The Toohigs: 2026 January Get-Away: Harbour Island, Bahamas

For the annual Duck-Toohig beach getaway, we chose to explore Harbour Island in the Bahamas. It was easy to get to (just an hour and 20 minute flight from Atlanta) on a not-tiny plane, was a low-key lifestyle with a gorgeous/ bougie resort, and a cool golf cart way of life. The freedom of getting around on our own golf cart- and the fun it provided- was a big win for Harbour Island. So so thankful for a time of rest and togetherness with John and with the Ducks.

North Eleuthera Airport- the smallest airport I've ever experienced, although they are in the process of building a huge new airport

"Baggage claim"- you just point to your bag and a staff member grabs it for you

Once we landed in Eleuthera, we met a Dunmore staff who showed us the way to the hotel. We took a taxi to the marina, took a boat taxi over to Harbour Island (5-10 mins), and took one more taxi to the hotel. Many steps but pretty easy.

We have arrived at the Dunmore! When you pull up, you see a tiny building, really a walk through entry way, then walk through this dense 'forest,' and then discover the main building with check in and the restaurant (and adjacent pool). Just past this building is the OCEAN! Cottages sit all over the property, although important to note not many face the water. Feels like camp with little cabins and green spaces around.

The traditional Bahamian drink is the Goombay Smash

We had "ocean view deluxe rooms." We discovered that the whole resort is made up of one-story cottages mostly named after colors, with a few big residences along the beach. Both the Toohigs and Ducks shared one cottage building split into two units, "Aqua," and each room had a large bedroom and spacious bathroom with a great patio overlooking the water. Note that most cottages didn't have a water view. We didn't have direct beach access from Aqua, but we were the closest cottage to the main building, so we just hop over there and then down to the beach.

Aqua North

You rent golf carts through the hotel, and use them to get into town. Very nice to be free to take yourself places instead of relying on a taxi. The island was small and relatively easy to navigate.

Valentine's for a pre dinner drink overlooking the coming sunset

Now to find groceries- Pigly Wigly

Chickens everywhere

Dinner at the Dunmore

Breakfast with a view

Morning view from our cottage

First Miami Vice!

Lunch at Blue Sands at Pink Sands Resort, two resorts north of the Dunmore

We stopped by Coral Sands on the way back to the Dunmore- beautiful (and recently renovated) resort!

Their pool overlooks the ocean. The beach bar is down below. The main restaurant is up above.

Dunmore pool- the ocean is on the other side of those shrubs on the right. They offer pool-side massages, or they can also arrange to come to your room.

India Hicks' the Landing. India's godfather is King Charles, so her restaurant was a must-see for me! Food and ambiance were wonderful. Her shop was nearby as well, but I didn't make it by there. It's 'in town,' directly across from the marina.

Sunrise

A & A Hidden Treasures was recommended to me by a dear friend, and it's the perfect place to find personalized treasures to take home to your people. Annie and I got several straw purses and bags monogrammed for the girls. We had to give her three days to complete them, so make sure to stop in early in your trip. She is on social media, but it's easiest to call or just stop by. She's a short golf cart ride south of the beachside resorts.

We had a wonderful bartender!

Ocean View Club- the resort just south of the Dunmore; we stopped by for a drink

Sunset on the beach is 10/10

Dinner at Valentine's at the marina

Soooo many stars

Sunrise

Rebs, get ready- it's game day!!!! (Fiesta Bowl)

Lunch at Coral Sands

We walked up the hill from the beach bar to the Pink Mermaid restaurant and were IN AWE of the beautiful decor!

Nap time

And our other fabulous bartender!

If you look closely at the sand, you can see the light pink particles

Dinner at the Pink Mermaid- can you see the light pink mermaid on the plate? Everything was themed perfectly here.

The guys worked hard to reserve seats at the bar in front of the big tv for the Ole Miss - Miami game (being played in Arizona, top 4 teams). We did not win- very very sad.

Breakfast at the Dunmore

Other than chickens, lizards were the only 'critters' we saw, and they were pretty small and not terribly common.

From the beach looking back up the hill to the Dunmore. Drink hut is halfway up; the restaurant at the top of the hill will bring food down to the beach. The bathroom is all the way up next to the restaurant.

We booked a day long excursion with Captain Keegan Neilly of Weekend Agenda Tours (find on Instagram or I can send you his number) and told him we wanted to see all the sea life. MAN, he did NOT disappoint. We took our golf cart to the marina and met his boat there. He *did* have a bathroom on the boat- that was hard to find!

First up- Bottom Harbour Cove to feed the sea turtles and sting rays. UNBELIEVABLE! The water is about knee deep, and the turtles and rays immediately swim up to you- they give you squid to feed them. It's just wild. Note that I did get bitten by a turtle as I held a squid, but even with that, I would do it 100 times over. So amazing to be that close to them.

From the ocean, you can walk back through a small area and find a big pool/ cove back there. All knee deep water.

Capt Keegan took all these pics for us! (and many more throughout the day)

Next up with an another amazing shallow/ sandbar area that we could walk out for hundreds of yards. And Capt. Keegan found star fish for us to hold (under the water, of course)!! We couldn't find a single shell on our beach at the Dunmore, but we did find a few out here.

I was so excited! I've always wanted to hold a live one! They are very hard.

Sandbar in North Eleuthera for lunch

Pig Island! We had been to see pigs at Rose Island off of Nassau, and we loved this smaller version. The water was 'cold' at 72 degrees, so the pigs didn't really want to get in the water to be fed. We got to just walk amongst them on the island and pet and cuddle them. Such a GREAT experience.

Mama Wilbur was HUGE

This sandbar was unreal. Loved being completely surrounded by the ocean.

I had seen pics of the swings, but I just assumed they were on the shore just off a bar?? Nope, these were WAAYYYY out in the water. All by themselves. Some big rays here too.

Lastly, we stopped at a sand dollar beach. I have no idea where we were. But I've always wanted to find a sand dollar in the wild. I've never just walked up on one on a beach. Here, you really had to look for white shining in the sand through the water (about thigh deep), but once you (John) got to looking, you (he) found them everywhere! For the record, I did find one all on my own!

Annie embodies how we all feel about our day as we head back to Harbour Island

We had pizza from Coral Sands in the room that night and an early bedtime.

Last day!

Headed to the airport. This is directly behind our building, Aqua, with views of several other cottages, walking back out to the walk-through entry building.