Nassaucreate your own vibe

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, so start your stroll around the buildings of Parliament Square, which includes fascinating pink government buildings that blend British Colonial and Bahamian influences. The governor general of the country lives in the center of the city in the circa 1801 Government House, which is guarded by a statue of Christopher Columbus. At the north end of the square, you’ll see a unique octagonal pink building that was constructed as a jail in 1797 and now houses more scholarly inmates in the form of library books. Head west, and on Market Street you’ll come upon Balcony House, built in the Loyalist architectural style, named for its freestanding balcony and thought to be the city’s oldest standing residence. It was turned into a period museum in 1994. Head east to end your tour at Elizabeth Avenue and Shirley Street at the Queen’s Staircase, a set of 65 steps that were carved out of a natural limestone wall by slaves in the late 1790s. If you want a guided tour, call the Tourist Information Centre (242-326-9772) in Rawson Square, which leads 45-minute tours for $5 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday.