Dominican Republic - the Coconut Coast/Punta Cana

This guide is drawn from our larger guide to all of the Bahamas. Grand Bahama is an island of "cosmopolitan glitz and glamour coupled with miles of pristine beaches and endless turquoise seas." Sounds like a travel brochure, doesn't it? Well, that's because it's quoted from one of Grand Bahama's promotional releases. And, far from overstating the qualities of the island, in fact, it understates them. The Freeport/Lucaya area is the economic center for the island. Sightseeing, shopping, gambling, watersports, golf, tennis and, of course, sun and sand are just a few of the attractions. Grand Bahama is surrounded by crystal-clear emerald seas, sugar-white beaches, and spectacular coral reefs. You can dive with and feed sharks, or spend a quiet moment in the soothing company of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Golfers are in for a rare treat. There are three golf courses on the island - three of the best courses in the Caribbean. For shopping, head for Port Lucaya, where more than six acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment await you at The Marketplace. In downtown Freeport, you'll find more than 90 shops and stores in the International Bazaar. And the Straw Market just next door is a treasure house of crafts and specialties. Aside from the ocean and beaches that teem with life, there's also a unique national park, a magnificent botanical garden, and a nature center devoted to preservation of the island's wildlife. Nature trails and woodland paths meander back and forth among the mangrove swamps, flower gardens, and forests. There are more than 90 miles of virtually untouched wilderness and deserted shores to explore. At the far ends of the island, the villagers in the tiny communities of West End and McClean's Town will extend a warm welcome and create some of the…