Freeport on Grand Bahama
Freeport is the hub of Grand Bahama, the fourth largest of the Bahama Islands. Modern day Freeport was founded as recently as 1955 by American developer Wallace Groves, who envisioned a duty-free city on Grand Bahama that could support both tourism and commercial endeavors. Early island inhabitants include the Lucaya Indians. Although the island was uninhabited for hundreds of years, today Grand Bahama is a thriving paradise of sandy beaches, underwater coves, pulsating nightlife, and historical attractions. A day's itinerary in Freeport can include snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, kayaking, hiking, or lounging on a beautiful white sand beach. The night brings moonlight cruises, musical reviews, gaming venues, and just about every other activity imaginable.Before heading out for a day in the sun, Freeport has a couple of must-see attractions. For a look at the local plant life, pay a visit to The Gardens of the Groves, named after the founder of the town. This sprawling tropical park has walking paths, waterfalls, and over 10,000 trees. The Freeport/Lucaya Development Museum, also on the property, displays exhibits commemorating Freeport's history. If you are feeling lucky, you may want to venture to the Royal Oasis Casino, also known as El Casino, a Moorish style casino that is one of the largest in the western hemisphere. Visitors try their hand at all types of games of chance, as well as attend Vegas-style floor shows.
Being completely surrounded by water, Grand Bahama is a beach lover's dream-come-true. The white sand couples with crystal clear water, making the beaches ideal for swimming or donning your snorkeling gear. The most popular beach on the island is Gold Rock Beach, which is a must-see at low tide when it unfolds its signature wave formation locals call the "welcome mat." If you are looking for a more secluded beach, travel down to the Barbary Beach. This beach is great for hunting seashells, and in May and June there's a spectacular display of white spider lilies. Another great beach, as well as plenty of hiking opportunities can be found in the Lucayan National Park. This 40-acre park has a series of nature trails that twist and turn throughout the park, none of which is more than a mile long. The beach is a great snorkeling spot and is close to a six-mile-long series of underwater caves, one of the longest in the world.
Grand Bahama, like the rest of the Bahama Islands, is a scuba diving heaven. Intricate coral reefs, steep drop offs, famous wrecks, and underwater caves offer dive experiences for every skill level. The most famous dive around Grand Bahama is Theo's Wreck. This 230-foot Norwegian freighter was sunk intentionally in 1982. She rests in 100 feet of water, and is a popular habitat for all sorts of sea life. Novice divers and snorkelers alike will love Pillar Castle. This dive site has coral formations that are shaped like castles, and rays, eels, and small nurse sharks are frequent visitors. For a heart-pumping dive experience, let one of the knowledgeable dive operators take you on a Shark Dive. This is a well orchestrated and professionally staffed dive that involves a minimum number of guests, a shark feeder, safety divers and videographer. The professionals feed the sharks while the guest divers watch!
Lying only 55 miles due east of Palm Beach, Florida, Freeport is an excellent choice for a Bahamian vacation. Bargain hunters will want to make their way to the International Bazaar, located on The Mall in the center of town.
