It's no big secret that so much of what is being marketed and sold in Downtown Nassau comes from countries many of us have never seen. A brief stroll on Prince George Wharf will reveal that many goods that have come from The Bahamas have often been robbed of their full lifespans - starfish drying out in the sun and underdeveloped conch shells are sold as cute trinkets.
This may be fine for visitors who are content with mass-produced T-shirts and rum-riddled drinks on the beach, but many are looking for a more genuine experience. And Bahamians, too, want validation that their country possesses history, culture and beauty beyond its sandy shores.
In 2012 Jaime Lewis took over from artist Jon Murray in working to close the gap in Bahamian cultural awareness. Beginning as Murray's Downtown Art Tours, the company now operates as Islandz Tours and is run by CEO Lewis and VP of Operations Orchid Burnside.
Managing four separate walking tours, Islandz hopes to provide participants with an authentic Bahamian experience - hence its motto, 'Think outside the beach'. Most of its patrons are cruise ship passengers who have a few precious hours to spend in the capital, and Burnside and Lewis have been putting in the work to make each minute count.
The Downtown Art Tour has been rebranded as Gallery Hop, and includes stops at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB), Antonius Roberts' Hillside House and a quick break at the D'Aguilar Art Foundation or The Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery. Participants are also given briefings on Downtown Nassau's historic passageways and Love My Bahamas public art murals.
For those looking to soak up the atmosphere with a bite to eat, the Art&Dine tour offers the best of both worlds. An all-inclusive option, explorers can have several of their senses delighted with the Gallery Hop followed by lunch at Hillside House, courtesy of The Distinguished Palate (open Tuesday to Friday, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.).
For Burnside, the best thing about her job is meeting a variety of travelers on any given day. "I change their impression of The Bahamas. A lot of them have these preconceived notions, and they walk away feeling like they got a sense of our country," she said.
The enterprise also offers two alcoholic tours. The first is its Rum Runner's Passage. This walk features six rum tastings, two cocktails, conch fritters, rum-infused chocolates and guava duff spread over four locations. The second option, known as Bites on Booze Avenue - named aptly for Bay Street's 1920s pseudonym, is Islandz only tour that is offered in the evenings. Stopping at three downtown bars, participants are offered three shots of John Watling's rum, three cocktails featuring John Watling's rum and nibbles including mango-glazed fish, sushi, hot wings and conch fritters.
Lewis and Burnside are all about making learning fun - that's why they've got plans in the works for a new tour fit for anyone with a sense of adventure. The Nassau City Seeker is a scavenger hunt that affords those used to independent travel an opportunity to get off the beaten path. Competing for prizes like John Watling's rum, Tortuga rum cakes and Graycliff chocolates, participants will be given a map and an hour and a half to collect as many points as they can.
"I had one woman, for example, who got a free cruise (to New Providence) and she almost didn't take it because she hated Nassau," said Burnside. "And she thought it was just 20 T-shirts for a dollar everywhere, and all these people harassing you, and that the food wasn't that good. But she spent two hours with us, and she was like, 'Now I've seen a different side to your country, to this island, and I would come back again'."
All Islandz Tours walking expeditions range in price from $40-$70 and can accommodate groups of two to 10 persons. Those keen on learning more about Downtown Nassau's hidden gems and anyone interested in joining Islandz as a tour guide are encouraged to contact Lewis or Burnside at info@islandztours.com or visit the site online at islandztours.com.

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