New York City 3.25 hrs

Boston 5.25 hrs

Miami 1 hr

Philadelphia 3 hrs

Los Angeles 6 hrs

Chicago 4 hrs

Dallas-Fort Worth 4 hrs

San Francisco 6.75 hrs

Nassau: The capital city and its environs offer both the British colonial atmosphere of the past and a buzzing modern scene. It's a busy city with an easy-going, tropical island attitude where colorful, stately old homes and public buildings mingle with small hotels and office centers. Many shops, the lively Straw Market -- where haggling for the best price is a jovial sport --cruise dock, museums, and churches are located on or near Bay Street.

Cable Beach: A few miles west of Nassau is Cable Beach, covering 2½ miles of gorgeous beach with 5 first-class luxury resorts, a golf course, nightlife, and the largest casino in the Bahamas. The resorts are self-contained so you never have to leave for anything if you don't want to. All beach activities, nightlife, upscale shops, and the casino are within easy reach of each other and also within easy reach of some of the smaller properties and villas.

Paradise Island: These 685 acres are connected to Nassau by a 600-foot bridge. The island is developed almost exclusively for the delight of the tourist, so very few private residences exist on it. Paradise Island contains an abundance of resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, and outdoor activities, as well as nightlife, a golf course, an aquarium, and Nassau's other casino.

Thanks to the Bahamas' favorable geological composition, it has some of the clearest, cleanest water in the world. Grand Bahama is mostly covered in scrub or Caribbean pines and palms. In the north there are marsh and mangrove swamps, while much of the coast supports the attractive sea-grape tree. Flowers and fruit trees are plentiful. Limestone caves, cliffs, sand dunes, coves, harbors, and rock formations give the Bahamas a great geological diversity. There are innumerable beaches, and coral reefs lie just out to sea.

Called the "Isles of Perpetual June" by George Washington, the nickname stuck for many years because the island weather is almost always ideal, yet there is a bit of variety in what you can expect.

Summer: 74°-88° with 5-7 inches of rain per month. Occasionally, there will be overcast skies for a day or two, but most rain comes as a rapid thunderstorm that quickly passes. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.

Winter: 63°-78° with less than 2 inches of rain per month. A rare bout of cool weather can sometimes come down from the North for a day or two.

Spring: 66°-82° with less than 3 inches of rain per month. In this land of the perpetually ideal climate, spring is ideal and then some.

Fall: 71°-85° with 4-6 inches of rain per month. Except for the occasional tropical storm, this is one of the best seasons to visit, along with spring.

Weather-wise, your visit is virtually unrestricted. Winter is the most popular with people escaping the northern snows. The best weather comes in spring and autumn, which ironically are the slowest seasons. Summer is the second busiest season, as it coincides with family vacation times and the Goombay festivals.

Dazzling Weather: Great weather means great fun. Everything seems perfect when the sun is shining, especially if you are escaping the icy roads and dark evenings of the north. While there is plenty of activities in Nassau to keep you busy and entertained, many people still enjoy simply getting away from it all and soaking up the rays on the beach, forgetting all the responsibilities left behind.

Island Culture & Scenery: The people of Nassau and New Providence are laid back and ever so friendly to visitors. The island is steeped in history from the early days of the first European explorers, and was a popular pirate and privateer base. Nassau still retains a noticeable old world ambiance, but since the 1950s developments began attracting more and more vacationers from across the globe. Today you can stay in the comforts of a city hotel and still explore the idyllic beaches and countryside of the island. Apart from pristine beaches, you also find 3 national parks and one of the world's largest networks of caves.

Entertainment & Active Pursuits: All your favorite beach and ocean activities are found in Nassau and on Paradise Island. Though well-regarded for its diving, snorkeling, and fishing, the island also offers horseback riding, gambling, golfing, bird watching, and a host of other things to do in the hot Bahamas sun.

