Better than the Big Game: A touchdown in the Bahamas

Forget football: Hit the Bahamas Music Fest and stay at the Wyndham Nassau Resort – the perfect mid-winter restorative.

By Jennifer Olvera

The Big Game, say enthusiasts, is an American pastime. But not everyone digs pigskin, much less the onslaught of beer-riddled commercials. So, why not get the heck out of dodge and make a break for the Bahamas Music Fest? Slotted for Feb. 3-6, it’s an ideal beach vacation – and avoidance of all things NFL.

Offering a weekend’s worth of live music in Nassau – complete with appearances from Eric Benét, Doug E. Fresh and Alex Bugnon – it’s part cultural festival, part beach bash, and it arrives right when travelers are no doubt longing for balmy, tropical weather. Performances, which range from contemporary R&B to jazz, take place at the sun-drenched Wyndham Nassau Resort and Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. Beach parties and seminars are scheduled all weekend long, too. Given there’s a casino situated between the properties, it’s safe to bet there will be some gambling as well, and poolside DJs will be thrown into the mix.

Remember, though, given the Bahamas are situated just beneath Florida, temps hover between the mid-60s and upper 70s this time of year. So, it makes sense to expand the Bahamas music fest-bent to include Spanish, West African and British-inflected meals – culinary traditions reflected throughout the islands – and, perhaps sipping and swirling of cellar selections at the posh Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant. Or, keep it classic with visits to iconic Fort Charlotte and the carved limestone Queen’s Staircase, a 102-foot climb honoring the reign of Queen Victoria.

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Jennifer Olvera isa Chicago-based author, editor and food enthusiast, who travels often – usually in search of her next great meal.

Tagged: Caribbean