T H E I S L A N D S
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THE ABACOS
ACKLINS/
CROOKED ISLAND
ANDROS
BERRY ISLANDS
THE BIMINIS
CAT ISLAND
ELEUTHERA
EXUMAS
GRAND BAHAMA
INAGUA
LONG ISLAND
MAYAGUANA
NASSAU/
PARADISE ISLAND
SAN SALVADOR |
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LOCAL
ATTRACTIONS
Nassau:
The Bahamian capital is a city rich
in beauty, history, and personality. Since its founding
in 1656, and through the ages of colonialism, piracy,
rum-smuggling, and now tourism, it has always been the
center of color and culture in the islands. The stories
that lurk in its narrow, flowery streets and within the
walls of its old forts are among the most legendary and
region-defining tales in the Caribbean.
Nassau's harbor is a major
port-of-call in the Caribbean. Hardly a day goes by when
a huge cruise ship doesn't breeze in and unload a shipful
of tourists. They flock to the powdery playgrounds of the
beaches, to the Bahamian markets, the discos and casinos.
If Nassau were a factory, its products would be
entertainment, relaxation, and fun.
Fort Charlotte:
Of all the forts in the Bahamas,
Charlotte is the largest, a fact that illustrates
Nassau's importance. It was built in 1788 under the
governorship of Lord Dunmore, and it is picture perfect
with a moat and dungeons. It ramparts offer one the best
views of Nassau.
Government House:
This old mansion is where the
British governors lived, and its size and detail
bespeakes the power the top official in the Bahamas once
wielded. Every other Saturday, you can come to the
building and still see a bit of the old pomp, when the
changing of the gaurd takes place.
Queen's Staircase:
Probably the most famous
architectural sight in Nassau, the Queen's Staircase is a
flight of 66 steps that links Fort Fincastle to the
Princess Margaret Hospital. What makes it remarkable is
that the staircase was not built, but carved out of
calcareos (coral-based) sandstone at the end of the 18th
century.
Royal Victoria Gardens:
The Royal Victoria Hotel was once
the grand damme of the Bahamas. It was built during the
American Civil War, then finally closed in 1971. Shortly
after, the proud old hulk of the building was consumed by
a fire. All that was left behind were its gardens and a
sprawling, empty shell of pillars and stone. The
resulting landscape is a stunning cross between a
botanical garden and something like a Roman ruin.
Ardastra Gardens and
Zoo:
This is the place to come to see
flamingoes, the national bird.
Atlantis Resort & Casino:
You don't have to be a guest to
check out the huge Atlantis Resort. This massive theme
hotel is a sight in itself, featuring a 14-acre
"waterscape" of aquariums, waterfalls, lagoons,
and underground grottos. Among the more spectacular
attractions is an underwater viewing tunnel that looks
into a predator lagoon with sharks and other large,
teethy fish.
Crystal Cay:
Easily identifiable on the Nassau
skyline by its space-age design, the Crystal Cay Marine
Park is one of the world's finest examples of an
underwater park where nobody gets wet. The park was built
around an existing reef, and visitors can explore a huge
array of exhibits both above and below the surface.
Junkanoo Expo:
This museum is dedicated to
Junkanoo, that colorful, musical, and surreal festival on
December 26 when Bahamian culture explodes in masks and
sounds. Visiting the Expo is the next best thing to being
in The Bahamas during Junkanoo.
Pompey Museum (Vendue
House):
Once a slave market and place where
salvaged items from shipwrecks were sold, today it is a
museum that exhibits some of the finest examples of
Bahamian art and history.
Roselawn Museum:
Within this early 19th century home
you can find a curious and colorful collection of
artifacts from Bahamian history.
Outside of Nassau:
Cable Beach:
It was a beach without a name until
1907, when the trans-atlantic cable was laid here,
connecting The Bahamas to Jupiter, Florida. This
beautiful beach is now the ultimate tropical playground,
fringed by hotels and casinos.
Adelaide:
This small village, with its
calming and rustic atmosphere, was one of the first black
settlements after the abolition of slavery in all British
colonies.
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RECOMMENDED
TOURS:
See the best that Nassau
has to offer all in a combined
tour. Explore Nassau's most
historical
sites,
visit
Ardastra
Gardens
and Atlantis Paradise Island.
For this tour, diving
courses, Powerboat
Adventures and fine
dinner
cruises, please click
here.
Tours
starting from US$12 per person. Geographia
has partnered with Viator to provide exciting adventure
experiences in the Bahamas.
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