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Have a Cigar Fans fond of lighting up a stogie can indulge the sensory experience of taste and aroma at Nassau’s Graycliff Cigar Company. This is a family-owned business established in 1997 with a single roller – a business that now employs 16 master rollers, each an expert in cigar rolling. Today, the place has become a tourist attraction where visitors can witness the rollers first-hand as they produce five different brands of cigars. Visitors can also take a cigar-rolling lesson during which they learn how to sort, clean and roll the best leaves. Interactive lessons include the history of tobacco, together with information about where the best leaves are found and why certain leaves are blended together to produce the finest cigars. The facility also offers the double pleasure of cigar-and-rum pairing sessions led by expert craftsmen in both cigar rolling and island rums. For cigar enthusiasts, a visit to the Graycliff factory caters to their favourite indulgence and includes tips regarding how to smoke a cigar like a connoisseur. Bahamas Trip Planner Peak season weather is mid- December to mid-April; May and November are shoulder seasons that offer a good balance of weather and fewer crowds. There are 20 international airports in The Bahamas accommodating regularly scheduled flights from various international locations including Canada. Get help deciding on a travel itinerary by consulting the official online travel site for The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com. Birdwatching With The Bahamas covering more than 180,000 square miles of ocean and each of its major islands full of avian surprises, there are excellent birdwatching opportunities among diverse habitats ranging from pine forests to mangroves and coastal areas. Considered a must-visit birdwatching venue is the Abaco National Park where the island of Abaco is home to the endangered Bahama parrot. Alternatively, Andros Island is the only place to spot the endangered Bahama oriole. The island environment there also supports the Key West quail-dove, great lizard Cuckoo, Bahama yellow throat and several others. The top place in the islands to see a large population of West African flamingos is the Inagua National Park located on Great Inagua Island, the southernmost of The Bahamas. Grand Bahama Island also offers superb birdwatching, boasting the second-highest number of native species in the country. Varieties likely to be seen on this island are the Antillean peewee, Red-legged thrush, West Indian woodpecker, Bahama swallow and several other native species. Overall, the Bahamian islands are populated with a bird menagerie more than sufficient to satisfy the most ardent birder. CSANews | FALL 2025 | 21 Travel

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