Snappa Tours gives passengers a chance to experience Nassau while riding in a 1920’s Ford Model T replica vehicle. The 90-minute excursions are a responsible way to enjoy the history and heritage of the Bahamas. (Jim Bamboulis photo for Vacay.ca)
As I waited to board my flight in Exuma, I noticed a woman nearby with a mosaic motif tattoo that spanned her entire back. I didn’t think much of it until my map-minded mastery kicked into gear. Shocked and awed, I quickly realized that her elaborate tattoo featured every one of the 16 major islands of the Bahamas. It was a beautiful, sprawling piece of art that transformed her back into a bold canvas. Responding to my passing compliment, she proudly yet humbly declared, “I love my country.” And to me, that makes the biggest difference. Famed for its dazzling splendor, rich flavours, and vibrant adventures, it’s the radiant warmth of its people—their quiet, confident, and welcoming pride in place—that allows the Bahamas to transform a captivating Caribbean adventure into a soul-stirring beat.
The Bahamas is famous for secret sandbars, pink sand beaches, and miles of irresistibly blue waters. (Jim Bamboulis photo for Vacay.ca)
The last time I visited Nassau was in 2008, and, as a Canadian yearning to trade winter blahs for beachside bliss, I didn’t feel the need to leave the comforts of the resort. This time around, I was determined to broaden my horizons, and experience both the city—and country—in a more immersive way. After all, Canadians are explorers, eager and curious to immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, and flavours of different cultures that await beyond resort gates.
Having a solid home base is key, and the Margaritaville Beach Resort hits the spot, offering top-notch amenities, steps from beach breezes, and Nassau’s rhythmic rush. Bring your best-price negotiating skills to the Nassau Straw Market, where a collection of vendors showcase conch shell jewelry, wood carvings, and homemade Bahamian crafts, including hand-woven straw hats, bags, and dolls. History buffs will love the forts that dot Nassau, including Fort Charlotte, an 18th-century, British colonial edifice that overlooks the city’s harbour. For culinary connoisseurs who crave true Bahamian flavours, a stop along Fish Fry Street near West Bay Street is a must. Dozens of restaurants offer their version of local delights, including Sky Juice, a tropical cocktail made with gin, condensed milk and coconut water, and Conch Salad, featuring raw conch meat, marinated and mixed with veggies, peppers, and citrus juices.
There are plenty of opportunities to put on an apron and create tasty treats in the Bahamas, as writer Jim Bamboulis discovers for himself. (Photo supplied by Jim Bamboulis for Vacay.ca)
Experience the Capital on a 1920’s Ford Model T replica vehicle courtesy of Snappa Tours, the first all-electric, green energy tour company in the Caribbean. Led by passionate and engaging tour guides, these 90-minute excursions are a responsible way to enjoy the history and heritage of the Bahamas, while learning more about the stories that connect its people through the generations. Photo-ops abound from the scenic shores of Paradise Island to the iconic marching flamingos at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, and the historic charm of the Graycliff complex, a labyrinth of history and indulgence that leaves visitors astounded.
A striking colonial mansion dating to 1740, Graycliff has a prominent place in the National Register of Historic Places. Sixteen elegant rooms and cottage suites offer unrivalled tranquility and ambience that combine classic, Caribbean charm with luxurious amenities. The 25-metre (82-foot) Sergio Furnari mosaic-designed pool is hearth-like, and is beautifully adorned with stately palms. Inside, guests enjoy a five-star dining experience as mouth-watering seafood fills the plates, while rich, Bahamian aromas sweeten the air.
MORE CARIBBEAN: Martinique’s French Flair
Enjoy a more intimate, personal meal at the chef’s table in the underground wine cellar. Awarded the Wine Spectator Grand Award annually since 1988, Graycliff is home to the third-largest private wine collection in the world, and houses over 275,000 bottles—including a rare 1727 German sweet wine, the oldest registered bottle on record, valued at an astounding $200,000 USD. But, that’s not all. Graycliff invites chocolate lovers to learn more about, and savour the flavours of hand-crafted chocolate bars and bonbons made on-site, while the Graycliff Cigar Company caters to aficionados who prefer to indulge with an award-winning, hand-rolled cigar, with or without a rum pairing.
If you’ve had your fill of Nassau, and want to take a breather, Exuma is your chance to exhale. A first-time visitor, I was left both speechless and breathless during my tour of the expansive, aqua-marine sanctuary. A great place to settle in is the historic, waterside Peace and Plenty Resort in Georgetown, a soothing retreat where vintage feels reverberate. Head south along the Queen’s Highway and pinpoint your journey to Tropic of Cancer Beach, aka, Pelican Beach. Don’t let the rough, gravel road deter you, because at the end, you’ll have entered a world of sifted powder-like sand, and pristine, gin-clear waters—beach bliss at its most divine! Meanwhile, Exuma Water Sports offers both half- and full-day excursions that range from serene escapes to adrenaline-fuelled adventures—all just off the coast and perfect for every age.
Wading into warm, spa-like waters, and feeling soft sand between my toes is always a pleasure. But I never imagined getting the chance to feed collard greens to sunbathing iguanas that are all too eager to meet the boat on arrival, and carrots to wild pigs who remarkably swam to the boat to meet us. Talk about an unforgettable experience that only an expert crew would be able to safely navigate and deliver.
No one is sure how the pigs got to the Bahamas beach, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere now. There are about 20 pigs and piglets living the easy life, with daily visits from Bahamians and tourists. (Jim Bamboulis photo for Vacay.ca)
A visit to the Bahamas isn’t complete without experiencing the stirring sounds of the country’s countless festivals, including Grand Bahama’s Coconut Festival, Eleuthera’s Pineapple Festival, and, of course, Junkanoo, the famous event that showcases Bahamian pride and spirit. All summer, the Goombay Festival dances its way across the islands with the Indigenous sounds of Rake and Scrape, not to mention the Goombay itself, a hand-beaten drum made from goat skin. Each celebration acts as a kaleidoscope of Bahamian culture, where rapturous rhythm mingles with the scent of island spices, and strangers become family beneath the spell only the Bahamas, and its people, proudly, yet humbly exude.
MORE ABOUT BAHAMAS
Bahamas Official Site: Website
Flights from Canada to Nassau and Paradise Island During Winter
Air Canada
Toronto International Airport to Nassau, 6-7 flights per week
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Nassau, 3-4 flights per week
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Nassau, weekly flights every Friday, starting on December 5
Halifax-Stanfield International Airport to Nassau, weekly flights every Friday start on December 5
WestJet Flights to Nassau
Toronto International Airport, 2-5 flights per week
Calgary International Airport, 2 flights per week start on December 6
Porter Flights to Nassau
Toronto International Airport to Nassau, daily flights
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Nassau, weekly flights every Saturday starting on December 13
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, two flights per week, starting on December 14
Flights from Canada to The Exumas
Air Canada
Toronto International Airport to Great Exuma, weekly flights every Sunday
Vacay.ca occasionally publishes articles from outside of Canada that our editors believe will be of interest to our audience. In this article, contributing writer Jim Bamboulis explores the Bahamas and its cultural highlights.