Robinson Crusoe Snorkeling Cruise: Sail through the clearest waters in the world to remote islands where you will spend the day relaxing on the sun-drenched beach, snorkeling over coral reefs, or exploring the island's winding paths and tidal pools just like a castaway. Lunch is provided for you to eat, drink, and make merry with unlimited wine, after which you may want to stretch out in a hammock under a palm. It's a day you won't want to end!

Discovery Tours: Drive through romantic Old Nassau and its surroundings to see the old forts of Fincastle and Charlotte, complete with moat and dungeon. The Queen's Staircase - the #1 sightseeing spot in Nassau - is a lush grotto of 66 steps carved by slaves in 1793 into the side of a solid limestone cliff leading up to Fort Fincastle. Visit Government House - still the official seat of the British Governor-General to the Islands; picturesque Gregory's Arch; the 19th-century flamingo pink Legislative Buildings and Law Courts; the native market; and scores of other historic sites in the centuries-old capital of the Bahamas.

Crystal Cay: Starfish, sea urchins, and sharks are your playmates on this interactive voyage of discovery. Pluck a genuine pearl from an oyster. When you walk into the world's largest man-made reef, you'll be mesmerized by a kaleidoscope of brilliant living corals, an astounding diversity of fish, mighty predators, and strange life forms you've likely never before seen.

Dinner Cruises: A lovely and romantic way to spend an evening, cruising along Nassau's picturesque historic waterfront. Crews prepare an all-you-can-eat Bahamian buffet and there is often music or a show onboard. Join one of the livelier cruises, and you may find yourself cajoled into a limbo contest! How low can you go?

Submarine Ride: Featuring the latest in passenger submersible technology, pressurized safety, and air-conditioned comfort, certified pilots take you deeper than most scuba divers go. You'll pass breathtaking coral reefs, skirt the Bahamian Wall (or "Tongue of the Ocean"), where the drop-off is 6,000 feet, and observe two shipwrecks, all surrounded by thriving sea life.

The Changing of the Guard: A fortnightly tradition of pomp and pageantry mark the Changing of the Guard at Government House, residence of the Governor General, personal representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The internationally renowned Royal Bahamas Police Force Band proudly performs.

Blackbeard's Tower: This ruin stands 5 miles east of Fort Montagu and can be reached by jitney bus. Legend has it that this watchtower was used by the infamous pirate, Edward Teach (a.k.a. Blackbeard), in the 17th century.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum: Great fun for kids or kids-at-heart, this museum celebrates the "golden age of piracy," which lasted from 1690 to 1720. Nassau was a robust, strategically located town where pirates grew rich from treasure stolen from bounty-laiden ships returning to Europe from South America. This renovated museum re-creates those bawdy days in a series of exhibits illustrating pirate lore.

The Cloister: Located in the Versailles Gardens of the Ocean Club, this is a 12th-century cloister originally built by Augustinian monks in France. It was reassembled here, stone by stone, after AP heir Huntington Hartford purchased it from Hearst at San Simeon in California. The gardens overlooking Nassau Harbour are filled with tropical flowers and classic statues.

Ardastra Gardens: The main attraction on these 5 acres is the parading flock of pink flamingos, the national bird of The Bahamas, which marches in formation to a drillmaster's commands. Other exotic wildlife at the gardens include boa constrictors, kinkajous (honey bears) from Central and South America, green-winged macaws, and peacocks. Paths provide an easy, soothing walk through beautiful tropical foliage.

The Bahamas' homegrown cuisine is a medley of several ethnic traditions and influences. The indigenous population was fond of scale and shellfish, and also brought callaloo, cassava, corn, sweet potatoes, and several tropical fruits to the islands. English and American settlers adopted native spices, enhanced by those brought from Africa. Most dishes center around seafood like conch or rock lobster, but you'll find a tremendous variety of fare throughout the islands. Traditional island cuisine is undergoing a renaissance, with a new generation of Bahamian chefs reinterpreting traditional dishes. Places to eat range from 5-star expensive restaurants replete with candelabra to funky beach seafood shacks called "fish frys."

