Stay/Dine:
All of the Bahamas are beautiful but the best attraction for Eleuthera specifically is the ability to fly directly in. We stayed at The Cove with our kids and another family and loved how easy and safely the resort is situated. The kids were able to roam around without us worrying about their safety. There is a rock cliff and two coves on either side. The pool and restaurant are right in the middle of those two private beaches. Our older kids were jumping off the rock cliff and swimming back around to the beach. The restaurant has a super fresh sushi bar, perfect for light lunches. We ventured out one night, but the restaurants around the town were closed.
2021 update: While my older kids went on a service trip to Costa Rica, I took my youngest to Nassau. We stayed at the Rosewood Baha Mar. I was expecting a quiet luxury hotel based on the website, but it is attached to two other properties with a casino...not exactly the vibe I was going for.
See & Do/Shop:
Since it is only a short boat ride away, we planned a day at Harbor Island. Ferry boats run every 15 minutes from Jean’s Bay Dock, and rides cost $5 cash per person. My friend, Tricia Besing owns The Dunmore, which is gorgeous and quaint. Lunch was fresh and beautiful and the pink sand beaches were stunning. We rented a little golf cart through The Dunmore to get from the port to the hotel. The town is adorable with cute local shops. Cover was stocked at India Hick’s boutique, The Sugar Mill, so we made that our first stop.
Another day, we booked a private boat tour with Captain Shaw Underwood, a local favorite. He took us to Pig Beach to swim with the pigs. They were super aggressive once they saw the hot dogs. It was hilarious but could be a bit scary for littles. Along the way, we stopped at a gorgeous sand bar and saw manatees, turtles and rays. I would ask for Captain Shaw specifically as he was truly awesome.
2021 update: Marine animal experiences are best at The Atlantis. I do not recommend the experiences through the Rosewood Baha Mar or any adjacent properties. We did the sting ray experience with them, and the operation was very unorganized. At The Atlantis, "Dip & Discover" was our favorite. You get time to play with the dolphins in the water the most during this one. "Swim in Wonder" was fun, but it was more swimming in open water with the dolphins versus interacting with their personalities. "Playtime with the Sea Lions" was a lot of fun. The sea lions do lots of tricks and interact with you. They reminded me of dogs. The animals seemed very happy and well taken care of, while the trainers seemed very kind and seemed to have close relationships with the animals.