Nassau - Kudz' Bachelor Party

The Bahamas is a tropical island chain in the Caribbean Sea and a world-famous vacation destination. It is an independent commonwealth of the United Kingdom. The most-visited islands are Grand Bahama Island (where Freeport City is located), New Providence (dominated by the capital, Nassau) and Paradise Island, home of the famous Atlantis casino resort. The Out Islands  make up the remainder of the 700 islands that make up the archipelago. Many cruise lines travel to the Bahamas, and several operate private island retreats there.

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, on the northeastern edge of New Providence Island. Today, with a population of 200,000, Nassau contains nearly 70 percent of the population of the Bahamas. However, it's still quite low-rise and laid back.

Take a walk around Old Town, an interesting mixture of abandoned buildings and bright Caribbean structures. It doesn't take long to get away from the over-scrubbed tourist areas in the very center. Walk 10 minutes uphill to the pink Parliament Building, which still has a statue of an enthroned Queen Victoria out front. The Pirate Museum offers recreations of a pirate town, a pirate ship and a pirate battle, with a few real artifacts mixed in. It’s cheesy, but fun.

Nassau is a spring break Mecca for good reason. The nightly club scene can be rowdy.

While it's within a block of Bay Street, this restaurant's side-street location makes for a much calmer atmosphere. Diners can take time to savor juicy cuts of meat, mouthwatering desserts and homemade pastas. The menu features fresh pasta, pizza and seafood. For lusty appetites, the filet mignon is a favorite. The restaurant is housed in a historic Colonial home, on a picturesque downtown lane. Colorful prints by Matisse and his contemporaries decorate the walls. The management requires elegant-casual attire.

The Nassau Hilton is located on a private harbourfront beach, approximately 11 miles from Nassau International Airport and a five-minute walk from Nassau's shopping center and casinos. The beach is ideal for snorkeling and the staff can arrange for on-site scuba diving and nearby golf.The hotel amenities include the fitness room, freshwater pool (overlooking the Harbour), tropical gardens, private beach, non-motorized watersports, beach volleyball, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Azure Spa is a 3,200 square-foot spa with a variety of treatment rooms and treatments, including massages by the ocean. The Patio Grill & Pool Bar offers tropical concoctions and light meals with views of Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island. Blackbeard's Cove Lobby Bar overlooks Nassau Harbour and is adjacent to Portofino Restaurant, which has casual Italian fare. The Palm Court Lounge and Blue Note Jazz Lounge have live music Monday through Saturday, and there are two casinos nearby. The hotel also offers valet laundry service, a beauty salon, a concierge desk, currency exchange, a gift shop and newsstand, and room service.All rooms have air-conditioning, bathroom amenities, clock radios, coffeemakers, hairdryers, Internet access, irons and ironing boards, sofa beds, trouser press, work desks, minibars, voicemail, and cable TV.

The restaurant at Graycliff Hotel is as rich in tradition and reputation as the hotel itself, and the cuisine is as good as any in the Caribbean. The exquisite menu features Bahamian-Continental cuisine. The award-winning wine collection boasts 400 vintages from around the globe. Graycliff Mansion has a history that dates back a few hundred years, to the time when pirates ruled the islands. The décor of the restaurant reflects its origins, and each room retains its original title. Have a cocktail on a plush sofa in the parlor, then adjourn to the gallery or the library to enjoy your meal.

The enormous stone cathedral off Bay Street is more than just an impressive edifice. It is a landmark, and has played a significant role in Nassau's history. The original church was built in 1670. It was granted cathedral status in 1861, giving the settlement of Nassau the right to claim city status. Approximately 130 years later the church was given a thorough facelift. Today it looms up majestically, dwarfing every other building on the block, a testament to Nassau's rich history. The church is still very active and holds multiple services and prayers in a traditional Anglican style for Evensong, evening, and Sunday morning services. The church also has an extensive website providing a great deal of interesting historical information and newsletters about recent events. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.

Visitors are invited to see the Bahamian Supreme Court in action. The justice system continues to pattern itself after Great Britain's grand old legal tradition, which requires judges to wear long wigs and lawyers to sport flowing robes. If you can get up early enough, take in the formal inspection of the Guard of Honour. The Chief Justice presides, and the Royal Bahamas Police Force band performs. The pomp and ceremony make nice counterparts to island leisure.

This stirring pageant is a winner for anyone interested in tradition. The internationally renowned Royal Bahamas Police Force Band accompanies the Changing of the Guard ceremony. The ceremony also offers one of the finest non-nature photo opportunities you will find during your stay in the Caribbean. Government House is the residence of the Governor General, personal representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Get swept up in the pomp every second Saturday.

Americans may find cricket a bit confusing at first, but for much of the rest of the world, it is a popular sport as is its U.S. equivalent, baseball. This challenging and exciting spectator sport has propelled dozens of players to international fame. The season here runs from March through November and the games can take hours to complete, so remember sunblock and a hat. During the season, don't be surprised to find most cabbies and shop owners with their ears to the radio or TV during match time. You can catch a match during the season on Saturdays and Sundays at noon.

Fancy a spot of tea or some Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding while watching your favorite cricket team dash around the field? The Cricket Club Pavilion adjacent to the Cricket Club of Nassau offers classic British fare such as steak and kidney pie, shepherd pie, fish and chips, roast beef sandwiches, and of course, delicious British and Bahamian beer. Bahamian specialties include conch fritters and conch chowder. Breakfasts are strictly British with toast, jam and tea. Owners Connie and Chris are there to explain the rules of Cricket to newcomers.

Statues of notable historical and mythological figures populate this stone garden. Marble and bronze visages of Hercules, Napoleon and Josephine, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt are featured here, along with a host of others. The Cloisters, a 14th-century French monastery, was brought brick by brick from its mother country and reconstructed at the top of the garden. Versailles Gardens is part of the Ocean Club property, but visitors are welcome to inspect the statues free of charge.

Located on the northern side of Paradise Island, this stretch of white powdery sand is held to be the most aesthetically pleasing of its kind on the island. Guests from the adjacent hotels and resorts come to enjoy waterskiing, parasailing, and other water sports. Though the beach is lined with numerous hotels, the eastern end remains uninhabited for the most part. The famous statues at Versailles Garden are just a few blocks south.