[Chelsae Anne | Photographer]

A couple weeks ago, Chelsae Anne (my photog!) and I jumped on a quick Silver Airways flight from West Palm Beach to Bimini, the closet Bahamian island to the US. With it being my first time visiting The Bahamas, I was beyond excited to explore the teeny tiny island. Here’s a recap of our amazing adventure…

WALLET: (c/o) Mark and Graham – love this one here and here too!

(The US dollar is widely accepted on the island!)

We stayed at Resorts World Bimini, a sprawling new property on the island that’s home to a luxury hotel, cute and colorful villas, six amazing restaurants, multiple pools and an incredible spa. The property also has one of the largest marinas in The Bahamas so yes – mega yachts can effortlessly slip into this slice of paradise. Ahhh, if only! Keep dreaming Stephanie.

Just seven miles long, bikes and golf carts are the only required transportation on the island. [Note to self: drive on left side of the road] Once you exit the property [on left side], you find friendly locals, authentic conch shacks, and not to mention, miles of pristine crystal blue beaches. Known as Ernest Hemingway’s favorite escape (and one of MLK Jr’s favorites too!), Bimini is both historically and magically different than any other island I’ve visited.

As soon as I arrived, I unpacked, threw on a cute outfit, jumped on a golf cart and started exploring the property with so much excitement! First stop? THE BEACH, of course!

Paradise Beach is a private beach offered to guests staying at the property. It’s uncrowded, unspoiled and absolutely breathtaking. Just look at the color of the water!

TOP, SKIRT: Zara – more inspiration here/HAT: more options here/BAG: Free People/EARRINGS: J.Crew – more options here and here!

After lounging for a few, we stopped by the Beach Club, a casual restaurant offering fresh fish and variety of yummy adult beverages drinks!

For those visiting the property with friends or family, you can also rent jet skis, kayaks or paddleboats at the properties water sports center, Bimini Undersea. Or charter a boat to snorkel around a shipwreck and explore remote islands… but we’ll save that for Pt. 2! 😉

DRESS: Asos/SANDALS: more options here/BAG: Free People/HAT: Banana Republic/EARRINGS: (c/o) BaubleBar

The next day, we rented bikes and ventured outside the property [on the left side of the road] to explore the island.

TOP: (c/o) Rebecca Taylor/SHORTS: Levis – more options here/SANDALS: more options here/SUNNIES: Nordstrom

This day was by far my favorite part of the trip. Our tour guide, Aaron, intimately guided us through Alice Town. We met the “Bone Fish Legend,” a local boat maker who told stories of how mangroves sing, how long it takes to painstakingly build one boat (up to 4 months because he does it all by himself – and he’s in his 70s!) and how one of his all-time favorite fishing buddies, Martin Luther King Jr. changed him. This picture was taken outside of his shop… I have to say, I’m a little jealous of his view!

We also stopped by the Dolphin House…

The Dolphin House was built with scraps of beach glass, old colorful tiles and good ole’ cement to withstand hurricanes. The man who built this house started in 1993 and adds to it each and every day. He was so proud of his creation! And understandably so… look at the details!

Next stop -> fresh coconuts and a quick dip in the ocean to cool down!

BATHING SUIT: (c/o) By Malka

On our way back to the hotel, we made a pit stop at local favorite, Edith’s Pizza & Bar to try their yummy pizzas baked on top of sweet Bimini bread crust (slightly sweeter than normal bread) and to sip on some refreshing Bahama Mama’s. Because I mean, when in The Bahamas, right?!

As I rode my bike back to the hotel, I was reminded of how fortunate I am. Visiting the locals in Alice Town felt… humbling. An experience I’ll never forget. Locals were so full of life and happiness despite enduring hardships on a daily basis… leaking roofs, food shortages, a lack of resources. Yet, content and at peace. It was a small reminder that happiness is definitely not about the things you have, but more about your perspective on life…

Living in South Florida where I’m surrounded by gorgeous homes, expensive cars and designer stores, I often times forget that having “more” doesn’t always equate to happiness. Life, as the locals in Bimini believe, is about appreciating what you have… practicing gratitude, connecting with others from different backgrounds as well as giving back to your community. And my experience in Alice Town (thanks to Resorts World!) gave me an even deeper appreciation for what I have…

Thanks for reading! Come back later this week for Pt. 2!

Xo, Stephanie

—

—