Cruise passengers disembarking in Nassau are a short distance away from Bay Street, the main shopping area. Bay Street has high-end stores such as Gucci and Fendi as well as shops featuring duty-free liquor, jewelry, cigars, perfume, and other favorite items. Near the Bay Street shopping center is the largest and most famous of the Straw Markets. At the Nassau Straw Market, visitors will find an array of straw products including baskets, hats and mats as well as some homemade foods and woodworking goods. If you’re looking for souvenirs, this is the place to visit. Traveling from the pier to the Bay Street area is wheelchair accessible; sidewalks have curbed ramps and the Straw Market is wheelchair accessible. Visitors in wheelchairs may want to avoid the Straw Market during the middle of the day as it tends to be crowded.
At Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Center visitors can explore over five acres of tropical paradise and see Bahamas’ unique collection of wildlife, including many indigenous endangered species. Ardastra is famously known for their marching Pink Flamingos. During the 20 minute show, visitors will get close and personal to the National Bird of the Bahamas. Visitors also have a unique chance to feed the friendly Lory parrots. The Gardens are filled with brilliant bougainvillea, hibiscus, exotic fruit trees, coconut palms and other exotic plants. A few years ago Ardastra was renovated and it is now almost all wheelchair-accessible.
Image by LukeGordon1 via Flickr
