Grand Bahama Island - a Great Tourist Destination

Added: 04/20/2006

Located some 56 miles off the coast of Florida in the United States, Grand Bahama Island is the northernmost island of the Bahamas that boasts rich history and diverse cultural and recreational opportunities. By the mid-20th century it was one of the least developed Bahamas islands, until the city of Freeport was constructed in 1955 as a stable source of island's income. The tourism sector of Grand Bahama Island is complemented by such tourist centers as Port Lucaya, West End and others.

The vast majority of visitors coming to Grand Bahama Island don't even realize that its natural attractions are regarded as its finest and most treasured assets, such as secluded beaches in colorful folds of coral reefs or within the tangle of the mangrove swamp. Nature is rich and varied here, making the Island a diverse and multicolored destination all-the-year-round. Visitors are offered some of the greatest attractions at three national parks of Grand Bahama Island, the most prominent of these being Lucayan National Park, the only place in the Bahamas that features all six ecosystems and an extensive collection of wildlife and plants offering an unsurpassed view into the interaction of sea and land.

Located within the park is also one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world - a network of tunnels that results from the unique limestone geology of the Island. Equally popular due to their charming beauty are the Peterson Cay National Park and the Rand Nature Center with its flamingo colony. Both Rand Memorial Nature Center and the Lucayan National Park are easily accessible, while Peterson Cay can be reached by boat only.

Grand Bahama Island is a great destination for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike, who come here to enjoy 18 bird species endemic to the Bahamas, including the Abaco Parrot. Alternatively, you may consider an excursion to the Hudroflora Gardens, the renowned research center that features plants growing without soil.

Part of one of the world's largest reef systems, the Grand Bahama Island's reefs are spectacular and attractive in both biological diversity and geographical scope. Some of the underwater treasures of the island include seahorses, Caribbean reef sharks, dolphins, Hawksbill turtle, and a number of species of both fish and coral.

For most tourists Grand Bahama Island is associated with fantastic beaches with powdery white sands. Generally, there exist two types of beaches on the Island: the secluded beaches dominating the southeast and southwest of the Island and considered to be ideal for exploration, and the activity beaches offering a multitude of games and fun, like windsurfing, snorkeling and parasailing among others. Some of the most popular activity beaches include Taino Beach, Xanadu Beach and Lucayan Beach, while the most spectacular stretch is Gold Rock Beach, a must see for all visitors to the Island.

A renowned destination for each type of vacation, Grand Bahama Island is popular with sporting enthusiasts, families and honeymooners, who are offered here great experience of a lifetime. The Island's superb location makes it perfectly suitable for major water and land sports, such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling and golfing.

Adventurers will be offered a number of sites for exploration, from botanical gardens and nature parks to a great casino. Today as ever, the Island is regarded as the ideal wedding and honeymoon destination, with a number of wonderful places for romantic tropical wedding, some of the best Bahamas apartments and endless stretches of secluded beaches.

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