The Islands of the Bahamas are among the most beautiful places on earth to visit. The water ranges from pale aqua to deep sapphire, the spectrum changing hourly as the sun shines brightly in a cloudless sky. Nassau, the country's capital, is a bustling town on New Providence Island with shops, nightclubs, glamorous casinos, and posh hotels. Even in Nassau, though, there are quiet byways and shady lanes where you can step away from the activity of the main tourist areas. Visitors have many options. They can pause in their shopping at any time to wander past old colonial buildings that are full of fascinating island history. Nights can be spent watching a perfect sunset, dining on elegant French or local cuisine in a hotel restaurant, and then taking in a show, dancing, or visiting one of the island's casinos.

Grand Bahama Island lies just 50 miles east of Florida and is a major tourist destination.  The fourth largest island in the Bahamas group, Grand Bahama covers more than 530 square miles.  The island has four 18 hole golf courses, one 9 hole course, and more than 30 tennis courts.  Grand Bahama Island's hotels and casinos are of a caliber that has earned them the title of "New World Riviera."  Guests can play water volleyball in an over-sized swimming pool, soak in a hot Jacuzzi or sip an island cocktail at the poolside Tiki Bar while the children are at their own on-site playground.  There are two casinos, dozens of bars and restaurants, and facilities where fishing boats can be chartered and jet skis and scuba gear rented. Freeport and Lucaya are the embodiment of tropical entertainment.

The Islands of the Bahamas--with exquisite golden and pink sunsets, pristine beaches, lush tropical landscapes, and year round sunshine--couldn't have sprung from the sea in more perfect form for 21st century vacationers.