People who travel for a vacation target fun. Anyone who desires to stand in a queue for hours can visit a popular amusement park. Do you want to sniff the excitement of wild life? Participate in a safari. Feeding the stingrays and swimming with sharks appeal to those with a burning desire for underwater adventure. Most people plan a vacation like a party or wedding! Even the minutest details emerges as significant.

A vacation provides an escape from the mundane routine of a scheduled everyday life. Do you desire a stimulating escapade with outdoor fun and adventure? Make remote, quaint Crooked Island in the southeastern Bahamas your primary choice! Besides returning home refreshed and rejuvenated, your tomes of memories will survive the seasons in your life. The savoury taste of Crooked Island will steer you through the archives of time as you paraphrase John Masefield :

"I must go down to Crooked Island again,

Where the balmy breezes blow.

I must go down to Crooked Island again,

Where soursop and dillies grow...!

Beach Treasures

Considering the tropical heat, as soon as you reach Crooked Island, you want to head for the beach! The uniquely refreshing balmy breezes beckon you to walk the cool strand and bathe your tired, travel worn feet in the clean, crystal clear water of the Atlantic Ocean. Do you feel famished after your journey? No need to worry. Enjoy the dainty repast. Or, your eager feet may entice you to settle for a snack as it leads you on a wild adventure along the beach. Screams of excitement fill the fresh air. What did you find? It looks like a pink quill? Oh, it's a shell! Your arm will not be able to carry all the shells that you find hidden among the sea weed! You need a box! Driftwood, half buried in the sand, captures your attention. So does a purple sea fan, a sand dollar, sea urchin dried by the sun, an empty bottle painted with melodic notes, sponges, corals, sunrise and sunset tellin. How can you choose when you have so much to lose? You wish you had brought a box or a basket. You leave with a glass ball from nets in Portugal and a queen conch shell.

Swimming

You rise with the dawn as you long to view a breathtaking Bahamian sunrise. The sky explodes with colour. You sit on the soft, powdery sand and gape in wonder. Oh, it is so beautiful. As the sun rises, the magnetic ocean invites you to frolic in its frothy surf. The water is so warm; and it is clear enough to see your feet. Your wiggling toes burrow into the sand. The water remains clear. Swimming alone is an invitation to disaster. Most swimmers prefer to follow the 'buddy' system. The water is clear; but you are aware of the murky water rule. You sit at the edge of the water and meditate for a few moments as you look out to sea. Buddy or not, you slip into the water, splash around for a while then relax during the resting float. The water was too good to resist the temptation! After breakfast, you plan to swim again.. with family and friends .The atmosphere of Crooked Island is ideal for children, other family members and friends.

Natural World

At the Bronx Zoo, a sign warned visitors not to tap on the glass. What would one do if the glass broke and the anaconda escaped? On Crooked Island, Bahamas a tour of the natural world will provide encounters with countless species. At the culvert, there are fishes. Some swim in schools; and some prey on the schools. No aquarium can afford the natural wonder you see. While you are busily engaged in viewing fishes, keep an eagle eye for a snowy egret, youthful flamingo, heron or others who choose to camouflage themselves in the coppice. An ardent, knowledgeable birdwatcher can identify at least fifty birds who visit the culvert. A stroll to SeaView or Turtle Sound will reveal more birds. An osprey, known locally as a sea hawk, waits patiently while perched in a casaurina or balanced on a high tension wire. His feathered friends are varied.

Do you enjoy seeing flitting butterflies - lemon, monarch, white, red,white and blue, golden rod? they appear in so many hues! Are you fascinated by beetles? Have you seen an - almost two feet-, a curly tailed lizard or a Bahamian boa, known as a fowl snake? Do you know that blue lizards and intricately designed lizards live on Crooked Island too? Occasionally a frisky,frolicking kid goat may appear and dart back into the bushes. These curious creatures await your arrival! Bring your binoculars and a fully loaded camera as well as a keen eye.