Gourmet

Anthony's Caribbean Grill creates a variety of original and traditional American/Caribbean fare for every course, with specialties of the house like Junkanoo Steak and Soca Tuna. Paradise Shopping Plaza,Paradise Island

Chez Willie: In downtown Nassau, in what was once a prison, Willie Armstrong proudly welcomes guests personally to his renowned French and Bahamian restaurant. Inside you can choose to dine in the elegantly decorated main dining room, or you can dine alfresco in the sheltered courtyard. It's not important where you sit, however, as it's the food that draws people to Chez Willie. The menu is more extensive than you would expect from such a fine establishment, and there are plenty of choices from appetizers to desserts. Entrees include grouper in puff pastry with crabmeat, sautéed Dover sole with tarragon and tomato sauce, and sautéed duck breast with raspberry sauce. Downtown Nassasu

Highly Recommended

Graycliff is the only restaurant in The Bahamas with a 5-star rating. Situated inside an antique-filled colonial mansion, this restaurant creates hardy, exotic Bahamian and international dishes. The wine list is the finest in the country, and their collection of Cuban cigars - almost 90 types - is said to be the most varied in the world. Before dinner, the ideal spot for a drink is the balcony bar. West Hill Street, Nassau

Dune: Sophisticated and cutting edge, Dune is located in the west wing of the Ocean Club's lobby level and enjoys sweeping views of the ocean. Owned and supervised by French restaurant enthusiast Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the chefs prepare meals using the finest ingredients, including herbs grown in the garden outside, which they skillfully handle with razor sharp technique. Creative appetizers and entrees include spring rolls with soybean salsa, chicken and coconut milk soup, goat cheese and watermelon salad, and shrimp dusted with orange powder and served with artichokes and arugula. Ocean Club, Paradise Island

Local Flair

The Outdoor Conch Market wins the unanimous popular vote with the locals in downtown Nassau. Residents flock here on weekends to hang out and sample budget-priced conch, washed down with coconut juice (known as sky juice) from the Daiquiri Bar. Downtown Nassau

Shoal Restaurant: Visitors and locals both claim Shoal Restaurant to be one of the best venues for authentic Bahamian cuisine. The restaurant is very busy Saturday mornings when the people of Nassau descend en mass for a plate of boiled fish and johnnycake. Away from the main tourist path, Shoal may not be overly decorated or appointed with the best silverware, but its commitment to local favorites like okra soup, conch chowder, cracked conch, and more has made it somewhat legendary. The restaurant also offers free transport to and from your hotel, so tasting true Bahamian food could not be easier. Nassau Street, Nassau

Romantic

Buena Vista is set in an 18th-century home appointed with silver and fine china. Waiters in tuxedos serve fine Bahamian cuisine while you admire the view of the harbor. Delancy Street, Nassau

Sole Mare: Enjoy the perfect Italian meal in a candlelit art deco atmosphere. Savor every bite of veal, fresh seafood, and lamb with a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Cabernet Sauvignon. Old World service prepares Caesar salads tableside, and a service captain carefully guides you through the menu and wine list. Specialties include fried calamari, capallini pasta with lobster, and grilled sea bass. Wear your best clothes and look forward to a romantic evening of the highest caliber. Friday and Saturday only, reservations required. Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino, Cable Beach

Nassau has a pulsing nightlife, with casinos, clubs, shows, concerts and music ranging from traditional rake-and-scrape bands to symphony orchestras. Theater and dance are popular in the Bahamas and several companies perform in Nassau. For a daily listing of events, check the Nassau Guardian or Tribune before heading out for the night.

Clubs: The Palace Theatre and the Atlantis Showroom host spectacular stage shows. A few nightclubs and upscale dance clubs are favorites with locals and tourists alike in town; Club 601 and Culture Club often feature the BahaMen, Nassau's best-known band. Most hotels host smaller nightclubs with bars and bands.

Goombay Shows: This music - named from an African word meaning rhythm - is to the Bahamas what reggae is to Jamaica. Almost every major resort hotel has a goombay band or show, with musicians and dancers dressed in tropical flounced costumes. It is typified by a fast-paced, infectious melody that you will hear pouring out of dance clubs everywhere.

