Rita the Manatee has become famous in Spanish Wells, Bahamas.  She first arrived in Spanish Wells harbour in November 2009, and is thought to have traveled from Florida.  She is believed to be documented by photos in Miami from 2006 with her distinct scarring.  Her estimated age is between 25-30 years old.  She is one of an estimated 3000  population of endangered manatees.  They are vegetarian eaters and live to be an amazing 60 years old.  She has just given birth to a new baby around June 25th, 2010 (it is estimated that this is Rita's 7th calf she has given birth to).  The Manatees are known to be very gentle creatures.

If interested in a Spanish Wells - Russell Island vacation rental, please visit

http://www.Eleuthera-Bahamas-Vacation-Rentals.com

Rainbow Bay Beach, Eleuthera

Do you want to visit a tranquil paradise setting like Oz? I have personally witnessed some fantastic colorful rainbows in Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas, as well as gorgeous sunsets.

If you want to escape the crowds, and get to an affordable island destination, then you should consider Rainbow Bay. Eleuthera island has miles of beautiful, unspoiled beaches, and Rainbow Beach is one of the most popular. The Rainbow Bay community has a large land area, but homes are sparsely scattered here and there, with homes on both the Caribbean and Atlantic oceansides.

The Rainbow Bay area is a highly sought after area for visitors to stay. Most of the accommodations are private home rentals, where there is a local Caretaker to assist you. The location of the Rainbow Bay community is about 8 ½ miles north of the Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB), and located between the town villages of Hatchet Bay (four miles to the north) and James Cistern (4 miles south).

A car rental is highly recommended to get around the area to explore the various beaches, and to get to the grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The nearest grocery store in Rainbow Bay is a convenience store called Big Rock. However, there are larger grocery stores elsewhere on the island. There is also a nice restaurant called the Rainbow Inn which is located near the tennis courts off of the corner of Queens Highway and Lazy Shore Road. As Eleuthera is a long skinny island (about 110 miles by 2 miles at the widest), there is one main road that travels all the way north or south called Queens Highway, so it is hard to get lost.

Although the Rainbow Bay area has beach areas on both the Atlantic and Caribbean oceansides, the most popular beach is Rainbow Beach located on Wandering Shore Drive. This beach is family friendly and has picnic tables. This is a great place to snorkel, and kayak rentals are available on the island.

Eleuthera itself has a small population of less than 12,000 people. The main city, Governor's Harbour, is located about 16 miles to the south, where there is a larger grocery store, gas stations, some souvenir stores, restaurants, deli, bakery, library, and other government buildings. However, up and down the island, there are many town settlements such as Hatchet Bay, which has an internet café, and James Cistern which has a couple of small restaurants, gas and convenience stores.

Eleuthera is that special place to have quiet tropical relaxation, to enjoy water sports, soak in the sun, and to breathe fresh ocean air. This is not a place for those looking for commercialized areas with fancy shopping malls or casinos. This is a casual dress, laid-back island with shorts and t-shirt as the standard.

It is common for visitors to Rainbow Bay to take a day trip to explore the tourist places such as Spanish Wells or Harbour Island. To visit either of these island locations, it involves about a 30 minute drive to the north. Park your car and take a five minute ferry over. Both of these locations have golf cart rentals to tour. Spanish Wells is a quaint fishing village with pastel colored homes, and Harbour Island has the famous Pink Sands beach as wells as souvenir shopping and restaurants.

If you are interested in viewing our Eleuthera vacation rentals in Rainbow Bay and Spanish Wells, please visit:

http://www.eleuthera-bahamas-vacation-rentals.com

(Pictured above is the town of Spanish Wells when approaching by ferry.)

My family has been visiting Spanish Wells, Bahamas since 1999. To arrive to this fabulous slice of paradise, we fly into the the North Eleuthera, Bahamas airport (ELH), and then take a ground taxi to the North Eleuthera dock, called Gene's Bay. From there we board a five-minute ferry in anticipation of our arrival to the Spanish Wells town dock. While riding in the ferry, I am always enamoured by the sparkling turquoise sea as I approach the unique fishing village with the pastel colored homes and fishing boats. I am amazed at the size and beauty of some of these fishing boats at the dock. Lobster fishing is the primary industry of the locals here, and Spanish Wells is known as the "lobster capital" of the Bahamas. Although the fishermen here are prosperous, it is very hard work.

Spanish Wells is the town of the St. George's Cay Island (about a one-by-three mile area), a charming tropical village with all the modern conveniences. Spanish Wells is where all of the commercial development is located (the restaurants, grocery stores etc.), most of which are located near the dock or on Main Street. The surrounding homes in Spanish Wells are artistically painted with bright and pastel tropical colors, which are offset by the beautiful Caribbean floral landscaping. Spanish Wells also is home to some favorite beach spots.

Nearby Russell Island is an approximately two-by-four-mile island that connects to Spanish Wells by a small bridge. As much of the town of Spanish Wells is already developed, many of the newer homes are being built in Russell Island by the younger Bahamian generation, or by foreigners moving in.

Russell Island is still fairly quiet, as it is a larger area than Spanish Wells, and many of the homes are sparsely scattered as it is in its early development stage. As you are traveling through some of the roads here, it is fun to watch the goats that are fenced in, as you pass them by in your rented golf cart. Russell Island is home to many different kinds of fruit trees such as bananas, sour oranges, breadfruit, coconut trees and more. There is great birdwatching here, and the sunsets are spectacular, too.

The population of the Spanish Wells/Russell Island area is about 1,800 people. Many of the Bahamian locals here share the same common last name such as Pinder, Higgs, etc. You will find that the locals are very hard-working people, and many multi-talented. This is a close-knit, family-oriented and religious community. Many of the businesses are closed on Sunday.

The main mode of transportation for tourists is golf carts. Golf carts can be rented at the dock.  The locals generally own either a car, pick-up truck or golf cart. Driving is on the left side of the road. Many of the locals are very friendly and welcoming, and it is very common for them to wave to tourists as they pass them by on the streets.

Although Spanish Wells may not be for everyone, I highly recommend this island to those vacationers who want to relax in a nice tropical atmosphere, and for those who know how to entertain themselves. Spanish Wells is not for those seeking glamourous, glitzy casinos and shopping meccas. However, Spanish Wells is a wonderful place if you are an enthusiastic with water sports, such as boating, fishing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, or just enjoying a day a the beach. Bicycling is a great option, too.

To check out our vacation rentals in Russell island, please visit:

http://www.eleuthera-bahamas-vacation-rentals.com