Eleuthera

Though the Bahamian island of Eleuthera is only about 225 miles east of Miami, once there you’ll feel like you’re a million miles away. Maybe even more so at night when, due to the lack of development and ambient light, the sky is dazzling with millions of bright, twinkling stars . This very low profile island is long (110 miles) and skinny (no more than a mile wide). Up and down the coast are gorgeous and usually deserted pink sand beaches – many of which aren’t marked so one has to look for “subtle landmarks”. Actually it’s so long there are 3 airports: North Eleuthera (where one takes the water taxi to Harbour Island), Governor’s Harbour and Rock Sound (one can fly into either to get to Windermere Island).

Throughout Eleuthera are brightly painted houses with colorful tropical foliage and down every sandy lane seems to be another beautiful beach. Dotting this sparsely populated island are sleepy small settlements – the largest of which is Rock Sound in the southern end. Two very popular restaurants there are the Northside Restaurant and Bar for authentic Bahamian food and Pascal’s at Cape Eleuthera. Both have fantastic ocean views. About an hour further north is charming Governor’s Harbour. Favorite restaurants there include Tippy’s, a casual beachside shack with delicious food and a good wine list, and Mate & Jenny's Pizza Restaurant & Bar for American and Bahamian food and particularly good pizzas. And of course, the famous Governor’s Harbour Bakery full of irresistible treats.

There are quite a few fun places to visit on Eleuthera like the wonderful (and jump out of your car for a photo) Glass Window Bridge, Hatchet and Preacher’s Caves and the Turtle Lake Marine Preserve. There is also great diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiting and fishing including superb bone fishing in Savannah Sound. One can also swim in the amazing Blue Hole.

The local currency is the Bahamian dollar, changing at par with the U.S. dollar, which is accepted everywhere. Some of the airlines that service the 3 airports include: Silver Airways, American, United and Bahamasair. Private aircraft can land at all 3 and charter flights are available. Once can also fly from Nassau which is about 60 miles away.