Photography

Are you an avid photographer who enjoys scenic views? On Crooked Island the views are varied and memorable, tailored to your taste. The buttonwood,in its unique garb, invites you to pause for a moment. Do you crave picturesque views? Visit Macai Bluff and Mount Pisgah. Nature Trail Guides are available to assist you with your zealous effort to reach new heights. Countless creeks and ponds teem with wild life and scenic views. Wherever you travel on Crooked Island, prepare for a unique experience.

Rambling

Rambling denotes and connotes exploration. You go into the bush and blaze a trail. During the summer, coco plums bushes flourish with edible fruits. They abound along the street in Landrail Point. Besides berries and plums, one can find the famous cascarilla bark that is used in making Campari and other consumer products. You will find wild tamarind trees. The wood is integral in boat building; and one Crooked Islander has dominated during Regatta, winning many races. During a talk at the high school, he mentioned the role of wild tamarind wood in boat building. One does not have to go far to find dodder, known locally as love vine. It can be used to relieve backaches or taken as a tea. The coppice is filled with medicinal herbs. Five finger,gum elemi, love vine, strong back and sweet Margaret are among the bush used as a virility tonic for men.

Fishing

Sportsmen flock to Crooked Island for it is here that they enjoy the best bonefishing in the Bahamas and the world. Those who choose this sport will find a variety of guides. However,there are those who fish and may crave their catch - grouper, snapper, mutton fish, grunt, Margot known locally as Margaret fish. Fishing can be an all day activity or for a few hours. Henry from McHenry On Time Tours specializes in small groups and can be contacted easily. Would you like to experience snorkeling or diving? There are Guides who are flexible and experienced enough to help you make your day memorable.

Spelunking

Are all caves equal? Not on Crooked Island! Do you enjoy exploration and adventure? Choose your cave! From Gun Bluff To Cove, no two caves are the same. Unless you are experienced in spelunking, it is advisable to use a Guide . Experience is important, but so is knowledge. The main cave near Bird Rock Lighthouse compares to a majestic cathedral. This experience will leave children and adults gaping in awe? Do you know the purpose for which the residents use cave dirt? interact with the locals and discover their secret.

Cycling

Do you enjoy cycling? Are you willing to challenge your cycling ability or your friends? Crooked Island is curvy. However, the hills provide an exercising thrill. Forget the treadmill. Walk or cycle up a hill! Whether you take the scenic route along the bay or travel through quaint settlements, the hills are there. Even skateboarders would love them. Cycling is a year long activity as even the balmy breezes favour this sport.

Attend Church

Do you feel a thrill when you fellowship with the people of God? Whether you worship God on Saturday or Sunday, members of a church will welcome you. There are active churches from Landrail Point To Colonel Hill. You can join in traditional or spirited worship. While some churches use only the organ, others utilize guitar, drums and tambourines along with the organ. Wherever you choose to go, the fellowship will provide a taste of heaven!

Meet The Natives

What is a vacation without people? One songwriter declared that people who need people are the luckiest people in the world. The interaction with the locals can take a variety of forms. Those who need a guide for fishing or ground tours will be provided with one. But, a guide cannot provide the flavour and atmosphere of the island. He is but one personality. Do you want a memorable vacation? Stop at the Landrail Point Public Library and meet some natives. Leave a part of yourself! Do you possess special gift or talent? Share it. Are you skilled in a specific area? Impart it. Ask yourself: What can I do to leave indelible footprints in the sands of time? Of course your vacation is intended to focus on you. You have worked hard and saved for it. All you want to do is enjoy it to the fullest .Once you really meet the local residents, the people of Crooked Island, Bahamas, you will never forget them.

Life demands giving the best. Do you prefer temporal gifts or unselfish service? Which will last in spite of the ravages of time? Ten reasons to visit Crooked Island, Bahamas is a short list! After you have met the people, you can expand it by adding ten more reasons!