Grand Bahama Island is the fourth largest island and second most popular tourist destination in the Bahamas. Located less than 70 miles from the coast of Florida, the island is 539 square miles in size and features long stretches of secluded beachfront, wildlife habitats, tropical gardens and charming communities. We stayed at a resort at Silver Point Beach six miles from the capital of Freeport/Lucaya. The view from our balcony encompassed the canal system that provided ocean access to the homes of Ocean Reef.
 

The main tourist area is Freeport/Lucaya. To the east and west lie many communities with numerous beaches and reefs suitable for fishing, snorkelling or diving.

The beach area in front of our resort was typical of the island, with long expanses of white sand and turquoise water practically to oneself.

Freeport is the commercial centre of Grand Bahama. It has the commercial ship harbor, airport, and medical and financial services. (Jon Worth, Wikimedia Commons)
 

The Grand Lucayan Resort is the largest tourist development on the island. (photo courtesy of Grand Lucayan)

Lucaya has large hotels, some restaurants, a marina and a casino.

The Port Lucaya Marketplace features retail shops, restaurants, bars, straw vendors and hair braiders.

Traditional Junkanoo performers can be seen in the entertainment complex, Basie Square.
 

An important source of income for Bahamians is arts and crafts for the tourist market, the most prevalent being straw weaving and wood carving.
 

International Marketplace was once a thriving tourist attraction but which has not quite revived since being damaged by hurricanes.
 

Conch meat is widely consumed in salads and fritters. On the western shore, we encountered several large piles of conch shells.

Lucayan National Park is a forty acre preserve which includes trails through various vegetation zones as well as access to the spectacular Gold Rock Beach.
 

As the tide recedes, Gold Rock Beach gradually reveals a long expanse of white sand, shallow pools, and a variety of sea life.

Part of the protected park supports Grand Bahama's mangrove ecosystem and features a spectacular variety of tropical vegetation.

The National Park exhibits every vegetation zone found in the Bahamas and contains the longest known underwater cave system in the world.
 

Near the cruise port in the north, there is a fish sanctuary which attracts sharks.

The Bahamian clapboard architectural style has been widely adopted throughout the tropics.
 

Taino Beach hosts a weekly fish fry featuring a traditional cookout with Bahamian music, rum punch, and dishes such as fried snapper, lobster, potato bread and conch salad.

Garden of the Groves is a preserve featuring winding trails past pools and waterfalls, a labyrinth, a chapel and an assortment of flowers, fish, turtles and birds.

West End is the oldest town, westernmost settlement, and capital of Grand Bahama island. It first achieved notoriety as a Rum-running port during Prohibition.

We appreciated the delightful Bahamian people who are courteous, compassionate and gentle.