Every grand old dame always has a younger, more vibrant rival.

Victoria has Vancouver waiting in the wings, while Quebec City has to dig deep into its amazing past to outwoo Montreal.

It’s the same story in the Bahamas, where Nassau’s charm and 400 years of history contrast with the modern pizzazz of Freeport.

Both are beautiful and beguiling but with divergent personalities. And both will turn your head.

Created by American and British entrepreneurs in 1955, Freeport, on the island of Grand Bahama 110 kilometres off the coast of Florida, is the young upstart. The Bahamian government initially granted 50,000 acres of swamp and scrubland to build a deepwater harbour and establish a city for business and tourism. And it delivers — duty-free shopping, a tax-free zone for businesses, hotels aplenty and a wide range of activities.

Freeport is the resort centre of Grand Bahama and home to one of North America’s deepest ports, always bustling with cruise ships and container vessels. Freeport’s average of 300 sunny days a year and winter temperatures hovering around 21 C make it an appealing destination, not least in the dead of the Canadian winter.

The city is modern and well organized, with luxury residential communities parcelled throughout. It’s not large — it’s home to only about 26,000 people — and outside of the tourist areas it is quiet and laid-back.

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