6 Best Sights in Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

Established in 1939 on 100 acres just minutes from downtown Freeport, a half mile of self-guided botanical trails shows off 130 types of native plants, including many plants known for their use in bush medicine. The remaining tracts of land are left natural and undisturbed to serve as wildlife habitat. The center is also one of the island's birding hot spots, where you might spy a red-tailed hawk or a Cuban emerald hummingbird. Visit Donni, the one-eyed Bahama parrot the center has adopted, and the two Bahamian boas, a species that inhabits most Bahamian islands, but not Grand Bahama. The visitor center also hosts changing local art exhibits. The center survives on admissions, gift shop purchases, and donations alone, but has plans for a future face-lift and new exhibits.

This stretch of sand divides into separately named beaches at the intersection of Sea Horse Road and Royal Palm Way. The eastern end is Lucayan Beach, monopolized by the broad spread of Lighthouse Pointe at the Grand Lucayan resort, where nonguests can purchase day passes from the hotel, which include the use of pools and nonmotorized water equipment, as well as access to restaurants. Feed jackfish, snorkel at Rainbow Reef, parasail, or take a WaveRunner tour. Near the long-standing Ocean Motion water-sports operation, there is no admission fee for the beach. Go west from here along Coral Beach, where the shore widens for easier strolling and the crowds thin considerably on the way to the Coral Reef Beach Bar. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; sunrise; swimming; walking.

Established in 1939 on 100 acres just minutes from downtown Freeport, a half mile of self-guided botanical trails shows off 130 types of native plants, including many plants known for their use in bush medicine. The remaining tracts of land are left natural and undisturbed to serve as wildlife habitat. Acquired by the Bahamas National Trust in 1992, the center is also one of the island's birding hot spots, where you might spy a red-tailed hawk or a Cuban emerald hummingbird. Visit Donni, the one-eyed Bahama parrot the center has adopted, and the two Bahamian boas, a species that inhabits most Bahamian islands, but not Grand Bahama. The visitor center also hosts changing local art exhibits. The center survives on admissions, gift shop purchases, and donations alone but has plans for a future face-lift and new exhibits.

One hundred percent Bahamian-owned, this 20-acre brewery opened in 2007, bringing to the Bahamian islands five new beers, including Sands, High Rock Lager, Bush Crack, and Strong Back Stout. They now offer nine products, including the popular refreshing pink grapefruit and passionfruit/guava radlers, plus a nonalcoholic option. The brewery does everything on-site, including bottling and labeling, and offers 45-minute to hour-long tours on weekdays that take you along each step in the brewing process. The tour ends in the tasting room, where you can belly up to the bar or cocktail tables to sample each beer. Walk-ins are accepted. Beer, wine, and liquor can be purchased in the retail store; The Bahamian Brewery souvenirs are available in the gift shop.  

When the tide is high, this 1.9-mile slice of relatively hidden beach (from East Sunrise Highway, take Coral Road south, turn right onto Bahama Reef Boulevard, then left on Beachway Drive) can get a little narrow, but there's a wide area at its east end on Silver Point Beach near Island Seas Resort. Just west of here, a sidewalk runs the length of the beach along the road, and at low tide the beach expands far and wide for easy walking on the shore. Island Seas Resort has its own modern interpretation of the local beach shack, called Coconuts. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

The old Xanadu Resort of Howard Hughes fame has been abandoned and is all but crumbling, and even the surrounding buildings look depressed, but there is local talk that the day will come when the area will be restored and renovated. There are no longer amenities nor flocks of tourists on this beach. However, the mile-long stretch of sand is still serene and worth a walk at sunset, especially when cruise ships depart into the twilight. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; sunset; walking.