4 Ways to Run at Nassau, Bahamas, to Reach Atlantis and Junkanoo Beach
The view from the peak of the bridge to Paradise Island is worth a photo stop. The total distance from the cruise ship pier in Nassau and over the bridge is just 1.8 miles.
I'm not an avid runner (I like it as part of an overall workout plan), but sometimes, I enjoy a race event as something to look forward to, especially if there is a good post-race party.
In the middle of training for my favorite annual road race, the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, New York, I was on a cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, so I had to muster the willpower to get off the ship and go for my daily workout. My training is for the actual running portion of the 9.3-mile race. I'm already in fine beer-drinking shape for the famous post-race party held at the Saranac Brewery in Utica.
If you love to run and hate to give up your fitness regimen when traveling, you know what it's like. You do a little research about the places you will visit to see what kind of routes you can take. This works well when a place features good points of interest. You can essentially give yourself a tour of a destination while running.
I've written about some of the best running paths around the world before here on In The Loop Travel.
A small market is set up in the shade under the bridge on the Paradise Island side.
If you're ever in Nassau, you can retrace the route I used for a good workout. Another benefit about running in Caribbean cruise ports: You can make sure you end at a beach to cool off with a swim when you're done.
1. Start at the Bahamas Cruise Pier
Starting from the cruise pier in Nassau, just exit the main terminal area that's filled with kiosks selling crafts and where the hair braiders and others vendors are set up. You can see the big bridge to Paradise Island to the east. This is your first destination!
2. Run to Paradise Island and Atlantis Resort
The run down Bay Street and across Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge (yes, dedicated to the actor) is less than 2 miles. The tough part, though, is that the heat and humidity can be brutal. I ran in June, and it was a challenge. The bridge is steep, too, so you get a bit of hill work for a stretch of the run.
The payoff is the view from the peak of the bridge. Stop for a few pictures looking across at Atlantis resort or back toward the harbor and the cruise ships before continuing your run. Once across the bridge, you can continue on into the sprawling Atlantis complex or slip into Marina Village, which is filled with shops and restaurants, to get down to the waterfront and all the yachts to do an out-and-back scenic mile-plus segment. If you decide to finish your run at Atlantis, you can stop for lunch, visit Atlantis and its beach (fees) or just have a cold drink before heading back. You can walk or take a ferry or cab.
But if you're still feeling good, then . . .
3. Run Back Across the Bridge
Head back over the bridge and return to downtown Nassau to extend your workout. On the way, before starting back up the bridge, duck under to the small straw market to grab a cold drink at the small bar or to peruse the crafts, clothing and art being sold there. Other points of interest on this route include the large Straw Market on Bay Street (a massive shopping complex and a popular Nassau institution), the Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation (a facility that looks at the legacy of slavery in the Bahamas and serves to honor one particularly brave slave) and . . .
Junkanoo Beach quiets down at sunset, and you have a view of your ship at the pier.
4. Continue to Junkanoo Beach
Run to the beach. This is a fabulous end point for your workout. Just follow Bay Street past the Straw Market and keep on following the waterfront until you reach the beach. It's filled with locals and tourists alike, as well as small huts serving as bars, shops and restaurants. The concrete pier is wonderful to swim off or just sit on with a beer at sunset.
If you go in the morning or afternoon, you can spend several hours in sun-splashed bliss swimming, listening to island music and drinking and eating.
This guide can help you have a great day in Nassau and keep up with your training regimen.
Go ahead and have a beer or two after your run to the beach. You earned it!
Thanks for reading!
Always travel happy, travel fit and travel often!
JR