Sightseeing in the Bahamas Top Caribbean Islands for Snorkeling Fun Stuff to Do in the Bahamas The Bahamas, a collection of several islands off the southeastern coast of Florida, is an attractive vacation option for Americans due to its tropical climate, pristine beaches, and close proximity to the States. Finding something fun and interesting to do is easy, whether you enjoy active sports or secluded walks along the beach.

Visiting Beaches

Beaches are synonymous with the Bahamas, and many visitors come specifically to enjoy them. Nassau’s Cable Beach is the longest of the islands, stretching approximately four miles down the coast. It sports several island resorts and an active nightlife, including the Crystal Palace Casino (wyndham.com).

Harbour Island offers a more remote, secluded area covered in pale pink sand. Listed as one of the “World’s Best Beaches” by the Travel Channel in 2005, some of the pink beaches reach over three miles long.

Fishing and Fishing Tournaments

The bahamas is a virtual angler’s paradise, where you can fish for big game from chartered boats just as easily as grabbing your own fishing rod and picking up reef fish at the nearest pier. Many charter services embark from Nassau ports, given the island’s high volume of tourist traffic, and some specialize in a specific type of fish or offer a service that sets them apart; for example, Born Free Charters (bornfreefishing.com) specializes in shark fishing and only charges for its full-day service if you catch something on your trip.

If you time your trip from April through early June you can join in the Bahamas Billfish Championship (bahamasbillfish.com); one of the longest running tournaments in the area, it began in 1973 and encompasses four islands: Guana Cay, Harbor Island, Treasure Cay and Marsh Harbor.

Shipwreck Diving

Adventurous snorkelers and scuba divers can visit shipwrecks that have turned into a haven for native fish and marine life. The Sapona, a ship that lasted through both World Wars, still sits off the coast of Bimini in roughly 15 feet of water. Its shallow waters invite casual divers and snorkelers, as does the Arimoroa shipwreck in Eleuthera. A 260-foot freighter, it caught fire in 1970 and now hosts large numbers of reef fish.

For deeper waters, try the San Jacinto steamship wreck in The Abacos. Having seen action in the Civil War, the ship once sat at 234 feet but is now on the ocean floor 40 feet underwater.

One of the biggest draws of shopping in the Bahamas, especially for luxury items, is the fact that much of it is duty-free. The shopping mall inside Atlantis Paradise Island Resort (atlantis.com) offers brand name clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics alongside the more traditional island tourist accoutrements. Shops connected to the mall rent out sports equipment, and provide lessons for a fee.

A more native industry is the Straw Market (nassaustrawmarket.com,) born in the islands after the collapse of the sponge market in the 1940s. The most well known of these markets is found on Bay Street in Nassau, but there are many such streets on several Bahamian islands where straw goods are sold.
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