This is an immense playground, a nation of more than 700 islands & cays spread across 100,000 square miles of Atlantic Ocean.

Geographically the Bahamas may not be part of the Caribbean, but you'd never know it by their gorgeous beaches and beautiful waters.

And with some islands only 50 miles off the U.S. east coast, the Bahamas have become the Caribbean for many Floridians, especially on weekends. (See Bahamas map)

New Providence is the showcase island and where the majority of tourists stay. At one time New Providence was most famous for its city of Nassau, now overshadowed by the hotels of adjacent Cable Beach and the Atlantis fantasy mega-resort at Paradise Island.

New! Junkanoo Parade photo gallery featuring the Bahamas' biggest celebration of the year.

But New Providence no longer is the exclusive focus. After several false starts in the past,

Grand Bahama Island finally is going to offer some serious competition. Exclusive Old Bahama Bay at West End and the massive Our Lucaya at Port Lucaya can match anything Nassau offers.

Moreover, Grand Bahama is opening a new international airport terminal and expanding the passenger shuttle boat service between it and Florida, only 50 miles away. Grand Bahama is more accessible than it ever has been.

There is a region of the Bahamas still without much glitz and glitter. These are the Family Islands, once called the Out Islands, which actually make up most of the Bahamas.

They are less developed, slightly remote landfalls, remain the way Nassau and Grand Bahama were before mass tourism.

In a capsule, they are quiet, peaceful, relaxed, uncrowded and unspoiled. The islanders themselves appreciate those features and reciprocate by being more open and friendly than their compatriots living in the hustle and bustle of the big resort towns.

Heavyweights like marlin and tuna have made the Bahamas' fishing world famous, but they are just a sampling of the list that's every angler's dream: barracuda, bonefish, bonito, sailfish, mackerel, dolphin, grouper, wahoo, tuna, shark and swordfish all roam the Bahamas' crystal clear waters.

Bahamas Diving is as good and as varied as the fishing.

Do you know these interesting facts about the Bahamas?

Bahamas Weather TODAY
Current temperatures and forecasts

Bahamas Deep Background
Courtesy of the CIA

Bahamas Arrival Briefing
What You Need to Know If You Go

Getting Married in the Bahamas
Your stay could be a long one

Major Attractions

Andros Island Bonefishing
Catch big fish up to 18 pounds

Bahamas Diving Overview
Many underwater sequences were filmed here, for good reason

Bahamas Fishing Overview
Which islands are tops for fishing

Family Islands
They make up most of the country

Grand Bahama Island
Posed to rival Nassau in popularity?

Nassau
Where Bahamas tourism began

Paradise Island
Home of Atlantis,
the amazing fantasy resort

Web www.GuideToCaribbeanVacations.com