Casinos: The Atlantis Casino is on Paradise Island and the Crystal Palace Casino is on Cable Beach. Both are full-service gaming halls, with everything from Baccarat to slots, great shows, fantastic restaurants, and so on. Drop in and spend an evening with Lady Luck!

Junkanoo: This is the biggest festival of the year and lasts 'till dawn. The colorful, boisterous celebration is the Bahamian equivalent of New Orleans' Mardi Gras or Rio de Janeiro's Carnival. There's a bounty of costumes, parades, street dancing, and Junkanoo music to celebrate this tradition rooted in Africa. Boxing Day (December 26) & New Year's Day

Supreme Court Opening: A picturesque ceremony in Parliament Square that officially opens sessions of The Bahamas Supreme Court, with the Chief Justice Inspecting the Royal Bahamas Police Force Guard of Honour. The world-famous Royal Bahamas Police Force Band performs. February

Cricket Season: Matches of this "sport of the commonwealth" are played every Saturday and Sunday at noon. March -- November

Bahamian Independence Day: Celebrated on July 10 with a preceding week of parades and fireworks. July

Emancipation Day: Followed by Fox HillDay, a time of cultural events and cookouts, in the Fox Hill section of Nassau. August

Dress style throughout the islands is casual. The finer restaurants may require jacket and tie, especially during the high season. Bahamians are easy-going yet dignified people, and bathing suits and scanty clothing should remain on the beach and not be worn in shopping areas or most restaurants. In the Out Islands, clothing custom is even more casual.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Gambling/Drinking: Minimum age of 18 required.

Sunburn & Heatstroke: The tropical sun can be quite harsh, especially in summer, so wear plenty of sunblock and a hat.

English is the official language, spoken in the engaging dialect of Bahamianese. Listen closely and you will note British, Irish, and African influences. Don't hesitate to ask if you need a bit of translation!

The current runs on 120 volts/60 cycles AC, so you will not need an adapter for your American appliances.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Entry: US citizens staying for 8 months or less need one of the following: a) passport, b) certified copy of their US birth certificate and a government-issued picture ID, or c) naturalization papers and a picture ID. US residents need their residency card (green card) and a passport from their home country.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Bahamas Customs: Each adult visitor over 21 years old is allowed to bring 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, or 1 pound of tobacco; 1 quart of spirits; and personal items. You will be given an immigration card to complete and sign; keep the carbon copy to turn in at departure. Minors under the age of 16 traveling alone or with only one parent/adult guardian must present a notarized consent form from the absent parent(s). If the child's circumstance is not covered by this requirement, check directly with a Bahamian consulate for instructions.

US Customs: Upon return to the US, visitors may bring in $600 worth of merchandise without paying duty. The next $1,000 worth of merchandise is charged at 10%. Gifts of up to $50 may be sent home duty free. One quart of alcoholic beverage may be brought in duty free, as well as five cartons of cigarettes. Conveniently, US Customs is pre-cleared out of Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama.

Departure Tax: A $15 departure tax will be charged when exiting the country.

US Embassy: Queen Street, PO Box N-8197, Nassau, Bahamas, phone 242-322-4753

Bahamas Tourism Development Authority: PO Box N 3701, Nassau, Bahamas, phone 242-322-7500, fax 242-328-0945

Chicago: 8600 W Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 820, Chicago, IL 60631, phone 773-693-1500

Dallas: World Trade Center, 2050 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 116, Dallas, TX 75258, phone 214-742-1886

Fort Lauderdale: 1100 Lee Wagener Blvd., Suite 204, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, phone 800-688-4752 or 954-359-8099

Los Angeles: 3450 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 208, Los Angeles, CA 90010, phone 800-439-6993

Miami: 1 Turnberry Place, 19495 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 809, Aventura, FL 33180, phone 305-932-0051

New York: 150 E 52nd St., New York, NY 10022, phone 212-758-2777