Live, Love, Relax
- Written by Jason Feinberg
- Published in Travel Articles
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Paradise is within reach at The Abaco Club on Windy Bay, Bahamas
The tropics are always my favorite get-a-way spots. The warm weather, palm trees, turquoise water and of course, tropical concoctions, are always enticing. I tend to favor the more exclusive, less touristy destinations as well. These are truly the hidden gems where you’re treated like royalty and can forget about life for a little while.
About an hour east of Ft. Lauderdale, past Grand Bahama, lies Abaco Island. Here, hidden in Marsh Harbor on Windy Bay, is The Abaco Club. What makes this destination unique is that there is no hotel in the traditional sense; instead, visitors get a far more intimate and tranquil experience at one of the world’s greatest international sporting clubs and residential communities. Accommodations range from pastel-dipped cabanas to plantation-style cottage villas to luxurious oceanfront estate homes, each as unique as the next with all the amenities of home. Guests also receive their own golf cart upon check-in to travel and explore the 435-acre property.
In the center of the property is a tropical links-inspired golf course that spans from one end of the property, almost merging with the ocean, over to the other end of the property, riding high along the cliffs. Complete with pot bunkers and sloping greens, this course is bound to challenge even the most advantageous golfer.
With over two miles of white sand beach, water activities—which include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, Hobie Cats and paddle boards—are a must or you can opt for the Olympic-size swimming pool overlooking Windy Bay. To help wind down, you’ll want to visit the 13,000-square foot European-style spa offering a range of Bahamas-inspired spa treatments.
With over 700 islands and cays as well as an entire ocean at your disposal, take advantage of either deep sea fishing or just exploring some of the local islands. One of the area favorites is No Name Cay. Similar to Pig Beach at Exuma, this small island (or cay) has a colony of feral pigs that will come right up to your boat to greet you. A short distance from here is Sea Turtle Cay, where both young and old sea turtles take turns circling your vessel while allowing you to snap a few photos. Nearby is also Hope Town on Elbow Cay. Here you can spend the day and visit the Hope Town Lighthouse, one of the more well-known attractions in the area.
On property, food can be casual or more casual, just the way you’d expect. Flippers Beach Bar, located right on the beach, is an open-air thatched-roof eatery for breakfast and lunch, perfect for a bite or cocktail in between catching rays or making a splash. On Wednesday nights, Flippers hosts the local “rake-n-scrape” band for BBQ night, complete with dancing and a bonfire on the beach.
For dinner, you’ll head over to the Cliff House restaurant with a menu that is as suburb as its commanding views of Windy Bay. Entrees include blackened grouper, fresh lobster and conch chowder. But for a more intimate, personal experience, you can always have a chef come to your villa and cook for you.
One place just off property that is a must-try is Pete’s Pub. Don’t let the lack of a floor fool you—while Pete’s may look like a hangout for Captain Jack Sparrow, the food (and atmosphere) will leave you coming back every chance you get. While a hamburger is on the menu, it’s the ginger garlic tuna, the lemon pepper dolphin, lobster salad and the fact that it is literally sitting on the water that make this one of the Caribbean’s coolest hidden hangouts.
As a residential community, The Abaco Club offers visitors the option to go beyond a vacation and make this Bahamian retreat a second home. And after your first visit, you may very well find yourself doing just that.
