The locals are descendents of British Loyalists that fled the southern
states in Revolutionary War times, hence they are fiercely independent (even of their own government),
and their accents still retain vestiges of their British ancestry. They are sincere and unobtrusively
friendly.
There is no motorized traffic in Hope Town, and the hilly streets must be explored on foot.
Water is visible on both sides of the island -- the blue ocean on one side, the green harbor
on the other.
The Hope Town lighthouse is one of only three kerosene-powered lights in the world, and all three are
in the Bahamas.
The large Fresnel lens floating in a bath of mercury generates a light visible more
than 17 miles. Hope Town's signature lighthouse and the most famous landmark in the Abacos, the red and
white striped lighthouse built in 1863, is 37 m or 120 feet in height.
A climb up the lighthouse's 101 steps to a breathtaking view of the outlying Parrot Cays and Elbow Cay's
enclosed harbor is well worth the effort.
From Hope Town, Elbow Cay stretches a couple of miles to the north to a newly developed area called
North Hope Town and five miles south to Tahiti Beach, a beautiful, sheltered, palm fringed beach.
Tahiti Beach itself is easier to reach by boat.
On the way to Tahiti Beach, by road, is another settled
area called White Sound that is home to the excellent Boathouse Restaurant.
If you are in the village; the beaches, restaurants, grocery stores and other services are within walking
distance.
The restaurants outside the village will send free transportation to pick you up.
If you are staying outside of Hope Town you will require a boat or a golf cart to get back and forth
to shops,restaurants and ferries. You can easily rent boats, golf carts or bicycles but you should make
arrangements well in advance as they are often totally booked up.
The Wyannie Malone Museum, in one of the oldest houses in Hope Town, is named after the settlement's
founder.
Filled with simple treasures donated by island residents, the museum traces the history of
Hope Town through photos, documents, and maps, as well as china, quilts, and other heirlooms.
At the Wyannie Malone Museum, you will also find exhibitions on Lucayan Indians and Loyalist settlers
are on display.
Also of interest, the Cetacean Museum is dedicated to whaling.
Despite being an island and a long way from the US mainland, there are telephones, fax machines,
computers, the internet, and cable TV.
Telephone calls to the US require an access number for your US
carrier. These calls tend to be expensive. Many cell phones will work, though this should not be relied
upon.
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