The bustle of Freeport attracts many visitors, however the many towns and villages
spread across Grand Bahama Island all offer something for the tourist. West
End, for many years the capital of Grand Bahama Island, is the island’s
westernmost settlement. This was the centre for the smuggling activities throughout
Grand Bahama Island’s history, and some of the ruins of the hastily constructed
warehouses and bars can still be seen on the waterfront.
Pinder’s Point, one of the towns established by freed slaves after 1834,
is found on the east coast of Hawksbill Creek. The clapboard homes have not
changed in style since the town’s birth. Pinder’s Point boasts two
boiling holes, openings in the seafloor where cold, fresh water pours out. Another
of the towns created by the freed slaves is Williams Town. Although only 5 miles
from Freeport, it has retained its slow, sleepy atmosphere. The oldest building
is a shack located next to the only restaurant, the Traveller’s Rest.
Near the waterfront is another boiling hole.
The best snorkelling reefs are found in Paradise Cove, where archaeological
digs have established the existence of Lucayan tribes before the arrival of
the Spanish. The larg3est settlement after Freeport, Eight Mile Rock, is a string
of older settlements including Jones Town, Martin Town, Hanna Hill, and Wildgoose.
The inhabitants here can trace their ancestry back to the freed slaves who arrived
in the 19th century. Here you will find restaurants offering the freshest Bahamian
cuisine, rivalling any in Freeport.
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