Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
were busy making a killing as 'wreckers,' salvaging goods and parts from the
carcasses of reef-snagged shipwrecks - why build a lighthouse that would only
take away your main source of income? Much to the wrecker's dismay, light-
houses were eventually called for, and Scot-Irish lighthouse builders arrived in
the mid-1800s. These are some of their handiwork:
»
Elbow Cay Lighthouse
(
Click here
) Built in 1864, this red-and-white striped
beauty graces many a postcard; you can get here on the Elbow Cay ferry if you
ask the captain nicely.
»
Hole-in-the-Wall Lighthouse
(
Click here
) From 1836, this red stone tower is
hidden deep within Abaco National Park.
»
Coakley Town Lighthouse
In Andros' Fresh Creek (
Click here
), this 1892
gray stone turret looks like it's on loan from a medieval castle.
»
Hog Island Lighthouse
On Paradise Island ('Hog Island,' before its PR-mo-
tivated name change;
Click here
), this 1817 white brick tower is the oldest light-
house in the Bahamas and all of the West Indies.
»
Dixon Hill Lighthouse
(
Click here
) On San Salvador, this 1887 round white
tower is still in operation, with tours given by the working lightkeepers.
»
Great Inagua Lighthouse
(
Click here
) From 1870, this 112ft-tall white tower
still operates by hand-cranked kerosene motor.
TOURS
Great Abaco Express
NATURE, HISTORY
( 242-367-0200; thegreatabacoexpress@yahoo.com) Tour guide Glender Knowles is a
fountain of knowledge about Abaconian nature, history and culture. Join one of her cus-
tomizable tours - birdwatching in Abaco National Park, Loyalist history in the cays, light-
house trips - and get ready to be edified.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Check out the website
www.destinationabaco.net
or
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
(
242-367-3067;
www.bahamas.com
;
Memorial Plaza, Queen Elizabeth Dr;
9am-5:30pm
Mon-Fri) for up-to-date information on these and many other events.
Arts for the Parks
In February, local artists sell their crafts, jewelry and paintings to be-
nefit local parks.
Marsh Harbour Wahoo Championship
The first-ever big-game fishing competition
kicks off in February, 2011.
