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Although many think of the Bahamas as being "Caribbean," they are really in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea. The islands were occupied by Arawaks in pre-Columbian times and became the second British colony in the Caribbean in 1666. The first settlement in the Bahamas was named Charles Town (after King Charles II), and was later renamed Nassau (for William of Orange-Nassau who because king of the UK as William III in 1688). Initially many settlements of the 1800s and 1900s were mainly groups of Amerian Loyalists. However, after the slaves were liberated in 1834, many new villages were founded by blacks. During the Civil War in America, Nassau, was a gathering place of blockade-runners and spies; similarly, during the Prohibition, Nassua was a center of illicit liquor trade.
New Providence Island is the home of the Bahamian national capital, Nassau. Nassau has beautiful Victorian mansions, 18th century pastel-colored buildings, beautiful cathedrals, and 18th century fortifications. During the day, it is a good place to shop. At night, the stores are closed and it is somewhat unsafe.
Cable Beach's luxury hotels and casinos draw a crowd. The area was named in 1907 after the laying of transatlantic telephone cables linking the Bahamas to the rest of the world. The rest of the island (everything but the Nassau and Cable Beach area) is pretty quiet and relaxed, consisting mainly of beaches, forests and grassy hills.
Paradise Island, formerly known as the Hog, has resorts, shopping, casinos and exciting nightlife. It is 650 acres of tropical paradise resort island with many activities, including: bicycling, golfing, sailing, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, and more.
The weather in the Bahamas is always sunny and warm because of the Gulf Stream and trade winds. Usually temperatures are between 70 and 80 (sometimes in summer, it may hit 90, and occasionally an overnight low in winter may be in the 60s). Rain is infrequent from November through April.
The Bahamian dollar and the US dollar are both accepted and equal in value. Bahamian paper money runs in bills of $.50, $1, $3, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Bahaman coin denominations are the same as in the US execpt there is also a 15-cent piece. US residents have a $600 duty-free allowance (although things made in the Bahamas don't count toward the limit). There is no sales tax.
Since New Providence was once a British colony, they do drive on the wrong -- er, left -- side of the road. The local taxis are metered, but the government sets the maximum fares.
ATTRACTIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
The Ardastra Zoo: Ardastra Zoo is both zoo and arboretum. The animals are in cages in natural settings and are well cared for.
Atlantis Submarine Dive: 2 hour underwater tour aboard the Atlantis-1, a comfortable submarine. You can look out the windows at exotic sea creatures and various coral reefs.
Bahamas Historical Society Museum: The museum contain artifacts, historic documents, drawings and displays tracing the Bahamas' history from pre-Columbian times.
Balcony House: An 18th-century house restored with appropriate furnishings.
Christ Church Cathedral: The present building was erected in 1837 on the site of the first church built in the Bahamas, which was built around 1670. In 1861, the Diocese of Nassau designated it as "The Cathedral Church of the Bahamas".
Coral Island: Covered in tropical shrubs, Coral Island offers the greatest show of natural marine life in the Caribbean. It has hundred foot tower with a great view and you can also descend 20 feet below the surface to an Underwater Observatory with tons of fish, coral, and sponges. There is also a shark pool, a stingray pool and various other sea-life exhibits. Coral Island also has the world's only underwater mailbox and the largest man-made reef in the world. Open 9:00am-6:00pm.
Dolphin Encounters: Various programs for swimming in the ocean with dolphins are available, including a day-long excursion (with lunch) to Blue Lagoon Island. There is also a 20 minute boat ride down to Sanctuary Bay, where Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins swim with scuba divers.
Fort Charlotte, the largest fort still in existence on the island, was built in 1789 by Lord Dunmore and named in the honor of the wife of King George III. It commands a wondrous view over Nassau, as it was meant to guard the western entrance of the harbor. The fort features a moat, drawbridge, battlements, ramparts and dungeons. It stands above West Bay Street on Chippingham Road.
Fort Fincastle, built in the shape of a ship's bow in 1793 by Governor Lord Dunmore, sits atop the hill on Elizabeth Avenue. It served mainly as a signal tower. It has a water tower and 216 foot tall lighthouse.
Fort Montagu, the odest existing Bahamian fort, was built in 1741 of limestone in preparation of a Spanish attack that never came, It is on East Bay Street and overlooks the eastern entrance to the harbor. Open 8:30 to 4:00 On Paradise Island
The Garden of Remembrance, in Parliament Square, is a two-acre garden that houses the Cenotaph (a monument to the Bahamians killed the First and Second World Wars).
