Exploring the Family Islands
The Abaco Islands, stretching for more than 130 miles through the northernmost Bahamas, are known as "the Family Islands" as well as being recognized as one of the world's favorite cruising grounds. Here, in villages first settled in the late 18th century by loyalists who left New England after the American Revolution, the clapboard houses in pastel tones suggest an early Cape Cod moved to warmer latitude. The Abacos are only about a 60-minute flight from South Florida, but the days here move at a much slower pace than in the neon-disco resort worlds of Nassau and Freeport.

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In August 2008, ISLANDS editor Chris Tauber went to Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos to find a family island experience that was both authentic and accessible. Staying at the Green Turtle Club & Marina, Chris enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere of the Bahamas' Out Islands along with the especially quiet beaches and uniquely intriguing New Plymouth settlement. Read more in Chris' blog.

Fly to Treasure Cay, less than a one-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale on Continental. From there, take a short ferry ride to Green Turtle Cay. continental.com

Stay at Green Turtle Club & Marina, a charming 32-unit resort on Green Turtle Cay that offers family-friendly amenities like pool, mini-beach and ultra-clean bungalows while still having high-end touches like gourment seafood dinners. greenturtleclub.com

Eat at Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar in Green Turtle Cay's only town, New Plymouth. The bar is home to the legendary Goombay Smash drink, which is a coconut-and-rum must-have. Yet the menu -- served by Miss Emily's daughter, Miss Violet -- is loaded with favorites such as stellar cracked conch and rich mac-and-cheese.

Walk through the tight streets and bright buildings of New Plymouth, the historic settlement that dates back to the 18th century. Museums, restaurants and shops are tucked away at every turn.

See Abaco sights in a tour that includes Pelican Cays National Park, Marsh Harbour, the main town on the island of Great Abaco (which, in the best Bahamian tradition, is really a pair of islands, Great Abaco and Little Abaco). For a pair of outstanding beaches, head south to Eight Mile Bay (near Cherokee Sound) or to Treasure Cay, where you'll find a three-mile stretch of sand that frequently shows up on "World's Top 10 Beaches" lists. And after refueling at Marsh Harbour's restaurants and marinas (charter boats are widely available), you can set course for the cays on the horizon, including, from north to south.

Dive off Man-O-War Cay. The 300 or so residents are proud of their sandy beaches and coral reefs, including Fowl Cay Preserve, a national underwater park, just north of the cay. See the wreck of the Adirondack, a federal warship sunk during the Civil War.

Fish off remote Walker's Cay, which has long been Fishing Central in the Abacos (it's really as good as better-known Bimini). All the usual blue-water suspects -- marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo -- are here in abundance. The diving is almost as good, on reefs and in caves and canyons, including Shark Canyon, where divers frequently come across sleeping sharks (and, as the saying goes, it's best to let sleeping sharks lie). The barrier reef that guards the Abacos from the Atlantic stretches south from Walker's Cay about 100 miles to the waters beyond Elbow Cay.

Learn more at go-abacos.com.