Port Royal: Ernest Hemingway's favorite spot
The little archipelago of Bimini lies just 50 miles east of Miami and is perhaps best known as the favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway, who lived on the island in the 1930s and penned his book, To Have and Have Not. It's not just the island life he was after. Bimini is legendary for its sports fishing and the author spent much of his time onboard his boat Pilar, in pursuit of marlin and swordfish. The little town of Port Royal lies on the quieter South Bimini, a secluded spot just moments away from the gorgeous beaches the islands are famed for.
Port Royal's eclectic history
For attractions, you're going to have to look a little further than the area around your Port Royal vacation rental, but with the islands and cays so close, it's never a problem getting around. Try not to miss a visit to the Dolphin House, a unique home built entirely from salvaged ceramics, glass and shells. The eclectic Bimini Museum is equally fascinating and houses a collection of mementos from notable figures who have visited the islands, including the immigration card of Martin Luther King, who reportedly wrote some of his famous speeches here, not to mention the fishing logs of Ernest Hemingway.
Port Royal is the sport fishing capital of the world
The Gulf Stream which passes the archipelago provides a rich habitat for marine life and the reason the islands have become such a mecca for anglers. Don't take our word for it, there must be a reason that Bimini is often dubbed the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World". Not bad for such a tiny group of islands. The scuba diving is equally good and when you stay at a Port Royal vacation rental, a day spent exploring the underwater world is not time wasted. Nor is a sunny afternoon paddling around the cays and mangroves on paddleboards or kayaks.
Get face-to-face with bull sharks at Port Royal
Bimini is home to some of the most unique creatures on all the Caribbean islands. Some are, unfortunately, endangered, like the endemic Bimini boa and the smalltooth sawfish, while others thrive like the Bimini ameiva, a type of lizard which can be seen scampering around the whole island. There's a particularly large number of shark species that roam the waters around Bimini, including mako and threshers. To get up close to these feared predators, lower yourself into the dockside cage and you'll be face-to-face with several bull sharks, some of the largest and most aggressive of the shark family.
Traveling to and around Port Royal
The nearest airport is in South Bimini Island (BIM), located 1.8 mi (2.8 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you could book a flight to North Bimini Island (NSB-North Seaplane Base), which is 5.6 mi (9 km) away.
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