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Shhhh. Can you keep a secret? Come a little closer so I can whisper this in your ear. You know that the Bahamas are close, just a hop away. You also know them and love them as a winter destination, when the cold winds blow and the snow never seems to end. But did you know that they are even better in the summer? Yes, it is true. There is never a bad time to visit the Bahamas, winter is wonderful, however, summer is absolutely superb. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone but your closest friends and family. Keep it a secret, because if the word leaks out, too many people will be taking their vacations in the summer time Bahamas, and you won't have it all to yourself anymore.

With year-round sunshine, lush tropical landscapes, unsullied waters and exquisite sand beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas are virtually perfect. The archipelago begins 55 miles off the Florida coast and contains more than 700 islands, scattered over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic. If you are craving peace, tranquility, perfect waters for snorkeling and diving, life at a slower pace, then the Out Islands are the place to go. And Out Island aficionados will agree: Eleuthera and her close neighbors, Spanish Wells and Harbor Island, are the very best of the best.

Eleuthera, which lies at its nearest point some 30 miles northeast of Nassau, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas. From north to south, it is approximately 90 miles long and is rarely more than 2-3 miles wide, except at the extreme northern and southern ends. Its unusually long, thin shape guarantees plenty of shoreline and beautiful beaches. Not only is its shape unusual, so is the elevation. With hills up to 100 feet high, its elevation is higher than that of any other island in the Bahamas, and indeed, higher than the highest point in nearby Florida.

The human history follows the pattern of most islands in the Bahamas, with the first people to inhabit Eleuthera being the Arawaks. A peace-loving people that fished and farmed, they were displaced by the warlike Caribs. In the 1400ís, the Spaniard appeared in the area, led by Christopher Columbus. The Spaniards decimated the local population either by killing the residents or exporting them for slavery. Very few survived and Eleuthera became very desolate, except for a few pockets of survivors, and remained so for almost 200 years.

William Sayle is given credit for naming the island Eleuthera, a variation of the Greek word for freedom. He had been governor of Bermuda, but had fallen into disfavor with the Crown of England. Desiring to leave Bermuda, but loving the islands, he decided to settle in Eleuthera since the Bahamas were the closest islands to Bermuda. He returned to London in 1654 and petitioned Parliament to settle Eleuthera. The perspective settlers were promised 300 acres of land for coming to Eleuthera. They were to become known as the Eleutheran Adventurers. Preacher's Cave, on Eleuthera, is a subterranean cave in which the Eleutheran Adventurers took refuge and held religious services upon their arrival. Preacher's Cave is like a chapel in the wilderness, and the magnificent Cave at Hatchet Bay is like a vaulted cathedral. It is more than a mile long, with stalagmites and stalactites, a cool, dark sanctuary.

There are several small villages on Eleuthera, many of which are fun to visit. The town of Rock Sound is one of Eleuthera's largest settlement and even boasts a small airstrip. The small bakery in town sells great, not-to-be-missed coconut tarts. Approximately one mile east of Rock Sound is the famous 'ocean hole'. Although a considerable distance from either coast, this completely landlocked tidal lake is rumored to be bottomless. It is salt water and the fish find their way into it via subterranean tunnels from the sea. North of Rock Sound lies Tarpum Bay, one of Eleuthera's loveliest settlements, with hilly roads flanked by weather-beaten homes with colored shutters and goats roaming the streets. The town is the site of a small artists' colony. Snorkelers and divers will want to spend some time at Gaulding's Cay beach, just north of Tarpum Bay. A short swim by the tiny offshore island will reveal a concentration of sun anemones so spectacular that it appears that someone has laid out a carpet of bright colors. Gaulding's Cay also has a nice long shelling stretch for beachcombers.

Further north is Governor's Harbour, which is worth a look, but since there is a Club Med in the area, probably not somewhere you will want to stay very long if you are looking for peace and quiet. Instead, Alice Town, by Hatchet Bay, is tranquil alternative. The Cave at Hatchet Bay, which we talked about earlier, is nearby, waiting to be explored. There is also a beach on the Atlantic side about 3 miles north of Hatchet Bay that is famous for its surf, just waiting for the surfers in the group!

Just off the northeast coast of Eleuthera lies tiny Harbour Island. It is often called the Nantucket of the Caribbean and is perhaps the prettiest of the Out Islands. It boasts 3 miles of powdery sand beach tinted pink by finely crushed shells, as well as its pastel-colored houses set among white picket fences, narrow lanes bordered by stone walls, quaint shops and tropical flowers. Dunmore Town, the village on Harbour Island, was name for Governor Lord Dunmore, whose summer home in the 18th century commanded a view from the highest point of town. The Loyalist Cottage on Bay Street dates back to the 1790ís, and many of the town's houses and inns were built in the 1800ís when Dunmore Town was a prosperous harbor and shipbuilding center.

Spanish Wells is off the northern tip of Eleuthera, just slightly to the west. The Spaniards used this as a safe harbor during the 17th Century while they transferred their riches from the New World to the Old. During the 1800ís, the local population became known for their practice of wrecking ships by luring them with lights that appeared to be beacons from lighthouses...but were actually lanterns tied to donkeys. Today, Spanish Wells is home to about 35 commercial fishing vessels, with the Spiny Lobster being their main catch. These vessels leave Spanish Wells and stay on the fishing grounds for 4-6 weeks at a time during lobster season, which runs from August 1 through March 30th.

The small village is certainly worth a look around, especially the Spanish Wells Museum.

So, now you know the secret. Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbor Island. The jewels in the necklace of islands we know as the Bahamas. Shhh, don't tell anyone: winter is wonderful, summer is superb, and right now is even better...so just do it: escape to heaven on earth.