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Get to know Lyford Cay

Lyford Cay is the embodiment of a mid-century Slim Aarons photo, and as a matter of fact, the society photographer did often shoot at this elegant Bahamian enclave. It's the oldest of the Bahamian planned communities, and covers 1,000 acres on the western tip of New Providence Island. Most of the houses in Lyford Cay from the 1960s and 1970s were built in the Island Colonial–style, with pastel exteriors and sweeping verandas, as well as more modern styles joining in recent years. The heart of Lyford Cay life is the exclusive Lyford Cay club—membership, even for homeowners, is not automatic. Inside, with its pink and pineapple décor, the past lives on, with a cell phone ban in public areas, jackets required for men at dinner, and children subject to no dress code “other than that of good taste.”

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Living in The Bahamas

Composed of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets, The Bahamas has an island for every mood. The calm, warm, jewel-colored waters of the surrounding Atlantic Ocean define the ebb and flow of life here and Bahamians wake up knowing they live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. New Providence Island, home to the capital of Nassau, is the economic and commercial center of Bahamian life and just an hour’s flight away from Miami. There are multiple residential communities here that vary in style, ranging from the decorous pastel charms of Lyford Cay to the extravagant mansions of Albany, as well as multiple luxury high-rises. The islands of the Bahamas stretch for more than 500 miles and as you move farther south, the Out (or Family) Islands become less and less populated, many without a single human inhabitant. Others, like Eleuthera and Harbour Island, are pockets of sophisticated seclusion, while the Exumas, a chain of 365 islands, offer peaceful privacy and pristine beaches.