |
| Freeport, which is the second largest and most | | | | 8. Cat Island |
| modern in the Bahamas, with a population of 50,000. | | | | For sheer natural beauty and solitude, Cat Island is |
| The big draw on the island is the Lucayan National | | | | the pick of the bunch. A 50-square-mile island, it |
| Park, an environmental happening of sorts. | | | | offers a tranquil retreat with rolling hills, lush green |
| 3. The Abacos | | | | forests and vast expanses of windswept beaches. |
| The Abacos, or just Abaco, is a cluster of tiny | | | | There are few creature comforts here, and visitor |
| islands, islets and outcroppings that forms a | | | | activities typically center around swimming, hiking and |
| 100-mile-long archipelago of its own. This is the | | | | poking through the ruins of the old, Colonial |
| second largest such island group in the Bahamas, and | | | | plantations. Sights on the island include the Hermitage, |
| the most visited among the Bahamian 'Out Islands'. | | | | a miniature, hand-built abbey on Mount Alverina, the |
| Its capital city, Marsh Harbour, which is really a | | | | highest point on the island at 206 feet; and the ruins |
| one-stop-light town, is the third largest in the | | | | of the Deveaux Plantation at Port Howe, a veritable |
| Bahamas. There are other quaint towns and villages | | | | slice of local history in a spectacular setting. |
| on the other Abacos islands as well, with | | | | 9. The Inaguas |
| pastel-colored clapboard houses, sun-drenched | | | | The third largest, remotest and most southerly in the |
| beaches, abundant tropical flora, quiet country lanes, | | | | Bahamas chain, the Inaguas are also the most |
| and more than 50 species of wild tropical birds. | | | | sparsely populated. There are fewer than 1,200 |
| Recreation in the Abacos includes all the | | | | inhabitants here, all of them on Great Inagua, with |
| warm-weather outdoor sports you can think of, while | | | | Little Inagua, just to the north, uninhabited. And while |
| the amenities here can be described as modern. | | | | the Inaguas are hardly a top choice for tourists, the |
| 4. Andros | | | | few who do venture this far south are well |
| Andros is by far the largest island in the Bahamas, | | | | rewarded with miles and miles of unspoiled rocky |
| 104 miles long and 40 miles wide, located just north | | | | shorelines and more wildlife than on any of the other |
| of the Abacos, with an island-wide population of | | | | islands. Walking, bicycling, fishing and bird-watching are |
| 8,000. There are three main towns on Andros, | | | | the order of the day. Besides which, two places of |
| Nicholl's Town, Fresh Creek and Kemp's Bay, all of | | | | particular interest here are the Inagua National Park, |
| them accessible by boat or direct flights from either | | | | with its 280 miles of rocky shoreline, inland waters, |
| Miami or Nassau. There are good visitor facilities here, | | | | saltwater flats, shrubland and jungle, populated with |
| including a wide selection of accommodations, ranging | | | | its famous flamingos and over 200 other species of |
| from full-fledged resorts to neat little guest houses. | | | | birds; and the picturesque Matthew Town Lighthouse, |
| The island is particularly popular with divers. | | | | standing at the southern tip of the Inaguas like a lone |
| 5. Bimini | | | | sentinel. |
| Bimini, just a stone's throw from Florida (okay, 50 | | | | 10. |
| miles) and made famous by the likes of Ernest | | | | |