Living in New York City for the past 20 years, I’ve spent my fair share of time in the Caribbean. But I’ve always skipped over the Bahamas, probably because it felt almost too close to home—like an extension of Miami. That, and I associated the Bahamas with the cheesy Club Med resorts of yesteryear, and the enormous, all-inclusive vacation spots (such as Atlantis on Paradise Island), that are frequented by families who thrive on non-stop water sports.Big mistake on my part. A few weeks ago, I finally made my way to the Bahamas —an archipelago with over 700 individual islands and cays, some jam-packed, others uninhabited. There I got a taste of what I’d been missing —warm turquoise water, delicious Bahamian food, and some of the friendliest locals I’ve ever met while traveling. I was looking for a relaxing respite from city life, and I found it at The Cove, a world-class resort on Eleuthera —an “out island” just a short one-hour flight from Florida. (You can also fly into Nassau and then take a thirty minute air shuttle from there; If you’re really baller, the property’s wide-mouthed coves make great landing spots for a sea plane.)
As a health editor, I always look for vacation locations that will enable me to stay active. But a big part of my self-care routine also involves pampering…and sunset cocktails. The Cove caters to all. As they boast on their website, “Lots of things to do, including absolutely nothing.” Perfect.
Some suggestions for what to do at The Cove to boost your well-being:
•Try paddle-boarding, kayaking or snokeling
•Weight-train or do cardio in the fitness center
•Eat a healthy lunch or dinner of creatively prepared sushi
•Take a surf lesson
•Walk the sprawling grounds; If you get tired, nap in a nearby hammock
•Indulge in a spa treatment — a Thai or Swedish massage or body scrub
•Embark on a conch diving expedition
•Bike to Gregory Town
•Hire a car or taxi to bring you to the Queen’s Baths (natural tide pools) or the “secret” swimming spot called The Blue Hole.
•Go sea glass collecting on Surfer’s Beach
•Rent a Jeep and explore the island
•Sip a cocktail as you watch the breath-taking sunset
Now, having spent time in this not-so-far-away paradise, I can confidently shed the outdated presumptions I had about it…with the exception of one holdover: The marketing slogan that was seared into my teenage brain through countless tourism TV commercials still rings true: “It’s better in the Bahamas.”
