No cars are allowed in the heart of Hope Town, so bikers and pedestrians have the narrow paved streets, with names like Lovers' Lane, to themselves. As you wander through the town, you see harbor-side restaurants and pastel-painted saltbox cottages with purple and orange bougainvillea tumbling over stone and picket fences. Amid the usual island fare at the handful of souvenir shops is resort wear made from Androsia, the fabric produced on the Bahamian island of Andros.
To find out why Malone is such a common surname, stop by the Wyannie Malone Museum (officially open most days from 10am-noon, but unofficially open "whenever"). This small collection of island lore is in tribute to the South Carolinian widow and mother of four who founded Hope Town around 1783.
Before Hope Town's red-and-white striped lighthouse was erected in 1838, many of Hope Town's residents made a good living luring ships toward shore to be wrecked on the treacherous reefs and rocks, and then turning the salvaged cargoes into cash. To protect this livelihood, some people tried in vain to destroy the beacon while it was being built. Today you can climb to the top of the 36m (118-ft.) tower for panoramic views of the harbor and town. Most weekdays between 10am and 4pm, the lighthouse keeper will be happy to give you a peek. The lighthouse is within walking distance of Club Soleil and Hope Town Hideaways. If you're staying elsewhere, you can make arrangements through your hotel for a visit.
