Saying goodbye to an ideal family vacation spot

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Kids wait patiently for a ride to the beach in Green Turtle Cay(click image to enlarge)DAY 4 —Sheila Barnette and her family live in Jacksonville, FL and have been vacationing here with their extended family for years. The best part: The kids don’t watch TV. Their cell phones don’t work.  They’re not on their computers. “We’re out on the water all the time,” she says. Isn’t that what parents want vacations to be—some old-fashioned family time doing something that’s fun for all?

Brendal Stevens taught her two sons, now 12 and 16 to dive, Barnette says. 

“The teens find other local teens and very quickly are plugged into the local scene—where the good bands are playing, the best beaches. “This is a very down to earth kind of place,” she says.

This is the kind of place where putting on a colored shirt for dinner is getting dressed up, where you don’t need any shoes but flip flops.

This is the kind of place where you have a gloriously empty beach to toss a football with your son or play Frisbee with your daughter, where you don’t have to worry about anyone ruining their sand castles. You can teach your kids to fish and eat their catch for dinner

But don’t expect a beach butler to bring you a drink or spritz you with Evian. Know what I mean? 

Check out the People-To-People program developed by the Ministry of Tourism that “matches” visiting families with locals who will take them boating, fishing, or invite them for dinner (visit http://www.bahamas.com and access the People-To-People program under the What to Do section or email peopletopeople@bahamas.com).

Also check out some of the other outer islands—Eleuthra (check out the pink sand beaches, the Exumas (where you can snorkel easily from the beach) , Grand Bahama Island, Andros (known for its bone fishing), Cat Island (where many think Christopher Columbus first landed in the new world) . Each island, locals tell us, has its own personality.

Maybe you’ll meet a pirate’s ghost. The Bahamas were a major shipping area and attracted pirates because of the shallow waters and secluded cays. At one point, Nassau was called the “Privateers Republic.  Much of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World End, I learn, was filmed here.

We thought about that this morning—our last—as our dive instructor Brendal Stevens takes us out on his sailboat Sea Gypsy. We don’t see any pirates, of course—just lots of pretty cays and islands. Brendal says you can always be within sight of land when you’re sailing here—a plus for novice sailors. And you’ll have your choice of islands for a picnic or snorkel. (You can charter a sailboat from The Moorings for a multi-day trip. http://www.moorings.com) Often, he says, he takes people to see the wild dolphins or for sunset sails.  (http://www.brendal.com)

But morning is pretty terrific too-the clear blue water, just enough wind, the pretty blue, pink and yellow cottages along the shore line.

My only disappointment—we didn’t see any dolphins. Next trip, Stevens says as we turn back toward Green Turtle Cay. 

And next time I meet up with Junkanoo the Grouper, I say, I’ll have a snack ready. 

Permalink • Email This Entry

Previous: Where to find travel insurance

Next: 101 Accessible Vacations

1. My husband and I honeymooned on Eleuthera and had a wonderful time.  Some of the most secluded and beautiful beaches you can imagine.  Friendly and welcoming natives make the Governor’s Harbor Friday Fish Fry a must.  We highly recommend the out islands.

   Posted by Amy, Baltimore, MD on 11/20  at  06:08 AM

2. Hi Eileen,

   Great article about out islands travel on CNN.com. I’m a private pilot and I’ve been flying out to Long Island and other family islands for the last couple of years. I’ve stayed at Stella Maris (Long Island) multiple times, both times a fantastic experience. I can also recommend Rolling Rock Inn (San Salvador Island) a great dive place.

   Cheers
   Martin

   Posted by Martin Israelsen, Atlanta on 11/20  at  08:22 AM

3. Our sailboat toured the Abacos two months ago.  I had not been to this area of the Bahamas since the late 1970’s, as we usually annually hit the Biminis/Exumas/Berrys and of course New Providence.  What struck me the most was the vast gulf that has emerged between the “Abaco Experience” and the “Rest of the Bahamas”.  The former is like touring the Bed and Breakfast area of a quaint town, while the latter is rapidly turning into the quintessential 3rd World Country.
   I am interested in hearing from other seasoned Bahamas tourists.

   Posted by , Indianapolis on 11/20  at  01:21 PM

4. I’d like to take the kids to santa fe tours this year. Last year we’ve been at a cabin in the mountains and my kids cried the whole way back for leaving.

   Posted by , on 01/14  at  03:09 PM

5. Our kids love playing football wherever we go on holiday. I love the photo btw. :)

   Posted by live football, on 02/13  at  04:17 AM

<< Back to the Home Page