Best of Great Exuma

On March 27th my sister and her husband Jim, came for a visit. It was a fleeting five days so we tried to show them the best of Great Exuma during their stay. Here's what we came up with:

1) The best VRBO (that we saw because Pam & Jim stayed there) - AQUA VISTA, on the western side of the island provides a beautiful view of the bank and comfortable accommodations for 4 to 6 guests.

2) The best place for dinner in George Town (especially when it's late Sunday night and nothing else is open or Monday night and Exuma Yacht Club is busy): PEACE & PLENTY serves up excellent fish, burgers, conch fritters and lobster.

3) The best beach for hunting sand dollars - COCO PLUM on the north end of Great Exuma is a long, white, sandy beach with sand bars extending far into the bay, providing soft landings for sand dollars to be discovered.

4) The best place to see (& feed) turtles - HOOPERS BAY, near Jolly Hall beach, is where visitors bring lettuce to feed the turtles. We saw little baby turtles, big mama and daddy turtles, all looking for a handout. They'll swim right up to you and eat out of your hand (or bite your bottom if you're not looking).

5) The best day sail (when the wind is out of the northeast going southeast) - CALABASH BAY, LONG ISLAND is a day sail destination with a spectacularly beautiful beach and a good restaurant at Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort (when you can get a reservation). 

6) The best hike - THE MONUMENT on Stocking Island provides a fabulous view of the 300 plus boats anchored in the three anchorages off the island as well as in the hurricane holes.

7) The best hangout - CHAT 'N CHILL for volleyball, music, dominos, meeting new & old friends, great pork roast & grilled fish and good (but expensive) drinks.

8) The best boat tour - MINN's in Victoria Lake rents boats for $375 per day and we were able to take ourselves on a four hour tour to find good snorkeling venues (Guana Island & Moss Cay) and explore the vast Man 'o War beach at low tide.

9) The best special occasion dinner - BLU'S ON THE WATER offers a great view of Man 'o War beach and elegantly presented deliciousness in a lively, music enhanced indoor and outdoor space.

10) The best sunset - ELIZABETH HARBOR, from any Stocking Island anchorage provides a  spectacle of sunsets, one day after another.