Hope Town
You can get to the Abacos by air, but to reach Hope Town on the sliver of sand known as Elbow Cay—the outermost island of a chain already known as the “Out Islands” of the Bahamas—a sea-level journey is required as part of the itinerary.
For Colonial Charleston resident Wyannie Malone, it was a journey entirely by boat. As the Revolutionary War drew to a close in 1783, the British loyalist faced harassment, imprisonment, and even execution, so Wyannie and her children packed up their belongings and headed south to the islands, where they built a homestead on Elbow Cay (pronounced “key”) that soon grew into Hope Town. More than two centuries later, Wyannie’s efforts have paid off for her descendants, and countless Charlestonians have followed in her wake, if only for a week of boating, fishing, and relaxing along Hope Town’s coconut-tree-strewn shores.
Wander the narrow streets of the settlement, and you’ll quickly discover hints of the Holy City—a construction crew member wearing a Citadel hat left behind by a guest; a honeymooning couple from Mount Pleasant at the village coffee shop—or head about halfway down the island to the Firefly Sunset Resort, where the folks behind the Wadmalaw-based distillery have manifested the Abacos and Charleston’s shared devotion to a leisurely lifestyle based around time on the water.
island time
The 50-minute flight from Miami to the islands’ hub, Marsh Harbour, crosses an intricate patchwork of sandbars and mangrove-covered islets. One could spend a worthy week’s vacation there on Great Abaco Island: within an hour of clearing customs, we’re paddleboarding from the shores of the Abaco Beach Resort, before sampling our first plate of cracked conch at the local soul-food joint. But it’s the next morning, when we board a ferry for the 20-minute ride to Elbow Cay, that we truly settle into the slower pace of life here on the islands.
Hope Town’s candy-cane-striped lighthouse marks our destination, presiding over a picturesque harbor full of moored sailboats from around the world. Arriving at the dock, we’re handed the keys to our wheels for the week—a gas-powered golf cart (no cars allowed for visitors on Elbow Cay). We head down a sandy shore-side path to our suite at Leapin’ Lizards cottage, a beachfront home owned by Mount Pleasant attorney Mark Mason, and are soon reclining on a sprawling outdoor bed perched high in the dunes, overlooking the azure Atlantic.
Strolling through town, it only takes a few minutes to understand why the locals refer to Marsh Harbour as “the mainland.” From anywhere in Hope Town, the waters of the Atlantic are just steps away. The only golf to be found is an 18-hole disc course at the interior of the island’s widest point (barely a quarter mile). There are no sprawling mansions, yet even the tiniest clapboard cottages bear a tidy sophistication. Many of the brightly colored homes—built from local Abaco pine—have withstood a century of hurricanes, including Floyd in 1999 (an event locals still talk about like we do Hugo in the Lowcountry).
In search of grocery staples (i.e. Bahamian Kalik beer), we wander into Vernon’s Grocery, where the walls double as the neighborhood photo album and message board. Like many Hope Town natives, proprietor Vernon Malone—a seventh-great-grandson of Wyannie Malone—doesn’t limit himself to one profession. On Sundays, he’s a lay minister at the Methodist Church (and the town’s go-to wedding officiant), but during the week, he can be found kneading dough in his bakery and tending shop with his wife of 45 years, Barbara. He caught her eye in the mid-’60s after she visited the island with a church group. “We tried to ‘save’ the locals,” she jests. “It didn’t work, but I’m still here.”
Local Flavor
Seeking out some historical background, we visit the backyard sanctuary of amateur relic hunter David Bethel. He seats us in lawn chairs to share his collection of 17th-century Spanish pieces of eight and an array of Confederate and Union artifacts from the Abacos’ days as a staging ground for blockade runners during the Civil War. “There’s stuff hidden all over these islands,” whispers Bethel, unrolling a battered 1894 map he believes may lead the way to a half-ton of buried Confederate gold. “There are all kinds of little mysteries still out here.” (Sadly, Bethel passed away not long after our trip at age 65.)
For visitors like us, the Abacos’ true treasure lies in time on the water and an abundance of local seafood. At Lubbers Quarters Cay—a quick boat ride from the idyllic, appropriately named Tahiti Beach at Elbow Cay’s southern end—we devour yellowfin tuna burgers and grapefruit margaritas squeezed into Mason jars at a cozy, open-air bar. We happily chat up the merry band of boaters who arrive in jovial spirits on a day of island hopping, making several Charleston connections as we while away a breezy, sunny afternoon.
That evening, we visit Firefly, where in true Charleston style, luxury and refined cuisine coexist with flip-flops and bathing suits. Diners arrive by boat or golf cart and sip cocktails at the outdoor bar. We grab a table near the dock and watch the sun set over the Sea of Abaco while we savor sesame-ginger tuna tataki and a piccata of hogfish harvested from Elbow Cay’s inshore reef.
Memorable meals can also be found in unexpected places on Elbow Cay. One favorite among locals is Papa Nasty’s BBQ, a hilltop takeaway trailer where wahoo, pork, and chicken are flavored with smoke from native sea grape and buttonwood trees harvested only steps away. The island’s best dessert can be found just down the path, where every afternoon, 76-year-old Marcel Sawyer churns homemade coconut jelly ice cream that he doles from a wooden barrel. Sawyer’s ice cream is made all the better by the yarns he spins while customers sit in the shade and lap up his cool creations.
