Grand Bahama Island - The Garden of the Groves, founded by Wallace Groves in 1973 and owned by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, was considered one of the finest botanical Gardens in the Caribbean before the hurricanes of 2004. The gardens were devastated and they have sat untended since then, that is until two wonderful people decided to bring them back in order in November 2007. Erika Gates of Grand Bahama Nature Tours and Michelle Hanson formed Bahamas Parks, Gardens & Recreation and have been working diligently as the dynamic duo on the return of the Garden of the Groves. The Grand Bahama Port Authority committed to fund the restoration up to its re-opening, at such time Bahamas Parks, Gardens & Recreation will begin leasing the property.

Besides extensive tending to the fauna and foliage, damaged buildings have been removed and nine new pump systems for waterfalls, circulatory ponds and fountains were purchased and installed by the Port Authority...

STAR ISLAND, BAHAMAS—There have been many changes in the few years since “travel” and “sustainable” first appeared in the same sentence. Emerging technologies coupled with mounting consumer demand have given us thousands of green travel options—from luxury eco-lodges (that make a negligible impact on their ecosystems) to carbon-neutral resorts, tours and airlines. A new leader in this green revolution is Star Island, a private-island destination currently under development in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. It will open its doors in late 2009.

“This is a very exciting time in the field of green technology and, by extension, sustainable tourism,” says David Sklar, the architect, CEO and visionary behind Star Island. “Resorts are harnessing natural energy sources, building with sustainable materials to LEED specifications, recycling, decorating with fair-trade furniture, serving locally grown organic foods and aiding their local communities

Owl Hole is the larger of the two cave entrances that make up the Old Freetown system on Grand Bahama Island. It is a textbook quality example of a limestone sinkhole, formed by the collapse of a section of a cavern’s roof. Entry via Owl Hole cuts almost 3000ft off the swim to access the cave passage to the north, which extends for an additional 2000ft with the possibility of further discoveries enlarging the known cave still further. The cave lies on land owned by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which has been content to leave access largely unregulated for many years now.

In 2004 it came to my attention that Owl Hole would benefit from a little work to help conserve the cave environment as well as improve access and diver safety, while introducing a system of cavern lines and signage which would bring the cavern zone towards what international divers could expect to find in other parts of the world.

We set ourselves certain targets including...

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island was chosen as a Best Destination Top 25 Latin America/Caribbean by TripAdvisor® in the 2008 Travelers’ Choice® Destinations Awards. In its inaugural year, the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards honor the world’s top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers.

Only TripAdvisor’s Destinations Awards represent the opinions of millions of travelers. The winners were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s travelers’ favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.

“Determined by millions of travelers, the Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back...”

MATTHEW TOWN, Inagua -- You know you are not in Nassau when the children bid you “good morning”, say “please” when making a request, and “thank you” when given something.

And, you know you are not in Nassau when the air is fresh and clean and perfumed with bouquets of nature’s most exquisite aromas.

And you know you are definitely not in Nassau when elegant Bahama parrots don their best green and red, and flock to town to greet you...