What’s the secret to a perfect Bahamas vacation? Adventure. Bimini is filled with opportunities for sightseeing, exploration, and stories of the island’s history. Bimini is made up of a chain of islands only 53 miles east of Miami. Nicknamed the “Big Game Fishing Capital of the World,” Bimini offers world-class fishing, incredible scuba diving, and beautiful displays of nature.

Bimini’s mangroves are one of the island’s most beautiful natural preserves. As the only mangroves in the western Great Bahama Bank, they are widely known as one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. The area is filled with a large variety of marine animals, including many endangered species. On any given day, you could see the Nassau grouper, smalltooth sawfish, hawksbill turtles, kirtland’s warblers, loggerhead turtles, great hammerhead sharks, and the Bimini boa.

Through the Bimini mangroves lies one of the island’s most popular natural wonders, The Healing Hole. Guests are invited to swim in the mineral rich water. In order to reach the spring, visitors will have to walk through acres of trees and creeks. The walk is well worth it, as the waters are believed to have healing qualities.

The waters of Bimini hold more than just amazing displays of nature, they also hold artifacts and tales of Bimini’s past. Bimini Road is a rock formation that is completely underwater near North Bimini Island. The rock formation is half a mile long and is made from limestone blocks. Some say it has mystical origins. J. Manson Valentine, Jacques Mayol, and Robert Angove discovered this formation in 1968. Legend has it that Bimini Road was once a road system of the Lost City of Atlantis, which according to popular belief, sunk into the sea thousands of years ago.

Another popular attraction in the long list of Bahamas activities is The Dolphin House. Established in 1993 by local author Ashley Saunders, the house is made from reclaimed items from local beaches. The house shows how the island of Bimini truly treasures its natural materials. Visitors can join daily walking tours led by the Saunders family.

One of the most popular attractions on the island is The Bimini Museum. Founded in 1995 and opened in 2000, the museum went through a five-year period of restoration and funding before opening to the public. Visitors will find pictures, artifacts, relics, and memorabilia of the island’s history. Together it all tells the story of Bimini’s rise to a top vacation destination. Two popular items currently on display are a 1964 immigration card of Martin Luther King Jr. and Ernest Hemingway’s fishing logs.

One of the island’s most prized artifacts is The Fountain of Youth. According to legend, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain on the island of Bimini. Unfortunately, he failed to discover the site. The fountain was later discovered by locals and is believed to carry the power to restore youth to those who bathe or drink its waters.

Visitors are invited to tour the site to see if the legend is true.

Looking to explore the stunning nature of the island? The Bimini Nature Trail is a great way for visitors to hike through the area and discover a large variety of native plants and animals. Visitors can take a guided tour of the natural trail and learn about the animals that live throughout the area.

Many travelers enjoy shopping when they are on vacation and the Bimini Straw Market is the place to go. It is located next to the Bahamas Custom Building and there are many vendors selling their handmade crafts and goods.

Any visitor that enjoys the water will love visiting the Sapona wreck. The ship was blown to the area by a hurricane during the 1920s, and now lives deep below Bimini’s waters. Both divers and snorkelers can swim and explore the wreck. If visitors are interested in spending time with Bimini’s larger sea creatures, swimming with the island’s dolphins is an absolute must. The dolphins crowd the area between March and September, providing a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.

The history and the legends of the island of Bimini are available for all to explore. No matter which excursions fill your itinerary, from scuba diving shipwrecks, to tasting Bimini’s delicious dishes, to exploring the artifacts within the Bimini Museum, there’s no doubt that Bimini is the perfect destination for an unforgettable Bahamas vacation.