By Tom Wuckovich

Eleuthera from the air. Photo by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism View Slideshow

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If asked, most people would say The Bahamas are in the Caribbean. An understandable mistake, given the islands' balmy breezes, taffy colored beaches, hidden cays (pronounced "keys"), underwater splendor and lush vegetation. But these Atlantic Ocean gems, some just 40 miles off the coast of Florida, don't mind the confusion as long as visitors keep pouring in to enjoy the excesses of pleasure available there.

Christopher Columbus found these islands quite by accident during his first voyage to the New World in 1492, while searching for a new route to India. He reportedly stepped ashore on the island of San Salvador, one of the 700 claimed islands and more than 2,000 portions of coral and limestone shelves that form The Bahamas chain. The number varies between 30 and 40, but only around 34 are playgrounds for tourists, sailors, anglers, divers, nature lovers, eco-tourists and cruise passengers. Most come for the worldly pleasures offered by Nassau on New Providence Island, and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. It is on these two islands that mega resorts have emerged, and dining, shopping and nightlife are at their zenith.

The islands play host to more than 3 million visitors each year, largely U.S. citizens since the Bahamians exude great enthusiasm for American culture. The archipelago also possesses a stable government and features a decidedly British flavor with a Caribbean beat. What impresses most of the guests who come here is that each island has its own uniqueness, which allows for different experiences each time one visits. New Providence has almost 60 percent of the population, and in the capital of Nassau, you'll find a vibrant city proud of its history but eager to show its ultra-modern side. On Bay Street, designer shops and boutiques tempt visitors with perfumes and jewelry, duty-free products, t-shirts, cameras and clothes. If you're just browsing and only in search of history and culture, hop aboard one of the many horse-drawn carriages and pay close attention as the driver displays his depth of knowledge about his country.

It's likely you'll visit Fort Charlotte, a sturdy limestone structure built in the late 1800s to protect the island's western harbor; Government House, where a colorful changing of the guard ceremony takes place every other Saturday and tea parties are hosted the last Friday of each month from January to August; Fort Fincastle, a small garrison that never saw any action, and instead one tower was used as a lighthouse until 1816; and Cable Beach, just a short jaunt along Goodman's Bay. The beach was named for a telephone cable laid in 1892 between the beach and Jupiter, FL. The tour won't end until a trip to Paradise Island over the Paradise Island Bridge that crosses Nassau Harbor. The island is marked by rich landscaping, winding walkways and elegant shops. Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino is here, a massive complex that is credited with reviving Nassau and the whole of The Bahamas. The resort is a wonderland of pools, exotic tropical fish, restaurants and a glitzy casino. A fitting place to catch a glimpse of New World appeal after sampling Old World allure.

Remember that New Providence is only one slice of the islands, and there are many more to explore, giving you reason to come back time and again. Each has its own brand of charisma, so choose wisely. Here are some thumbnail sketches of a few.

Grand Bahama Island

Only 50 miles east of Florida, Grand Bahama is a major tourist destination. The fourth largest island of the group, Grand Bahama is known for excellent bonefishing, reef and deep-sea fishing. Grand Bahama's hotels and many nightspots have earned it the title of "New World Riviera." Visit the cities of Freeport and Lucaya, which offer shopping, other sports and recreation. Some of the best beaches are located here, as well as top-notch golf courses. It's a good choice for family vacations.

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The Out Islands

Andros, the Exumas, Abacos, Bimini and Eleuthera

There are many options to help you get around each island in The Bahamas, and to help you hop from island to island. But remember, when you take to the road, British rules apply, so please keep to the left. Visitors may use their home driver's license for up to three months, and may also apply for an international driver's license.

The Bahamas have the clearest waters in the world, with visibility of over 200 feet. Travelers who seek beaches, boating and sailing, diving and snorkeling, ecotours, fishing and watersports will be the first to notice the difference water clarity makes on their sporting experience.

Andros

Sponges for sale on Andros. Photo by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

The largest island is still not developed, which means less tourism. The biggest draw is to divers, thanks to the world's third-largest barrier reef lying just offshore. Andros is a naturalist's wonderland, due to its deserted beaches, "blue holes" (fresh and saltwater filled caves found inland and in the ocean, respectively), pine forests, mangrove marsh and the carefully protected freshwater reservoir.

 Visitors may tour the Forfar Field Station in Blanket Sound, an international research facility for studies in tropical ecology and marine biology, which offers inland hikes and offshore expeditions. A nature trail explores the island's flora, fauna and medicinal plants. Guided nature walks, kayaking and birding tours can be arranged through a number of hotels or the Andros Tourist Office.

Bimini

The closest Bahamian island to the U.S.—about 40 miles from Miami—Bimini is best known for its yachting, scuba diving and sportfishing. Alice Town was home to Ernest Hemingway for a time. There is duty-free shopping on the island, and great savings on perfume and liquor.

The Abacos

Family fun on Abaco Island. Photo by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

This cluster of small islands is home to quaint villages founded by New England settlers who came here right after the American Revolution. British sympathizers, they settled in such places as Hope Town and built comfy pastel-colored clapboard houses surrounded by New England-style picket fences. The Abacos give an all-new meaning to sailing and boating. Somewhere in this 120-mile necklace of islands and often-uninhabited cays and beaches, any seagoer is sure to find the ideal private spot.

The Abacos form a boomerang-shaped chain that stretches nearly 130 miles from Walker's Cay in the north to Hole-In-The-Wall in the south. The configuration creates naturally protected waters, referred to commonly as the Sea of Abaco, which makes a favorite cruising ground for yachtsmen. The five inhabited cays of major importance are Walker's Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay and Elbow Cay.

Settlements on the mainland extending north to south include Crown Haven in the extreme north, Fox Town, Mount Hope, Wood Cay, Cedar Harbour, Cooper's Town, Fire Road, Black Wood, Treasure Cay, Murphy Town, Dundas Town, Marsh Harbour (the capital), Little Harbor, Cherokee Sound, Casuarina Point, Bahama Palm Shores, Crossing Rock and Sandy Point on the southern tip.

Eleuthera

Eleuthera Island is noted for its beautiful beaches. Photo by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

At 110 miles long and a mere two miles wide, Eleuthera effortlessly keeps travelers near its pink- and white-sand beaches. Together with Harbour Island, Eleuthera charms travelers with colonial villages and pineapple plantations. The cool laziness of Eleutheran life and dusty-yet-drenched colors of the island give it the feel of a giant illusion. Much of the island's architecture and way of life were influenced by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s.

Eleuthera is located near the edge of the Caribbean Sea. It is about 60 miles from Nassau at its nearest point, approximately 200 miles from Florida.

This sickle-shaped island with a hump-back ridge is an island of coral and wind-impacted sands formed by winds and waves. Sand dunes were blown into heaps on the eastern shore of the island, eventually consolidating into powder. The sand has been described as pink-white and peach on Harbour Island and parts of the mainland.

The Bahamas are among the top vacation destinations for U.S. travelers and other nations. And it's no wonder when you consider what it offers: historical sites, family attractions, international restaurants and shops, and every conceivable fun-in-the-sun activity.