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Bahamas
Summary: Already inhabited when Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492, the Bahamas are a large chain of islands adjacent to the US and Cuba with a foundation of coral, with a few rolling hills on some of the islands. Tourism, investment management, and banking and finance are the main contributors to the economy. As some of the islands are uninhabited, drugs and immigrants occasionally use the islands as a stopping point on their journey.
Capital: Nassau
Time Zone: UTC-5
Population: 307,451
Languages: English, Creole
Power: 120 V, 60 Hz
Currency: Bahamian dollar
- Currently 1 BSD = 1.0000 USD $
Climate: The Bahamas have a tropical marine climate moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream and are subject to tropical storms during the fall months of September and October, along with the rest of the Caribbean region.
- Currently 75º, Fair
Recent Headlines:
WR Devard Darling is Giving Bahamian Youth an NFL Experience - Kansas City Chiefs - Jul 07 9:27 AM
KEEPIN' IT REAL - New York Post - Jul 07 3:24 AM
Currently, many kids share book - Cape Coral Daily Breeze - 47 minutes ago
City charter school system sends textbooks to schools in Bahamas - Cape Coral Daily Breeze - 49 minutes ago
Ships in Port - Beaumont Enterprise - Jul 06 9:48 AM
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 Nassau: On New Providence Island, Nassau is the capital of the 700 islands that make up the Bahamian chain. More than just its nightlife of bars and casinos and its daytime shopping in the boutiques on Bay Street, you should see the Water Tower, which has a fantastic view of the island. Not too far from Nassau, there are even more sights to see like the underwater park on Coral Island, the 1789 Fort Charlotte with renovated dungeons and chambers, and Fort Fincastle, with the famous 66 steps of the Queen's Staircase with a step carved for each year of Queen Victoria's reign. |
 Grand Bahama: Grand Bahama is the third largest island in the chain, but one of the most popular for snow birds from Canada and the US. Freeport and nearby Lucaya are the most developed part of the island, with sights like the Grand Bahama Museum in the middle of the Garden of the Groves, casinos, shopping and white sandy beaches. Off the coast of Lucaya, dive and explore the Treasure Reef, and see some of the beautiful fish. |
 Bimini: Bimini is mostly flat, comprised of two islands and Alice Town is the main settlement here, but most visitors come for the water. From fishing and dolphin watching, stick your head under the water to see two of the world's most famous underwater landmarks: the Bimini Wall, a sudden drop of over 4000 feet in the ocean floor, and Bimini Road, a tight collection of massive stones that forms a straight line heading from the shore into the ocean and has been debated as either proof of the lost city of Atlantis or that Chinese junks sailed these waters decades before Columbus. Of course, you can always just head to the Ernest Hemingway museum, who lived here around 1930. |
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Golf: There are nine championship-caliber 18 hole golf courses on the islands, with the best on the island of Eleuthera - the Cotton Bay Club.
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Rawson Square: Tours of Paradise Island can be arranged in Nassau, and most leave from this square, so take a look ahead of time so you know the area well.
Yachting: The Exumas are loved by the yachting set. There are regattas nearly year-round in the Bahamas, from world-class competitions to local races for fun and sport, and kayakers will also poke their heads around parts of the coastline that are otherwise unreachable.
When To Visit: The weather is nice year-round, with August to October being hurricane season. Since December to April are the high tourist season, prices are coincidentally higher, but you'll miss the parades of Junkanoo during the last week of December if you skip it, otherwise the Caribbean Muzik Fest during the last week of May or first week of June can be a great time to enjoy a diversion.
Food: As with many tropical islands, much of the local cuisine revolves around the sea, including conch, crab, and snapper. The Bahama Mama island drink gives a pretty nice kick.
Tipping: Service charges normally are not included in the bill, but check, and follow standard tipping rules of 10% - 15% for good service.
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