As you ease into the Out Islands, you will find Eleuthera and Harbour Island. They are far away from the hustle and bustle of Nassau. The Out Islands give you a wonderful and laid back blend of pristine waters, silk-soft sands and the charm of a small town area.

If you are cruising Eleuthera’s 110 miles of beach, you can stop off at The Laughing Lizard, which opens at 11 AM. The lounge is a great lunch spot, with its tropical-inspired decor. After noon, you’ll see the surfers come in from Surfer’s Beach, and you can spend part of your afternoon watching them “hang ten”, and enjoy the beach. Another popular spot on Eleuthera is Tippy’s, which is enjoyed by locals and by visitors.

Some people own vacation homes near North Eleuthera, and they will show up too, with their fly rods, snorkeling gear and beach chairs. Lenny Kravitz is known the world over, but in Eleuthera, he’s just “Lenny”, since he is of the area. You’ll get a glimpse of some other celebrities, too, near the favorite yacht marina at Cape Eleuthera. It’s not like Hollywood, though. It’s much more laid-back. You’ll want to try a Harbour Island pineapple while you’re on the island, too.

Harbour Island is a mere five minute ride on a water taxi off the northern area of Eleuthera, giving you a model town and wonderful sandy beaches. The rest of the island is about quaint towns, including Governor’s Harbour, Spanish Wells, and Tarpum Bay. These towns offer sociable bars, weekly fish fries, top-class fly fishing, kayaking, and enough white and pink sand to keep this island on your “must-see” list.

If you want to get to Eleuthera, there are a couple of primary options. A small airport in North Eleuthera allows visitors to fly on American Airlines and other airlines that operate smaller jets. A second option is to take a ferry, which travels to Eleuthera ports. More information on ferries can be found on BahamasFerries.com.

Photo 1: Flickr.com
Photo 2: Flickr.com