Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Old Bahama Bay Resort & MarinaA2
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Sandy Beach VillasD2
Eating
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Banana BayC3
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Cooper's Convenience StoreE2
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Miss Zelma's Conch StandE2
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Paradise CoveA3
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Smitty's One Stop ShopD2
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West End BakeryA2
Port Lucaya Marketplace
MARKET
At Lucaya's heart, this tidied-up pastel version of a traditional Bahamian marketplace has
the majority of the area's shopping, dining and entertainment options. Haggle for tote bags
and batik cloth at the
straw market
, peruse duty-free emeralds at one of the many jewelry
shops, or have a cocktail overlooking the Bell Channel waterway. At the market's center
is Count Basie Sq, which hops with goombay bands, church choirs and karaoke parties on
weekends.
Rand Nature Centre
BOTANICAL GARDEN
( 242-352-5438; East Settlers Way, Freeport; adult/child $5/3; 9am-4:30pm) This
headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust is a low-key 100-acre retreat. There are more
than 130 native plant species, including a number of weird and wonderful orchids and a
native coppice that has grown here since before the time of Columbus. Highlights of the
park's half-mile nature trail include a variety of bush medicine plants, a wooden board-
walk overlooking a lily pad-choked pond, and a flock of high-stepping West Indian flamin-
gos. On the first Saturday of every month, bird-lovers can join a guided tour in hope of
spotting red-tailed hawks, egrets, kingfishers, Cuban emerald hummingbirds and Antillean
peewees.
Perfume Factory
FACTORY
( 242-352-9391; behind the International Bazaar, Freeport; 9am-5:30pm) Have you
ever wanted a perfume named after you, a la J Lo? Now's your chance. Inside this pink-
and-white mock colonial mansion, lab coat-wearing technicians mix, strain and bottle per-
fumes and colognes for Fragrances of the Bahamas. Top sellers include Sand for Men, with
a pinch of Bahamian sand at the bottom of the bottle, and women's Pink Pearl, a frangipani-
tinged scent with a pink conch pearl inside. For $30, you can choose three essential oils to
