Best of the Bahamas - The 10 Best Bahamas Islands

"Best of the Bahamas - The 10 Best Bahamas Islands"," And with good reason. There are nearly 30 inhabited islands here, and of those more than a dozen hold tourist interest. It is by far the most populous, most popular, and literally a magnet for vacationers, particularly Americans. Besides its history-laden narrow streets and British-era forts, the chief draws here are the Atlantis International Resort and Casino and the Queen's Staircase, the latter a 65-step stone stairway, representing one step for each year of Queen Victoria's rule, which climbs 102 feet to Fort Fincastle. A travel brochure for the island describes it as ""cosmopolitan glitz and glamour, coupled with miles of pristine beaches and endless turquoise seas. The island has a dozen or so good hotels, several excellent waterfront restaurants, outstanding shopping venues, two casinos, and miles and miles of sandy beaches. The big draw on the island is the Lucayan National Park, an environmental happening of sorts. The Abacos The Abacos, or just Abaco, is a cluster of tiny islands, islets and outcroppings that forms a 100-mile-long archipelago of its own. Its capital city, Marsh Harbour, which is really a one-stop-light town, is the third largest in the Bahamas. Recreation in the Abacos includes all the warm-weather outdoor sports you can think of, while the amenities here can be described as modern. Andros Andros is by far the largest island in the Bahamas, 104 miles long and 40 miles wide, located just north of the Abacos, with an island-wide population of 8,000. There are good visitor facilities here, including a wide selection of accommodations, ranging from full-fledged resorts to neat little guest houses. It comprises two distinct islands, with a combined land mass of less than 10 square miles, and a population of around 1,600, most of whom live in Bailey Town in North Bimini. Most visitors go to Bimini to fish, and the island, besides, is the locale of more than 20 well-known fishing tournaments. Eleuthera Eleuthera, which is perhaps the longest of the Bahamian islands, more than 110 miles long, and which lies 60 miles west of Nassau, is the playground of the rich and famous. The island has a population of 10,800, and its principal towns are Spanish Wells, the wealthiest colony in the Bahamas; Harbour Island, a resort island with clear water and a pink-tinged beach; Gregory Town, the locale of the island's Pineapple Festival; Governor's Harbour, a typical tropical town with history and charm; and Tarpum Bay, an artists' community where, among others, artists Mal Flanders, an American, and MacMillan Hughes, a Scotsman, went to paint the scenery. The Exumas Situated 35 miles east of New Providence, the Exumas comprise a chain of roughly 350 islands and cays, strung out along some 95 miles of open ocean, all the way down to Long Island. The Exumas are also well connected via daily flights to both Miami and Nassau. A 50-square-mile island, it offers a tranquil retreat with rolling hills, lush green forests and vast expanses of windswept beaches. Sights on the island include the Hermitage, a miniature, hand-built abbey on Mount Alverina, the highest point on the island at 206 feet; and the ruins of the Deveaux Plantation at Port Howe, a veritable slice of local history in a spectacular setting. The Inaguas The third largest, remotest and most southerly in the Bahamas chain, the Inaguas are also the most sparsely populated. And while the Inaguas are hardly a top choice for tourists, the few who do venture this far south are well rewarded with miles and miles of unspoiled rocky shorelines and more wildlife than on any of the other islands. Besides which, two places of particular interest here are the Inagua National Park, with its 280 miles of rocky shoreline, inland waters, saltwater flats, shrubland and jungle, populated with its famous flamingos and over 200 other species of birds; and the picturesque Matthew Town Lighthouse, standing at the southern tip of the Inaguas like a lone sentinel. San Salvador San Salvador, situated just to the northeast of the Bahamas' Long Island, is 12 miles long and 6 miles wide, with fewer than 600 people. Virtually all of the island's residents live here, yet this is one of the smallest communities in the Bahamas Out Islands. . Make my day click below