MIAMI’S PLAYGROUND
4/27/2007 10:20:28 AM by Ashley Boxer
Find out why the Caribbean’s Bimini Bay Resort & Marina is Miami’s newest playground — in and out of the water.
Photos by Jose Amigo
If the quaint Bahamian Island of Bimini hasn’t been on your radar, it’s time to discover this exclusive vacation destination that provides guests with convenience and unparalleled seclusion in the closest Caribbean hotspot to the U.S. Discovered during the 1500s by Ponce de Leon in his passage to find the Fountain of Youth, Bimini sits at the point where the Gulf Stream meets the Great Bahama Bank and has often been called the bonefish and big-game capital of the world.
Enter Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, a resort community overflowing with yachting and sun-seeking enthusiasts who frolic throughout the property’s 135 vacation rentals comprised of condominiums, loft-like treehouses and single-family homes. The resort also offers a full-service marina, infinity pool, grille, Swedish and Thai massage services, a children’s playground and a fine dining restaurant overlooking the ocean.
“Bimini Bay Resort is the perfect destination for boaters and international travelers,” says Sean Grimberg, VP of Bimini Bay Resort and Marina. “You just can’t beat the proximity, the clear waters, white sandy beaches and the superior fishing and diving. Many refer to it as Bimini meets South Beach — and with good reason!”
The social hub of the resort, where guests gather to chat, relax and enjoy the magnificent views, is at the contemporary-designed infinity pool, featuring white loungers, umbrellas and beds. Swedish and Thai massage services are available poolside under a cabana or in the privacy of a guest’s condominium or home. The adjacent pool grille provides quick bites including conch delicacies, hamburgers, dolphin/grouper fingers, rum punch and frozen cocktails.
For dinner, guests can dine at Mediterranean-style Casa Lyon, the resort’s signature restaurant serving up Caribbean-infused cuisine by award-winning Executive Chef, Wayde G. Sweeting. Sweeting is currently the president of the Bahamas Culinary team and is known for his innovative, creative approach in producing top-notch fare.
Besides nocturnal events, the resort knows how to keep the spirit of Bimini alive with a plethora of daytime activities that range from bonefishing across the famous flats between the mangroves of Bimini to deep-sea fishing for Wahoo and King Fish right off Bimini’s coast, scuba diving and visiting the Healing Hole and Fountain of Youth.
At the end of the summer, boat owners will be able to park their vessels in one of the 230 floating boat slips positioned in the resort’s state-of-the-art, concrete docks. Bimini Bay Resort’s Mega Yacht Marina will accommodate up to 205-foot vessels. Slip reservations are going fast as the resort will play host to many high-profile fishing tournaments and rendezvous this year.
The convenience of Bimini is unparalleled. The island is easily accessible by private boat, several air services and by ferry. Continental Connection (Gulfstream International Airlines), Lynx Air International and Bimini Island Air operate daily round-trip flights from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini, and coming this summer, flights will operate from Miami International Airport. The Bimini Breeze is a high-speed ferry that runs from Bimini to the Port of Miami with a travel time of approximately 2.5 hours.
For those looking for a second, third, fourth or fifth home, real estate opportunities abound at the resort, including direct oceanfront lots and exclusive home sites on the resort’s private island. Plans are underway for a Fisherman’s Village, Conrad Hotel, casino, spa, Robert Trent Jones, Junior-designed links golf course, a second private island and an additional marina that will accommodate mega yachts.
If the aforementioned has turned your compass toward Bimini and the Bimini Bay Resort & Marina’s endless offerings, make reservations this summer to scope out the scene and take advantage of special rates that range from $250/night for a one-bedroom studio to $1,000/night for a four-bedroom oceanfront home. To schedule the vacation of a lifetime, call 242.347.2900 or email Reservations@BiminiBayResort.com.