What To See in Bahamas
By Anna Lynn Sibal
The Bahamas – a chain of 700 islands sitting on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean just east of Miami, Florida and just north of Cuba and the Caribbean Sea. A 100,000-square mile archipelago, the Bahamas is a popular destination for tourists looking for some fun that only an almost never-ending summer can give them. The Bahamas has everything that an visitor can ever want for on an island holiday: long lines of finely sanded beaches, enchanting coral reefs, breathtaking scenery, 500 miles of crystal-clear seawaters and well-developed tourist facilities. It is no wonder that so many people come to tour the islands of the Bahamas all year round.
For the tourist who just loves the water and the sand and all the fun associated with them, there is much that the islands of the Bahamas can offer. Aside from swimming and sun bathing, a tourist can just jump aboard a boat, go island-hopping and explore the uninhabited cays and islands of the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is also where 15% of the world's coral reefs are located, so it is an ideal place for divers and snorkelers to observe and enjoy the rich marine life on that side of the Atlantic.
The islands of the Bahamas are also a treasure trove for anglers of all types. Fly fishing in the Bahamas is a favorite activity among visiting fishermen, but those who prefer to fish in the deep Atlantic are welcome to sail out to the sea and wait for their catch.
But for all the fun things that a tourist can get hooked into with the waters of the Bahamas, there is certainly more to the Bahamas than just its beaches. The Bahamas is not only rich in marine life; birdlife is also plentiful. The Bahamas is home to around 28 species of birds, particularly the endangered Bahama parrot. These parrots, once thriving in at least seven of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, can now be found only in the Great Inagua as well as in the island of Abaco, where they are cared for at the Abaco National Park. More birdlife and wildlife can be found on display in Nassau/Paradise Island, at the Ardastra Gardens and Conservation Center.
The swashbuckling adventures depicted in the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean may not have happened as they did in the movie, but there were certainly pirates in the history of the Bahamas. Visitors to the islands can experience for themselves what it is like to be a pirate even for a very short time at the Pirates of Nassau museum and pub.
For tourists with an historical bent, there are plenty of museums on the islands that deal with the Hispanic and British history of the Bahamas. A must-see spot for such tourists who want to view historic remnants of the Bahamas is the Hope Town Lighthouse, which was built by the British in the 1860s. Another spot that history scholars should go to is the ancient explorer Ponce de Leon's site of the Fountain of Youth. Fancy that the Sunken City of Atlantis really existed? Get an expert diver to take you to what could be the site of that lost city.
If the tourist wants to have a period of solitude and healing from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual woes, the place to go is the Healing Hole. The Healing Hole is a natural spring found in the heart of the marshes of East Bimini. The minerals from this natural spring are said to heal the mind and the body.
There is just so much to do in the Bahamas. Make sure that you make the most of your holiday whenever you go there.
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