Miami to Miami

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

Stretching over some 200 miles southeast of Nassau the Exuma archipelago consists of 365 cays and islands. Next to Great Exuma and Little Exuma Moriah Harbour Cay National Park protects a wide array of habitats including mangrove creeks beautiful beaches sand dunes and sea grass beds. Birds found in the area include Ospreys Gull-billed and Least Terns plovers oystercatchers and the nocturnal nighthawks. But perhaps Exuma’s most famous non-human residents are Big Major Cay’s swimming pigs at Pig Beach.

Beach masterpieces of silky white sand and sparkling water shifting from turquoise to royal blue welcome you to idyllic Grand Turk. Underwater ramparts of coral teem with vibrant marine life while tranquil beaches reward with a haven of relaxation. Part of the Turks and Caicos islands group an enchanting string of islands that share jaw-dropping natural beauty Grand Turk is a truly divine Caribbean escape. Your first port of call is always likely to be the blissful sand beaches that roll down to that trademark intense sea. Governor's Beach is a vision of pink sand lapped by teal waters and a perfect rendering of your most lavish imagination. Pillory Beach is another favoured option nestled a little further to the north. Graceful stingrays slide through the waters at Gibbs Cay and you can wander among huge queen conch shells strewn over its sands. Later sunset will burn and boom above as you taste fresh barbecued snapper mahi-mahi and lobster platters. The stunning coral reefs that attract keen divers from across the globe have been far less welcoming to ships historically and the wrecks that rest on the seabed attest to their hull-shredding credentials. Flashing out warnings and standing tall since 1852 Grand Turk Lighthouse is a true icon of this island. Wild donkeys and horses may join you as you roam below the rusting cast-iron tower which gazes out protectively over the North Reef.

The lovely little dual islands of Bimini consists of two main islands—North Bimini Island and South Bimini Island— as well as countless cays. Located just 50 miles off Florida’s coast Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the United States and as such is the most “American” if all the Bahamian Islands. Yet the miles and miles of pristine beaches are witness to the fact that yes this is the Bahamas and yes this is paradise indeed. Perhaps Bimini’s most famous resident was none other than Ernest Hemmingway who considered it his favourite escape. Yet the islands’ history dives deep. Due to their proximity to the US mainland the islands served as a speakeasy and offered the chance to buy alcohol during prohibition. As expected Rumrunners were rife in those days and would keep their “stores” on the Bimini’s beaches. The islands chequered history does not stop there though. Bimini also boasts an influence in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech that was composed during a sailboat outing with a local boat builder. A bronze bust of Dr. King is displayed at the Bimini Craft Centre in Alice Town.

Located closer to Havana than Miami Key West is synonymous for all that is fabulous. Whether it’s beaches back country or just a brilliant time that you’re after Florida’s most southern point holds a wealth of intrigue both past and present. Famed for its unique originality Key West is a condensation of the best of the sunshine state – fantastic weather laid back attitude deep-rooted history and masses of fantastic fresh seafood it’s little wonder that nobody ever wants to leave.Floating in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico the island has two very definite personalities: bookish and bizarre. On the one hand the literary festivals exquisite Caribbean architecture and splendid art galleries attract the bourgeoisie while on the other the eccentricity and reticence to be associated with “the mainland” attracts all kinds of “happies” –new era hippies. The two dichotomies live peacefully side by side and have done ever since travellers started arriving in the 1960s — Key West being one of the three big K’s on the hippie path to enlightenment (Kuta and Kathmandu are the others).But past the idiosyncrasies of the Key Westers and you will find an island that is literally brimming over with spectacular sights and wonderful wilderness. From Henry S. Truman’s Little White House and Ernest Hemmingway’s house and studio to botanical gardens and marine sanctuaries visitors will leave this fascinating island wanting more.Best seen by foot bike or boat this is an island to be explored al fresco.

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.