If you're a nature lover, escape from the casinos and take one of the East End Adventures (tel. 242/373-6662 or 242/373-1652; www.bahamasecotours.com/safari.cfm) bush and sea safaris. You're taken through dense pine forests and along deserted beaches, going inland on hikes to such sites as blue holes, mangrove swamps, and underground caverns. You may even learn how to crack conch. A native lunch is served on a serene beach in Lightbourne's Cay, a remote islet in the East End. Most of the tour is laid-back, as you can snorkel in blue holes or shell hunt. Safaris are conducted daily between 8am and 5:30pm, costing adults $110 and kids ages 2 to 12 $55.

Horseback Riding--The Pinetree Stables, North Beachway Drive, Freeport (tel. 242/373-3600), are the best riding stables in The Bahamas, superior to rivals on New Providence Island (Nassau). Pinetree offers trail rides to the beach in winter Tuesday through Sunday at 9am, 11:30am, and 2pm, but only at 9am and 11am off-season. The cost is $65 per person for a ride lasting 2 hours. No children under 8 are allowed. There is a 200-pound weight limit per person.

Sea Kayaking--If you'd like to explore the waters off the island's north shore, call Kayak Nature Tours, (tel. 242/373-2485), who'll take you on trips through the mangroves, where you can see wildlife as you paddle along. The cost is $69 per person, and trips are offered daily from 9am to 4pm, with a meal included. Both single and double kayaks are used on these jaunts, and children must be at least 5 years of age.