International – Hear yourself breathe in Freeport, Bahamas

Freeport Hear Yourself Breathe In ONYX MAGAZINE RELAXED IN THE GRAND BAHAMA CITY ON A TRIP PLANNED BY THE BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND BAHAMASAIR.

BY LAURA DORSEY

AAfter being on lockdown for the past two years, many of us have been bitten by the travel bug. We are taking trips to faraway corners of the world, and Instagram feeds are full of wanderlust because we all know travel is pretty magical. There is something extraordinary about visiting a place for the first time and bonding with new people, or simply seeing a familiar place with a new set of eyes.

So, if you are up to it, pack your luggage, leave the baggage behind and fly off to Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. That is exactly what part of ONYX Magazine’s team did: Publisher Rich Black, Managing Editor D. Shenell Reed, Graphic Design Director Jason Jones, and Features Writer Laura Dorsey boarded the first Bahamasair flight back to Freeport since the 2019 Hurricane Dorian devastation. The flight relaunched the airline’s nonstop service from Orlando International Airport to Freeport.

Since June 30, Bahamasair offers flights each Thursday with return service on Monday. Once you take this service-friendly short flight, it will be the only way you want to travel to Grand Bahama. The teams at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation and Bahamasair made it a memorable juncture, starting with the smashing beats of the Junkanoo party in Orlando followed by the magnificent reception at the Grand Bahama International Airport. Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey led this amazing fanfare along with her team and a large Junkanoo reception.

Upon arrival in Freeport, we experienced exemplary airport service. Our limousine driver, David Rolle, from H. Forbes Charter Service, Ltd., shared the storied history of Freeport. A native, Rolle has worked in the tourism industry for 35 years. He opines that if 100 people toured all the islands of The Bahamas, most would choose to return to Grand Bahama.

After a 30-minute ride in a cherrywood-accented limo bus with black leather seats, we pulled up to Lighthouse Point at Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort. This all-inclusive hotel offered immaculate rooms with double sliding glass patio doors which opened to a view of the pool that appeared to fade into the North Atlantic Ocean. As a special touch, the hotel adorned our rooms with a plated tray of cheeses and fruits for noshing as we prepared for our welcome lunch. There are multiple restaurants, a full-service extensive spa and a fitness center onsite. This exquisite property also is within close walking distance to shops and other restaurants, such as Sabor Restaurant & Bar in Pelican Bay Hotel and the internationally known Flying Fish GastroBar & Restaurant on the Grand Lucayan Waterway with waterfront views and nightly entertainment. Camel Churchill, the marketing consultant

with Bahama Out Island Promotional Board, ensured that stimulating conversation went along with the delectable food during dinner.

Freeport does not lack places to enjoy island cuisine. We experienced The Stoned Crab Restaurant for a casual lunch and enjoyed a luxurious view of swing sets overlooking the ocean. We took in the sunset ocean view of Pier One Restaurant. There, we fed sharks that rounded up in the waters below our deck at the sound of a bell then gnashed the feed. We admired the award-winning chefs of the Dolphin Cove restaurant, which was an adult-only food-centric getaway with flavorful wines and desserts—reservations required.

However, we really felt ourselves breathe and experience life as islanders when we dined with Ministry of Tourism People-to-People Ambassador Collette Williams for breakfast. No regular bacon and eggs breakfast here. She and her husband, Samuel, cooked a traditional breakfast at their lovely home, where we sipped on hibiscus juice made from the flow-

ONYX Publisher Rich Black and Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey

Rich Black and Laura Dorsey with Junkanoo band

ONYX Managing Editor D. Shenell Reed ready for jeep tour

ers grown in their backyard and ate fresh fruit picked directly from their trees. Their delicious selection of stewed conch, Bahamian yellow grits, chicken souse, and boiled fish burst with island flavors. A Cast-Iron skillet of scrumptious Johnny Bread (cake) took us on a historical path of how families prepared the dish for loved ones who were taking a long journey (hence, johnny). And the sweet taste of coconut tart sent us on our way with fond memories and plans to return. Freeport’s people love showing off their city, and feeding guests is their love language.

All this food is necessary because you need your energy to take in all the activities you will experience in Freeport. The best ways to tour the city is with native Bahamians as your guides or your itinerary planners. The team from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism made four days of experiencing Freeport meaningful, comfortably packing in a week’s worth of activities. As residents, they loved showing off the charming city.

Our trip required the most comfortable shoes as we ventured on a city tour. We traveled to Lucayan National Park and Gold Rock Beach. If you are looking for something off the beaten path from crowds of tourists, this is it. The beach, at low tide, spans all the way into the ocean waters. This leads to the Lucayan Caverns, the world’s longest chartered underwater cave system. There are not many amenities on this beach, but if you visit at the right time, a local vendor may pick you a fresh coconut and split it in half so you may sip refreshing coconut water right from the shell.

We also visited The Garden of the Groves, a certified wildlife habitat. This twelve-acre garden was the personification of peace with its lush vegetation, winding trails, artificial waterfalls, and sparkling fountains. The Groves includes the most picturesque chapel, a gazebo, and the beautiful sacredness of the Labyrinth. The migratory birds, butterflies and flowers were some of the most amazing aspects of The Garden of the Groves. Who knew bird watchers would list Freeport among the top 10 places to visit?

One spectacular highlight of the trip was the Grand Bahama Nature Tours. This adventure allows you to drive your own open-top 4 x 4 Jeep® Wrangler with an experienced island guide leading the convoy. Tony Neweold led us as we followed, cruising on the left side of the street just like a local driver. Island-born, Tony has worked in the industry for 12 years and started because he liked the cool hats the guides wore. So, he applied for a job, and the rest is history. The Jeep trip took us to Taino Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Freeport with gorgeous stretches of sand. The drive also showed us various areas of Freeport, such as Cooper’s Castle, an iconic site on one of the city’s highest points, to local neighborhoods such as Smith’s Point and South Shore with its white sandy beaches.

Other notable stops on our tours of Freeport included Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Co., where we had a private tour to learn about the brewery and taste some of the products. Day drinking had us sampling locally produced SANDS Beer. This product was a hit with us, with its multiple flavors making

Graphic Director Jason Jones and Writer Laura Dorsey chat over drinks

us forget we were drinking beer. One great stop was Paradise Cove Beach Resort—The Red Bar in Deadman’s Reef, Bahamas. Members of our team snorkeled in the crystal water, viewing such marine life as turtles, rays and coral reefs.

Speaking of coral, our trip to Coral Vita was eye-opening. This high-tech coral farm incorporates scientific methods that allow scientists to grow coral 50 times faster, making a significant ecological difference.

Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, is everything you can ask if you want to hear yourself breathe. There are still multiple activities and sights you may not see in four days. So, when you visit, plan on staying longer if you can. Your mind, body and soul will thank you.

It is said, ‘the best things in life are free,’ but the grand memories of the grand times of the Grand Bahama city Freeport are priceless.

ONYX Magazine was honored to be aboard the first Bahamasair flight to Freeport since 2019 and we look forward to working with Bahamasair and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for years to come.

Woody Wilson, Clifford Adderly, Jason Jones, and Wendell Saunders prepare to snorkel with coach. Coral Vita

Bahamian Brewery