Grand Bahama Island Guide » More About Grand Bahama Island: Overview

Overview

Located 52 miles off the eastern coast of Florida, Grand Bahama is the fourth-largest island in the Bahamas and is surrounded by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Spanish conquistadors visited the islands in the 16th century and decided it had no commercial value, and that's how it stayed until the 1950s, when American millionaire Wallace Groves saw the island's potential and decided to build a tax-free port. Visited by nearly a million tourists a year, Grand Bahama Island is now a tourism hotspot, with shopping, dining and activities galore. Browse the International Bazaar, which features shop after shop selling perfume, gemstones, clothing and crafts from around the globe. Located next door is the Grand Resort at Bahamia, home of the popular Princess Casino. In nearby Lucaya, don't miss the Port Lucaya Marketplace, which offers great shopping along with fantastic dining. Stroll around the marina and watch the graceful yachts and boats heading out to sea, or hop on one and enjoy a fishing excursion. Better yet, suit up and try one of the island's claims to fame – some of the most scenic diving in the world.