Since we are all pinned down at home unable to travel, I thought you might enjoy a virtual tour of what has now become mine and Phillip’s favorite island in the Bahamas: Spanish Wells! While this island definitely impressed us the first time we came to Eleuthera in 2017, earning our “favorite beach in the Bahamas” award, Phillip and I now know we didn’t stay quite long enough to truly let the spirit of Spanish Wells sink in. This time, however, in November of last year, soon after my scariest moment underwater in the Berries, we were able to spend a solid week in Spanish Wells while preparing to make our run offshore to the BVIs, which allowed us to uncover more of its hidden gems. Spanish Wells has both the non-touristy, untouched “local feel” of the Bahamas—where you can (and usually do) walk the entire island every day and interact with the locals—while still offering several diverse and delicious little bars and restaurants (even an ice cream stand!) where you can indulge on their island-inspired treats as well as plentiful groceries and marine supplies. This balance of authenticity, bounty, and beauty has made Spanish Wells our favorite stop in the Bahamas so far. Here, let me show you. Take a virtual trip with us and tell me:
Where else in the Bahamas can you …
Make a beautiful overnight run from the Berries (probably our second favorite stop in the Bahamas) to be greeted by “Buddha” himself at Buddha’s Snack Shack along with infinite words of wisdom on the walls? If I wore pants instead of a bikini, I’d tuck a leg, too.
Tuck a pant leg and people will expect less of you! lol 
Watch two stunning African grey parrots give each other “big love?”
Stumble upon a craft gallery right on Main Street filled with incredible pieces all made by the local children?
Hold a setting Spanish sun? I mean …
See such a dizzying array of island colors while walking to Mimi’s Beach Hangout to lounge in a Lazyboy on the beach?
Venture out at night for a cold sweet treat from Papa’s Scoops, a walk-up ice cream shop (and take photos you won’t remember the next day)?
Make Phillip reconsider his law firm hours? : D
Challenge one another to a cannonball contest by jumping off the famous Russell Island bridge (a rite of passage for all local kids in Spanish Wells)? Tell me … who cannonballed best? : )
Then, post-jump, get surprised by and treated to fresh, hand-made ceviche at this local’s little pop-up stand on the Russell side?
Enjoy Christmas decorations (at our favorite restaurant, Wreckers) for months, instead of only weeks, as the locals in Spanish Wells put them up the day after Halloween? Gotta love their Christmas spirit!
Have flaming cheese brought to your table? I mean …
Cook up fresh-caught strawberry grouper and massive lobster tails bought from a local fisherman at the docks who loves to share all kinds of stories from his forty years of fishing around Spanish Wells?
Get to walk past this awesome store-front painting every day? (I actually started to miss it after we left, and it gives me a great feeling of nostalgia every time I see it again).
Stroll a shore this beautiful?
KITE a shore this beautiful? Annnnddd almost get “kilt” (Annie term) by Phillip – watch till the end! : )
I’ll tell you, it was really tough for Phillip and I to leave Spanish Wells, but we were excited to venture out on what we expected to be our longest passage yet on Plaintiff’s Rest on an 8-10 day run offshore on the “I65” route from Eleuthera down to the BVIs. Boy, do we have some doozies to share from that trip. There was more than one casualty. And many lessons learned. Next time! We hope you enjoyed this virtual island trip! Stay safe followers.
Looks like a beautiful island. Maybe we will make it that far north someday! haha.
I hope you do, Traveling Jules! You’ll love it!
Thanks for taking the time to post. It’s nice to have some good times to share during these “pinned down” times. Btw I’m stealing the tuck a pant leg quote. 🙂
Ha. Steal away. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I had fun putting it together and “going back there” mentally via the photos. There was another painted saying there at Buddha’s that I loved, but it seemed I forgot to take a picture of it. It said: “Potatos make chips, fries, vodka … It’s like the other vegetables aren’t even trying.” Ha! That one cracked me up. There are dozens of them hung up all over. They even made a “quarantini” drink while we were there in March. Funny! Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for sharing, stunning places and beaches , and I’m not a beach person. I’m going to have to get my act together and at least try and get to see that lovely clear Bahamian water from the deck of my boat ! Cheers Warren safe and still working in PA.
The beaches in the Bahamas (particularly the north shore on Spanish Wells) will convert you I promise! Definitely worth the trip! Glad to hear you’re safe and working, Warren. That’s great news. Cheers!