Nearly 300 animals ­ Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, Madagascar lemurs, monkeys, jaguars, reptiles and a vast array of birds ­ call Ardastra Gardens home, and some may share the walkways with you as you amble through the tranquil acreage. Although just a few miles from downtown Nassau, this place feels worlds away from the busy casinos and fast-paced nightlife of the island. Time your visit so that you see the flock of trained flamingos, national bird of the Bahamas, march in unison. Combine a visit here with one to the Nassau Botanic Gardens across the street.

The Bacardi and Company Ltd. Plant is a popular stop for visitors to New Providence Island. After the free distillery tour, try out the finished product in a variety of expertly mixed cocktails. The plant has professional bartenders on staff for just this purpose! And just in case you were wondering: those big tanks by Cliffton Pier actually hold Bacardi rum. Pipes run from the tanks out to a docking facility to fill up the huge cargo ships that transport the rum to Europe for bottling and distribution.

Although great views abound in The Bahamas, some of the best can be had from the Cloisters and Versailles Gardens on the eastern end of Paradise Island, overlooking Nassau Harbor. The stone remains of a 14th-century French monastery traveled a long road to end up here above the sparkling waters. Newspaperman William Randolph Hearst imported the dismantled stones to the US in the 1920s, but they remained just random pieces of a giant puzzle until Huntington Hartford purchased them in the '60s and had them reassembled (without plans) on his oceanfront Ocean Club estate. These grounds of the One&Only Ocean Club resort are a popular location for weddings.

Kalik is the ubiquitous quaff of the Bahamas, and this is where it all originates. Tour the brewery where the beer is produced, and enjoy a couple of samples too ­ Kalik, Kalik Gold and Kalik Light. An interesting diversion, especially for beer lovers ­ call ahead to arrange a time.

Favored by musicians as diverse as AC/DC, The B-52's, Jimmy Buffett, Julian Lennon, Tricky, Shania Twain and the Chieftans, Compass Point has an established reputation as a state of the art recording studio. Originally founded in 1977 by Island Records owner Chris Blackwell, the studios experienced several years of decline in the late 1980s. In 1992, producers Terry and Sherrie Manning took over and after some major improvements and upgrades, the studios are fully functioning once again. While visitors are not permitted inside, it's kind of cool to see the place where so many fabulous musicians have recorded so many landmark albums. Plus, you never know who you might see coming out the front door!