Paradise Island
#7 in Best Islands in the Bahamas
If your perfect vacation includes glitzy resorts, sparkling white sand beaches and family-friendly activities, head to Paradise Island. The massive Atlantis, Paradise Island resort complex is the island’s crowning jewel, sheltering the world’s largest open-air marine habitat and one of the Caribbean’s largest casinos and water parks. Book your stay with the resort or purchase a day pass to enjoy amenities, such as the Predator Lagoon, Aquaventure and Dolphin Cay. Keep in mind that Paradise Island is primarily a tourist destination, so expect crowds.
Cat Island
#8 in Best Islands in the Bahamas
Although this unpretentious island lacks the flashiness of Nassau and Great Exuma, it is precisely this low profile that keeps its beaches pristine and uncrowded. Go kitesurfing at Greenwood Beach, search for sand dollars along Fernandez Bay or chat with locals at New Bight Beach. Afterward, visitors can hike Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the Bahamas, or embrace the island’s folklore by trying to spot the fabled mermaids in Mermaid Hole. Visit in June when the annual Rake ‘n’ Scrape music festival lights up the island with a farmers market, battle of the bands and quadrille dancing.
