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Fifty-five miles east of Miami, GRAND BAHAMA looks from the air to
be a flat, dry slab of bleached limestone bristling with tall, thin
pine trees and edged by a ribbon of powdery white sand and multihued
bands of blue-green water. Accessible by daily ferry service and
direct flights from several major American cities, the island
is ninety-six miles long and seventeen miles wide, and has a range
of appealing features: gorgeous white beaches , aquamarine seas ,
and an exotic profusion of lush coral reefs and undersea gardens.
The island's interior landscape is as stark and rugged as its
coastline is colorful and brilliant, with seemingly barren forests
revealed up close to be teeming with life - home to numerous species
of birds, lizards, plants and trees. Although the sun-dappled stands
of pine, with an under storey of emerald-green thatch palm, are
accessible on old logging roads that may be explored on foot or
mountain bike, the rest of the interior is a vast monotony of
unkempt bush and swamp that is decidedly less picturesque.
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Despite the natural surroundings, most of the half-million annual
visitors to Grand Bahama rarely stray far from the urban conglomeration
of Freeport - located three miles inland from the south coast - and its
seaside suburb Lucaya, which together are home to most of the island's
47,000 residents. Not surprisingly, the local economy is geared almost
entirely to the tourist trade. Here, you can golf, gamble or just relax
poolside at any number of all-inclusive resorts.
Outside the city, between Pelican Point and Sweeting's Cay, there are
seven oceanic blue holes to entice divers and snorkelers. East of
Freeport, the Lucayan National Park encompasses walking trails,
limestone caves and mangrove creeks that can be explored by kayak. West
of Freeport, Deadman's Reef offers lush snorkeling opportunities
accessible from the powdery white beach at Paradise Cove.
Bahamas information
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Grand Bahama
Grand
Bahama
Arrival
Brief
history
Information
Getting
around
Boat
excursions
 Diving
& snorkeling
Other
outdoor
activities
Exploring Grand
Bahama
Freeport
/ Lucaya
Long Island
Long
Island
Arrival
and transport
Getting
around
Eating
New Providence
New
Providence &
Paradise
Island
Arrival,
transport.
Practicalities
Exploring New
Providence
Nassau
Nassau
Getting
around
Eating
& drinking
Nightlife
Diving,
aquatic
sports
Explore Nassau
Cable Beach
Hillside area
& west
Historic Nassau
 Cruises
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