Lying just 55 miles east of the coast of Florida, beautiful Grand Bahama Island, 96 miles long from east to west and 17 miles across at its widest point, is a haven for tourists looking for adventure and laidback side of The Bahamas.

Spirit Airlines’ inaugural flight on December 13 from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, the island’s capital, took the press to experience some of the island’s best offerings. Even the ride from the Grand Bahama Island International Airport to the hotel, The Westin and Sheraton Grand Bahama Our Lucaya Resort, was in itself a guided tour thanks to Paddy our taxi driver.

Shortly after arriving at the hotel, a quick change into comfortable clothing prefaced our exciting Safari Jeep Tour with the well informed tour guide, Chad Hepburn from Grand Bahama Nature Tours Ltd. We all set out in five Jeeps on traffic free streets on a Thursday afternoon – picture that! The Bahamas presents an interesting marriage of its European past and American influence, as people drive on the left side of the streets (English), yet the vehicles are left hand drive (American).

Chad, though versed in the history and geography of Grand Bahama, is originally from Nassau. However, the ease and comfort with which he guided us through his ‘office’ – the great outdoors, made it seem as if he was born to do it. Having been exposed to National Geographic as a child, Chad said he was always fascinated and inspired by the Ocean and that he has never had a boring tour in his six years as a tour guide, because, “The people change each time and come with different personalities.”

Our first stop was at the Taino by the Bay Restaurant for a well deserved lunch after which the tour took us through the Junkanoo Beach & Smith’s Point, a Dolphin Encounter and Casuarina Bridge, where we learned about the Canal system. The drive through the waterfront real estate, or the Million Dollar homes really piqued our interests.

Go Dolphins! (Not the Miami ones)

A stop at the Dolphin Encounter was an eye opening experience for us. Sure, we’ve all seen the dolphins do tricks, maybe on TV or at a ‘seaquarium’ but having an up close encounter with these magnificent creatures is definitely a must-do for everyone. At the facility, we met a Dolphin couple, Kaholo, the male and Kayla, the female where Tristan Pratt, 22, a trainer, walked us through some facts about dolphins, while using them to show us their skills. The Dolphins were quite impressive and while we did not get a chance to swim with them, we stroked them and they kissed us!

Dolphin Encounter offers interaction with the dolphins in a Waist High program, in the Open Ocean, and provides a training environment. Only three facilities in the world offer that kind of service and Dolphin Encounter is the only facility in the world that does an open ocean swim with the Dolphins.

A short raft across the Gold Rock Creek and a walk ending at the phenomenal Gold Rock Beach brought our tour to a climax and as guests gazed at the beach and the lone cay, it was pure serenity. There was no time for a swim, though the water beckoned us to come.

Fine dining

Chad led the envoy back to the hotel where we had enough time to refresh and get ready for dinner at the exquisite Luciano’s Restaurant in the Port Lucaya Marketplace. Though the dress code was Island casual, it could have well been formal, with the gourmet foods on the menu that offered classical European entrees and sumptuous island dishes.

Capturing Grand Bahama in a bottle

The tour of island’s perfume factory, located at Freeport’s International Bazaar, is one of the high points of the Grand Bahama visit. Stephanie Bowe, Sales Supervisor, took us for a free tour behind the scenes of the Fragrance of the Bahamas Ltd. a replica of an old Bahamian mansion. We got a chance to sample different scents, and experience the process in the Mixology Department where they produce original scents such as Sand, a popular cologne for men; Pink Pearl, Island Promises, Guanahani, Goombay, Paradise and many more.

Bowe said the different perfume oils are selected and placed in a bottle, where 190 proof alcohol is added. A magnet is then placed in the bottle which is put on the magnet stir and allowed to mix… then voila! The good thing is that people can make their own perfume, name it and get a certificate of authenticity. This is kept and scents can be reordered from it.

Grand Bahama, in its simplicity provides an exciting vacation spot, where history and culture collide and exude beauty, topped only by the exquisite beaches and the island feel.