sunrisemom

HEllo!
Goodness, the Bahamas really look amazing but wow are there a lot of places within to choose from! We are a family of 4 - kids ages 15 and 13. We love beautiful beaches, paddle boarding, kayaking, biking, jet skiing, hiking.....nightlife not necessary but some cute shops nearby and some restaurants with good food (healthy - not fast food) would be great. For reference, if anyone is familiar with Anna Maria Island, Florida - we love it there but have been there twice and wanted to try some place different. Hubby and I both turn 50 next year and wanted to try a new place! We will be going in April. Which part of the Bahamas??
Thank you in advance!

Sunrisemom

mnag

I would recommend you take a look at Harbor island (Eleuthera) and Eblow key (Abacos).

Callaloo

You're right -- the Bahamas can be overwhelming! There are 700 islands from which to choose. But even with your specified preferences, you don't give us too much to go one. So, answer a few more questions so that those of us who've been around can give you more guidance. Like:

- Where are you traveling from, and how willing are you to make multiple flight connections?
- Are you interested in a large hotel, small inn, or rental villa?
- How able are you and your kids to entertain yourselves? Do you need TV, wifi, motorized sports activities? Or are you content to make the most of your natural environment?
- Are you handy with small boats?
- Are you willing to rent a car?

As mnag suggested, one place to try would be the Abacos. Not as busy as Nassau, but offering more amenities than the more remote Out Islands. But even within the Abacos, there is a range of activity, so which cay you choose can greatly determine the kind of experience you get.

I would also suggest looking at a guide -- Fodors' is a good one! -- and see if there are any places or properties that ring your bell (especially with regard to your budget). My bucket list has included not only particular islands, but particular resorts that I've read about, because reading about them hit a chord.

sunrisemom

Many thanks for the suggestions!
To answer your questions:
-We are traveling from southern vt and are willing to make multiple connections.

Small inn or villa is more our speed and we do not need tv etc. we are perfectly happy exploring the natural surroundings

Do you mean Small non motorized boats? Either way, he's a pretty handy guy.

We are fine to rent a car.

It's funny- I had read about the Abacos and felt like that might be a good fit!
Many thanks for your suggestions!

Callaloo

By small boats, I meant power boats. That's a very common mode of transport in the Abacos -- lots of visitors rent them and go island-hopping. IF you don't want to spend that kind of money, or don't feel comfortable, not to worry. Just use the ferries, or go on an excursion with one of the dive shops.

The Abacos are sort of a gateway drug to the more remote Bahamian Out Islands. I would suggest Elbow Cay or Great Guana Cay. For either, you would fly to Marsh Harbour (MHH) -- most likely via Miami. Then you ferry over to your chosen cay. With any luck, you are at your home base in time for a late lunch.

Lots of terrific places to stay on these islands, but I would personally look for a rental villa with a dock (to park your rental boat, of course!). There are a handful of shops and restaurants, but if you're looking for heavy grocery shopping, I would pick that stuff up in Marsh Harbour before getting on the ferry. And if the big city of Hopetown (on Elbow Cay) (ha!) gets to be too much, you don't have far to go to get away.

If you don't do motorboats, the other modes of transport on Elbow Cay are golf carts and bicycles.

joan

Totally agree with Callaloo. Having been to Eleuthera, Exuma, and Elbow, with teens I think there's more for them on Elbow. It's fun to boat by day and then take your golf cart to dinner in the big city, as Callaloo says. Eleuthera is a bit more remote with rental jalopy required - but it's fun to go exploring by day and then hang out in your rental villa cooking and enjoying the stars in the evening (no night driving unless you're completely sober! - the roads are mostly sand to the villas). Harbour Island, a short water taxi from Eleu, is very small and a bit too posh for my taste. But you may like it!

One year we rented a houseboat in Exuma - that was a great adventure, staying in the calm waterways between the "mainland" and the barrier islands. But I don't believe this is available any more, and Exuma is maybe too quiet for teens.

Have fun deciding!

blamona

Staniel Cay (Exumas) is amazing for kids! The yacht club has gorgeous bungalows, food is amazing! The bungalows come with a 13' skiff to explore all the cays. Luxury yachts at the marina. (like the kind you see on shows on TV) Tame sharks, swimming pigs, iguanas, Thunderball Ghrotto, each little cay or sand bar has lots to explore. Prettiest water of them all too!

If this is too much off the beaten path, I've always thought Harbour Island is the best intro to Out Islands, a little more polished then out islands, a little more laid back than Nassau, happy first visit. With teens, I'd stay at Valentines, and rent a golf cart for the week. Colorful little gorgeous town, handful of great restaurants in walking distance. You can also take day trips to Eleuthera, see the Window Bridge and many of the "elusive" beaches.

Eleuthera itself is long, requires car, and pretty isolated, so I think teens would enjoy either Staniel Cay or Harbour Island more