Born on Elbow Cay, Sawyer built his first skiff at age 10 to sail out and harvest conch and fish for his mother to cook. Ask him how he got his nickname, “Red Boy,” and you’ll hear a tale that begins with wild hog hunts on neighboring cays and leads to a history of the lucrative “wracking” industry (salvaging ships that ran ashore on the island). The original question may never be answered, but plenty of knowledge is imparted as Sawyer recollects a childhood when 1,500 people lived on the island year-round, as opposed to just a few hundred now, supplemented by a steady stream of visitors.
Every lifelong local seems to have a nickname. Maitland “Bonefish Dundee” Lowe is known as the island’s premier fishing guide, reliably hooking rookies into three-foot bonefish that “give as much fight as a 200-pound marlin.” When he doesn’t have a charter booked, Lowe can be found in his boat pulling a seine net for bait or simply cruising to check on his favorite spots. Fishing is a big draw for visitors—with 90 feet of water a half-mile off of Elbow Cay, one might argue that it’s easier for a Charlestonian to hop a flight to go deep-sea fishing in the Abacos than to weather the early morning, three-hour boat journey from Charleston Harbor to the Gulf Stream.
Sunny, Salty Days
Whether you come for the fishing, the food, or just lazy days with no distractions, the Abacos possess a special appeal that encourages repeat visits. Nearly every vacationer we meet either considers these islands their second home or makes an annual pilgrimage.
This isn’t a place with kitschy “Drinking town with a fishing problem” T-shirts. There is no commercial district. Rather, restaurants and shops are naturally interwoven into a village tucked gently between a quiet harbor and the wild sea. Visitors offer a taste of the outside world to the locals, and they, in turn, provide a reminder of how simple a life lived close to the water can be.
Unlike loyalist Wyannie Malone, you can always go back home, although like many Charlestonians who have followed her to the Abacos, you’ll feel a powerful urge to put down roots in this thin, carefree band of sandy soil.
Hope Town Tips
Relax in style on Elbow Cay in the Abacos
SLEEP:
■ Abaco Beach Resort: If you fly in late, fly out early, or just want a day to decompress, the Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour includes a private beach, an excellent restaurant, and easy access to town (from $297/night). (877) 533-4799; www.abacobeachresort.com
■ Firefly Sunset Resort: The private cottages at this waterfront resort are homey yet luxurious, with easy access to the pool, the dock, and the open-air bar. The two-bedroom cottages sleep four (from $395/night), while a four-bedroom villa comfortably houses eight (from $695/night). (843) 492-4337; www.fireflysunsetresort.com
■ Hope Town Harbour Lodge: This beachfront property includes rooms in the main lodge (from $185), waterfront cabanas (from $290), and stand-alone cottages (from $320), in the center of Hope Town. (305) 407-1556; www.hopetownlodge.com
■ Leapin’ Lizards: Set right on the Atlantic, this home and its accompanying cottage and two apartments are owned by a Mount Pleasant family. Rent the whole seven-bedroom compound that sleeps 16 for $8,800/week. (843) 696-0925; www.hopetownrental.com
GET AROUND:
■ Albury’s Ferry Service: The only way to Elbow Cay is by water, so you’ll need ferry service ($19 one way, $30 round trip with open return) at least twice during your visit. (242) 367-0290; www.alburysferry.com
■ Island Cart Rentals: A golf cart ($300/week) is almost mandatory on Elbow Cay (and there are no car rentals), whether you’re heading to town or to Tahiti Beach for a relaxing day in the sun. (561) 208-8160; www.islandcartrentals.com
■ Island Marine Boat Rentals: If you want to skip the ferry—and have access to the choicest snorkel spots—a boat rental ($130-$250/day, $700-$1,900/week) gives you the freedom to explore at will. (242) 366-0282; www.islandmarine.com
EAT:
■ Firefly Bar & Grill: Of course a Charleston-based company would be behind the best dining on Elbow Cay. Sit by the water and order a plate of stone-crab claws and lobster fritters with a cocktail, and you’ll forget that the rest of the world even exists. (843) 492-4337; www.fireflysunsetresort.com
■ Lubbers’ Landing: Head just across the water from Elbow Cay to Lubbers Quarters Cay, where this classic waterfront paradise offers one of the world’s best tuna burgers. (242) 577-2000; www.lubberslanding.com
■ Papa Nasty’s: From pulled pork to wood-smoked wahoo, this roadside lunch stand is a local favorite. (242) 359-6991; www.facebook.com/papanastysbbq
■ Vernon’s Bakery: The town minister doubles as the village baker in Hope Town. Head straight for the key lime pie and coconut bread, right in the heart of Hope Town. (242) 366-0037; www.vernonsgrocery.com
EXPLORE:
■ Abaco Eco Kayak Adventures: The best way to see Elbow Cay is from the water, where sea turtles, bonefish, and colorful coral will be your companions. Rent a kayak ($40/half day) or take a private tour ($150 for two people) with this family-run business whose owners are also leading conservationists on the island. (954) 889-7117; www.abacoeco.com
■ Wild Pigeon Charters: The Abacos are famous for both their bonefish flats and their offshore reef just minutes away. Whether you want to wade with a fly rod or troll for bonefish, Maitland “Bonefish Dundee” Lowe is the island’s most celebrated guide. Rates vary, so call for details. (242) 366-0234; www.wildpigeoncharters.com
