Freeport, Grand Bahamas

born2cruise · April 12, 2005

Looking for some ideas of what to do or see in Freeport. Does not look like there is much.

:wink: :wink:

born2cruise · April 12, 2005

Looking for some ideas of what to do or see in Freeport. Does not look like there is much.

:wink: :wink:

bakersuzie · April 12, 2005

I went to Freeport about ten yrs. ago so I don't know if things have changed, but the straw market is nice, and there were a number of beach excursions that were a blast.

bakersuzie · April 12, 2005

I went to Freeport about ten yrs. ago so I don't know if things have changed, but the straw market is nice, and there were a number of beach excursions that were a blast.

DaCruzNut · April 13, 2005

Unfortunately, you are correct! There really isn't a lot to do in Freeport/Port Lucaya (Grand Bahama Island) except going to the casino and shopping!

Up until 1955, the island was covered with pine forest and had a few hundred people and one small town. The economy was based on fishing. There were no resorts, casinos, straw market(s), etc;

An American financier, Wallace Groves, had moved to the island in the mid-forties and had a different vision for the island. He realized the potential for an island that was only about 60 miles from the shores of South Florida!

Groves worked out an agreement with the Bahamian Government to buy 50,000 acres, with an option for an additional 50,000... Together with a few others, they developed the harbor, built hotels, and created a tourist destination.

Otherwise, it's a small, flat island, with not much in the way of local history, no major buildings, not even a fort, and not much to do if you don't want to sit on the beach, gamble or shop.

One bright spot is the Garden of the Groves, which was purchased from the Grove family by miami's Parrot Jungle. It is temporarily closed for refurbishing...

DaCruzNut · April 13, 2005

Unfortunately, you are correct! There really isn't a lot to do in Freeport/Port Lucaya (Grand Bahama Island) except going to the casino and shopping!

Up until 1955, the island was covered with pine forest and had a few hundred people and one small town. The economy was based on fishing. There were no resorts, casinos, straw market(s), etc;

An American financier, Wallace Groves, had moved to the island in the mid-forties and had a different vision for the island. He realized the potential for an island that was only about 60 miles from the shores of South Florida!

Groves worked out an agreement with the Bahamian Government to buy 50,000 acres, with an option for an additional 50,000... Together with a few others, they developed the harbor, built hotels, and created a tourist destination.

Otherwise, it's a small, flat island, with not much in the way of local history, no major buildings, not even a fort, and not much to do if you don't want to sit on the beach, gamble or shop.

One bright spot is the Garden of the Groves, which was purchased from the Grove family by miami's Parrot Jungle. It is temporarily closed for refurbishing...

DaCruzNut · April 13, 2005

Unfortunately, you are correct! There really isn't a lot to do in Freeport/Port Lucaya (Grand Bahama Island) except going to the casino and shopping!

Up until 1955, the island was covered with pine forest and had a few hundred people and one small town. The economy was based on fishing. There were no resorts, casinos, straw market(s), etc;

An American financier, Wallace Groves, had moved to the island in the mid-forties and had a different vision for the island. He realized the potential for an island that was only about 60 miles from the shores of South Florida!

Groves worked out an agreement with the Bahamian Government to buy 50,000 acres, with an option for an additional 50,000... Together with a few others, they developed the harbor, built hotels, and created a tourist destination.

Otherwise, it's a small, flat island, with not much in the way of local history, no major buildings, not even a fort, and not much to do if you don't want to sit on the beach, gamble or shop.

One bright spot is the Garden of the Groves, which was purchased from the Grove family by miami's Parrot Jungle. It is temporarily closed for refurbishing...