The Green Flash: The flash is an elusive natural tropical phenomenon occurring at sunset. It ocurrs only very rarely, and only on completely cloudless days just after the sun has dropped over the horizon. It is a brilliant band of green light as wide as the sun itself that flashes across the horizon.
Government House, built in 1801, is a colonial mansion surrounded by a tropical garden. It is the official residence of the Governor General of The Bahamas, the queen's personal representative. A 12-foot high statue of Christopher Columbus stands guard in front. A much photographed landmark overlooking Nassau City.
Hartley's Undersea Walk: Allows non-swimmers to walk across the ocean floor
Junkanoo Museum: Junkanoo is the Bahamas' New Year's Carnival, a cultural event celebrated since the days of slavery. This museum showcases large, colorful, intricately designed artistic costumes, masks, paintings and handicrafts. Open 9:00 to 5:00. Located on Prince George Wharf.
Nassau Botanic/Ardastra Gardens: An 18-acre garden containing more than 600 species of flowering trees, shrubs and cacti, and over 300 birds, mammals, and reptiles. There are even marching flamingos! Located on Chippingham Road west of Fort Charlotte. Open 9:00-4:30
Nassau International Bazaar: Located between Bay St. and Woodes Rogers Walk, this area is a great place to shop for South American crafts, crystal, porcelain, jewelry, watches, cameras, Central American silver, linen, leather, perfume, Scottish cashmeres, and liquor.
Nassau Public Library, an octagonal building, functioned as a jail during the 18th century. It now is a library with a small museum.
Nassau Straw Market: Started long ago by sixteen women from a village on the Eastern End of the island called Sandilands Village, the market sells just about anything made from straw (primarily hats, mats, and bags), as well as souvenirs and wood carvings.
Parliament Square in downtown Nassau is where picturesque pastel buildings (traditional British fashion) were built in the early 1800s by homesick American Loyalists. The House of Assembly, the Senate, the Chambers of Parliament, the Colonial Secretary's Office, and the Supreme Court are centered around a marble statue of Queen Victoria.
Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation: The building, once an 18th century auction house for slaves, now has exhibits about the lifestyles of African Bahamians from slavery to post-emancipation. Includes artifacts, historical documents and drawings.
Powerboat Adventure: The powerboat "Midnight Express" travels to the Exuma Cays for snorkeling, swimming, barbecuing, and stingray/shark feeding. You may even see 4-foot Iguana lizards if you are lucky.
Prince George Wharf: is where majestic cruise ships berth.
Rawson Square: Colonial-style buildings built in the early 1800's.
The Retreat: Eleven acres of topical gardens including one of the largest palm collections in the world. Open 9:00 to 5:00. Located on Village Road opposite Queen's College.
Queen's Staircase: This steep 102-foot/65-step staircase was named in honor of the 65 years of Queen Victoria's reign. The steps are believed to have been carved out of solid stone by slaves in the late 18th century to provide an escape from Fort Fincastle to town without exposing the troops to fire from possible enemy ships. They have been recently renovated by the Bahamas Horticultural Society. Elizabeth Avenue off Shirley Street.
Sea Island Adventure goes to rustic Rose Island, 7 miles from Nassau. The beach offers swimming, sunning, snorkeling, fish feeding, and more.
St. Augustine's Monastery: A famous Romanesque style landmark designed by Father Jerome and built in 1945 as a boys' school. Free tours are given by the Benedictine monks. Located on Fox Hill Road.
Swordfish Fountain: just off the waterfront at Rawson Square.Water Tower at Bennett's View has a panoramic view of the city and harbor from 216 feet above sea level.
Woodes Rogers Walk: This waterfrong promenade, stretchings between Prince George Dock and the British Colonial Beach Resort, was named for the first Royal Governor, Woodes Rogers, who drove the pirates from New Providence in 1718. This event resulted in the original Bahamian motto: Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia -- "Pirates expelled, trade restored". The motto has been changed to "Forward, Upward, Onward, Together".
Versailles Gardens and French Cloisters: The remains of a 14th century French stone monastery were imported to the US by William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper baron, in the 1920's. Forty years later, Huntington Hartford, a grocery-chain heir, bought the Cloisters from Hearst and erected them on Paradise Island on a hilltop overlooking the Nassau Harbor.
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