Imagine a Caribbean vacation and it’s almost always the Bahamas that springs to mind first. Grab the kids and get ready for the getaway like no other. A gorgeous archipelago of 700 islands and over 2,000 scattered sandy keys that evoke paradise perfectly. And the reality seldom disappoints.
Beaches have the whitest sand, washed by green-blue transparent seas under cloudless, sunny skies. The Bahamas are warm almost all year and are always easy-going and friendly. It’s a wonderful introduction to the Caribbean.
Average temperatures in December are around 80˚F, rising to 90˚F in July and August. June to September is rainy season with the highest chance of hurricanes.
Grand Bahama, Nassau and Paradise Island are the most active islands for kids.
There are 23 National Parks across the islands including heavily protected Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Abaco National Park and Nassau’s Primeval Forest, Bonefish Pond and Harold & Wilson Ponds National Park.
Christmas and New Years are great times to visit. There are celebrations on every island and the annual Junkanoo Festival is spectacular.
The 11 Lighthouses of the Bahamas, built by the British Imperial Lighthouse Service between 1836 and 1887, are on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list. The famous Elbow Reef Lighthouse on Elbow Cay is still operational today.
Just off the northeast coast of Nassau, Paradise Island is dominated by the Atlantis resort. With everything from its own shopping malls to beaches, waterparks, vast aquariums, dolphin reserves, golf courses and every type of water sport imaginable, this is the zenith of all-inclusive Caribbean family holidays. In terms of heritage, culture and character, all the Bahamas adds here is gorgeous weather. The island is only 3 miles from lively Downtown Nassau and there’s plenty of local color to be had there.
The Bahamas’ capital and biggest city, Nassau is perennially charming. Pretty ice-cream-colored colonial buildings, happening Bay Street, the general fun of Downtown, cute street markets and lush gardens more than make up for a cruise ship packed harbor and the hordes of tourists. The beaches here are big, broad and beautiful – not quiet coves, but good for activities, sun-loungers and on-tap service. If you want an easy, barefoot peace, catching a boat to Blue Lagoon from Nassau, at least once, is must-do.
Grand Bahama is popular for family holidays. It’s also the closest island to Florida’s coast with fast, frequent flights from Miami. The capital, Freeport, is the second largest city in the Bahamas, famous for beaches, super-yachts in the marina and enormous resort hotels. Make sure to escape the crowds around Freeport and visit any one of the three national parks, sail around for the day or delve deep into its amazing underwater caves.
Most of the islands are easy to get around by public transport or even on bikes. Because the Bahamas is such a popular cruise destination, you’ll find short tours to most major attractions which work well for younger kids. Bahama Ferries operates scheduled crossings to larger islands and private charters and flights are available to cays and more remote areas. If you want complete independence, car rentals are easy to arrange in Nassau and Grand Bahama.
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