A visitor pats the stingrays at the Chat n' Chill on Stocking Island in the Exumas. (Lori Knowles/QMI Agency)

Top 10 beaches in the Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- With a chain of 700 jewel-like islands that stretch lazily across the Atlantic, The Bahamas is beach bummin' paradise. But it's also a hotspot of very cool Caribbean stuff. Here are three top examples:

1. Chat n' Chill, Stocking Island, The Exumas

Few spots capture The Bahamas' chillin' atmosphere better than the Chat n' Chill, a relaxed, family friendly hangout on Stocking Island, across the harbour from George Town on Great Exuma.

Hop aboard a water taxi piloted by a guy named Elvis and motor through crystal-clear, topaz-coloured water to a perfect white sand beach. The Chat n' Chill is a beachside, tiki-like bar stuffed to the rafters with sailing relics -- ropes, flags, bits of sail -- and barefoot skippers swapping survival stories. Snap open an ice-cold Kalik (a Bahamian beer pronounced kah-LICK) and flip open one of the encyclopedia-sized guest books to record your presence in the midst of all this coolness.

For an appetizer, wander along the beach to a little wooden booth flogging fresh conch salad -- a Haitian chef hauls conch in from the sea, hammers it open, cuts out the meat and chops it into a spicy salad. While you wait, let the kids pet the stingrays or wander along a Stocking Island path until you emerge onto its rugged Atlantic coast -- the waves are big, the sand dunes huge and the vistas endless.

For more information, see chatnchill.com.

2. Compass Point Studios, Nassau, New Providence Island

You don't have to be a music buff to get into the chillin' vibe of Compass Point Studios.

Founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, owner of Island Records, this blink-and-you'll-miss-it building has witnessed some of the world's greatest rock n' roll history. The Rolling Stones recorded Emotional Rescue here. ZZ Top, Lenny Kravitz, Pink Floyd, George Thorogood, Iron Maiden "¦ even Shakira have all used it to lay down tracks for platinum albums.

Operated now by producers Terry and Sherrie Manning, Nassau visitors can simply call up 24 hours in advance and organize a cool and casual tour. The laid-back Mannings fascinate with rock 'n' roll tales -- don't miss a peek into the studio's Recreation Room, where rock legends still come to party when they're in The Bahamas.

For more information, see compasspointstudios.com.

3. Pirates Museum, Nassau, New Providence Island

Few characters are as cool as Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean -- much of which was filmed in The Bahamas.

When you get there it's easy to see why. Privateers -- famous rogues like Blackbeard and Charles Vane -- actually ruled this island chain through the Golden Age of Piracy (1690 to 1720).

Most were disgruntled crewmen of Royal merchant ships convinced revelry and the plunder of passing ships were far more fascinating than an honest day's work.

Their fantastic history is tracked at Nassau's Pirates Museum, which walks you through an interactive, day-in-the-life of a pirate, including details on wine, women, lawlessness, amputations and scurvy.

Afterwards, strike out on a tour of Bahamian cays. With hundreds of deserted isles dotting this pretty blue seascape, tales are thick of pirates both past and present.

For more information, see pirates-of-nassau.com

More information

For details on exploring one or more of the 700 islands of The Bahamas, visit bahamas.com.

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