Over spring break my family traveled to Old Bahama Bay, a small resort on the western tip of the Bahamas. Stepping off the plane, the warm breeze was a welcome change to the harsh Illinois winter. We were immediately greeted by our cheerful cab driver, Kale, who was more than happy to tell us all about the Bahama way. We soon realized that just about everyone here is happy, friendly, and that the area is extremely safe. Within forty minutes, we had reached the secluded resort for our five days in paradise.
Even with grogginess from the long plane ride, the beauty of the region was captivating and impossible to ignore. We pulled into a marina with beautiful wooden sailboats moored in crystal blue water. Palm trees and golden yellow sand were all you could see beyond. We reached the beach house where we would be staying, which was a pale pink, the color of the conch which the Bahamas are famous for. Even with a beautiful balcony view, we didn’t stay in the room long.
We quickly migrated to the beach where we had access to hammocks, kayaks, paddleboards, and a sailboat. All week, I spent much of my time on the mesmerizing blue-green water, learning to sail and perfecting my balance on the paddle boards. When we needed a break from the hot sun, we would head to the pool area to play darts, pool, or to get a smoothie at the small beachside restaurant. Low tide was the perfect time for a walk in the sand because you could find sea urchins, starfish, and sea cucumbers. One day, we even spotted and snorkeled with a manta ray.
To finish off a perfect day, we would watch the sunset from the hammocks after dinner by the marina. Our five days went by quickly and we certainly weren’t ready to leave when the time came. As the slogan of the islands says, “It’s better in the Bahamas.”