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.

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.

Within the confines of this 18-acre paradise, guests can explore some 600 plant species displayed in beautiful themed gardens. Rambling trails pass freshwater ponds filled with fish and water lilies, a cactus garden, and a large and colorful collection of orchids. There's a special area just for kids, and the gardens are popular for strolling and morning jogs. Combine a visit here with Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Center across the street.

The Retreat, located in residential Nassau and once a private home, serves as the headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust which develops and manages the national park system. The 11-acre garden includes one of the largest collections of rare and exotic palms in the world, with native orchids, ferns and other trees sharing the spotlight. Although popular with tourists, gardeners and researchers, you can still enjoy the serenity and calm beauty of this shaded oasis. But it becomes very busy indeed during the two annual fundraisers for the Trust: the Art & Wine Festival in October and late November's Christmas Jollification.