If you’re looking to step into paradise for the weekend, look no further than Bimini Island.  The Bimini Islands, a haven for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts, are a mere 50 miles from Miami Beach. Bimini is actually the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States! 

The Basics:

Bimini is pronounced “bim–uh-nee”

Language: The official language is Bahamian English, so it is quite easy to converse and talk with locals!

Currency: Bahamian dollar– same value as the USD!

Credit Cards and Banks: The majority of retailers and restaurants accept debit card as payment, but it’s always a good idea to carry some cash with you.

Climate: Bimini has a warm and tropical climate– averaging 70 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer months. The rainy season in the Bahamas runs from May to October, and October and June are the wettest two months.

Where to Stay in Bimini

On our visit, we stayed at Resorts World Bimini and had a fabulous time!

The Hilton is a new addition to the Resort World Bimini property. With 305 rooms, including 18 luxury suites, you’ll be able to find your own private oasis. Each room features stylish, sophisticated, and modern accommodations. If you’re facing the marina, make sure to wake up early and catch the sunrise from your balcony.

The hotel features two beautiful pools: A rooftop infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a lazy-river pool right by the marina with a swim-up bar. There are also two additional pools located on the Resorts World grounds: an infinity pool that features one of the best views of the sunset on the island, and a pool perfect for families.

Getting there

You can get to Bimini Island by seaplane, regular plane or boat. If you choose to travel by seaplane, you’ll fly with Cape Air, from either Fort Lauderdale International Airport or Miami Seaplane Base. The views from the plane are amazing and you’ll arrive right at Resorts World Bimini with this option. Alternatively, you can fly out of Fort Lauderdale with Silver Airways, who operate one flight per day except Tuesday, and land at South Bimini airport, the only airport on the island.

If staying closer to “ground” is more your style, you can charter a boat. Private and commercial options are available out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas to marinas and docks on both North Bimini and South Bimini. The short trip takes about 2 ½ hours. Note: be sure to have your U.S passport on you if going by sea to the Bahamas!

Resorts World Bimini has recently partnered with FRS Caribbean to launch a ferry service between Miami and Bimini. The trip takes about two hours and is scheduled to depart at 8 a.m. from Terminal H at Port of Miami. Returning, the ferry leaves Bimini at 6 p.m. One-way promotional fares start at $69.98, plus taxes, according to frs-caribbean.com.

Getting Around Bimini

The best way to get around the beautiful 7-mile North Bimini is with a golf cart or bicycle. Shuttles are usually on “island-time” and not the best option for cruising down King’s Highway for some snacks or souvenir-shopping.

For maximum mobility, pick up a golf cart ($75-90 per day) first thing in the morning before they sell out.

Where to Eat in Bimini

Stuart’s Conch Stand:  If there’s one specialty the Bahamas is known for, and rightfully so, it’s conch salad, a blend of tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and raw conch splashed with ample fresh orange and lime juice and spiced to your liking with atomically hot Scotch Bonnet peppers. And if there’s one place on Bimini to try this treat, it’s Stuart’s, a ramshackle wooden hut on the waterfront on your way from Bimini Big Game Club to the island’s north end. Join the locals to watch the news or whatever game is on while downing cold Sands beers and feasting on conch salad. The beautiful pink shells litter the water and small beach in front of the restaurant, where they’re harvested, and it’s no problem if you want to take one home for a souvenir (just soak the shell in bleach before packing to avoid serious odors wafting from your luggage).

Hemingway Gourmet Sports Bar: The Resorts World Bimini restaurant offers casual dining steps away from the excitement of the Casino. Their selection includes delicious gourmet burgers and wings. The environment allows you to watch sports games on the numerous tv’s and there is entertainment on the weekends.

What to Do in Bimini

If you love art and literature: Explore the Dolphin House and Museum dedicated to Ernest Hemingway.

Remember the classics The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms? Hemingway moved to Bimini to write and to live. You can drive past his home or read his work in real-life.

If you love adventure: Dive with Sharks

One of the only destinations that offers open-water hammerhead shark encounters, we took a tour with Bimini Under the Sea. Important, note — I learned that you should never touch the sharks, not just because of your own safety, but because it endangers their scales.

Snorkel at the Sapona Wreck: 

Dive down to the floating Prohibition-era liquor cargoship, which ran aground in a 1926 hurricane. The tip of the boat is visible above water, making it perfect for snorkeling. You’ll find every form of coral, sponges and lobsters here!

This Post was submitted by @Kimberlygabrielle_ from @MarriedWithBaggage