Cable Beach

One of the most popular strips of shoreline on New Providence Island, Cable Beach gained fame during the post WWII boom in the Bahamas. Today, the glittering beachfront, which spans 3km (2 miles) of powdery sands just west of Nassau, is lined with luxury resorts, restaurants, casinos and a golf course. Sun worshippers can spend their days reclining on beach lounges, swimming in the turquoise sea, or enjoying an array of watersports, including scuba diving and snorkelling. Also part of Cable Beach attractions: duty-free shopping and a bustling nightlife.

With its pleasant climate, Cable Beach draws a large number of Westerners seeking a tropical getaway. The resort area is popular among couples and young single holidaymakers looking for a hip beach scene, gambling, and some glitz and glamour. Nonetheless, families also frequent Cable Beach to enjoy its gorgeous sands, the variety of recreation and dining, and the proximity to family-friendly attractions. The best time to visit is December through May, when temperatures are warm and humidity and precipitation low. Many avoid travelling here from August to October, the height of the tropical storm season.

Cable Beach lies 4.8km (3 miles) west of downtown Nassau on the north side of New Providence Island, in the Bahamas. It is situated 8km (5 miles) from Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Facing the Atlantic Ocean, Cable Beach is made up of a string of beaches and resorts located at the centre of New Providence's northern coast. Beyond the miles of white sand that mark the coastline, the island is home to beautiful foliage, including bright red hibiscus and large groves of casuarina pine.

Cable Beach is known for its beautiful stretches of white sand bordered by swaying palms and cerulean waters. The beaches attached to the hotels are well-populated by holidaymakers and vendors selling anything from shell jewellery and beach cover-ups to hair braiding services and fresh coconut juice. Even though resorts line much of the shorefront, there is public access and also a few less busy areas to enjoy. 

When it comes to daytime recreation, snorkelling and scuba diving are some of the favourite pursuits along the beach (you can hire equipment at one of the resorts or from a dive shop). Additionally, the list of watersports includes parasailing, waterskiing, banana-boat riding and kite boarding.

Golfers tee off on the Radisson Cable Beach Golf Course (West Bay Street) an 18-hole, par 72 course that is open to the public as well as hotel guests. The Crystal Palace at the Wyndham Nassau Resort (West Bay Street) (website: www.wyndham.com), the largest casino in the Bahamas island chain, offers Las Vegas-style gaming just steps from the beach.

In addition to the many watersports available along the Cable Beach shorefront, families can venture into Nassau to visit Pirates of Nassau (on the corner of Marlborough and George streets) (website: www.pirates-of-nassau.com), an interactive museum showcasing remnants of the Golden Age of Piracy, during which Nassau played a key role. A quick taxi ride away, Paradise Island, and Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (website: www.atlantis.com) on Casino Drive with its enormous water playground and marine habitat, makes for a fun day trip.

Cable Beach is home to a number of high-end souvenir stores selling gold and silver jewellery, linen, perfume, cameras, spirits and watches as well as native Bahamian goods such as handcrafted leather apparel, bookmarks, key chains, and beaded and shell jewellery. Still, nearby Nassau, with its Straw Market, Prince George Wharf and Bay Street, promises some of the best duty-free shopping in the Bahamas.

Among the popular hangouts after dark are Breezes Superclubs (West Bay Street), Rock ‘n' Roll Café (Red Bay Street) and Zoo (West Bay Beach). Those seeking world-class gambling head to Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino (website: www.wyndham.com), which boasts an 800-seat theatre, a Vegas-style gaming room as well as 750 slot machines, 50 blackjack tables, and numerous roulette and craps tables.

No one goes hungry in Cable Beach where a wide range of eateries serve anything from local delicacies, such as conch, lobster, crab and rice, and Johnny Cakes (fried cornmeal cakes), to Caribbean-influenced American dishes. Landlubbers can savour chicken, beef, lamb, pork and vegetarian dishes from around the globe. Area favourites include Café Johnny Canoe at Nassau Beach Hotel (West Bay Street) for a uniquely Bahamian experience, and Chez Ville (West Bay Street), serving a blend of gourmet French cuisine and Bahamian seafood in an elegant setting.

Unless you're planning to explore the island extensively, you won't need to rent a car. There's no public transportation system, so most visitors get around by taxi, bike, Jitney bus service or on foot.

In adjacent Nassau, the island's capital and an area steeped in history, you'll find beautifully preserved colonial mansions, cathedrals and 18th-century fortresses. Don't miss a climb up the 66-step Queen's Staircase to Fort Fincastle (Chippingham Road), from where views are spectacular. Adastra Gardens is also well worth a visit, housing two hectares (five acres) of landscaping and more than 300 exotic mammals, reptiles and birds, including pink flamingos that march for visitors at their trainer's commands.

Sign up for a daylong sea excursion to Saddleback Cay (in the Exumas, 64km/40 miles from Paradise Island) with Island World Adventures (website: www.islandworldadventures.com). Following a quick ride aboard a 13.7m/45ft high-powered speedboat, you can snorkel, hike, or soak up the sun on several beaches exclusive to Island World Adventures. Also included is a stop at Leaf Cay, home to dozens of friendly iguanas. The trip departs daily from the ferry terminal next to Paradise Island Exit Bridge.

Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)