Freeport, Bahamas help please (best, old, beach, renting)

[Granny Sue]

We're going on a cruise!
I've got Nassau figured out but having trouble with Freeport.
While we're not totally adverse to the ship excursions, this time none really interest us.

We're more of the nature loving, non-snorkling, non-beach type...no offense but we live within an hour or so of lots beaches so we want something different.
We are looking at Lacayan National Park, Garden of the Groves and the Marketplace....we're in port from noon till 7pm...of course wanting to be back on the ship by 6pm.
Is this do-able? What would be the best was to do this without renting a car? Or hiring a cab for the entire day?
Nassau has a jitny to take the tourist to and fro as opposed to taxis...will I find the same in Freeport?
And a regular old restaurant...not a chain or one geared towards the tourist...(or is really good at hiding the fact that they are geared towards the tourist.)

Thanks for any and all help!

[asonnier]

I wouldn't try to do all three things in that time frame. I have done two of the three and then taken a taxi back to the terminal.

The garden was nice;not spectacular but nice. The tour used to take you there by bus. If you don't want to take the tour than you can take a taxi I guess. Seems like it wasn't too far but not super close either. The history behind the garden is the neatest part of it. The marketplace was nice too but not fantastic. You could probably fit both of those in during your stop; we did! Have fun!

[Granny Sue]

Originally Posted by asonnier

I wouldn't try to do all three things in that time frame. I have done two of the three and then taken a taxi back to the terminal.

The garden was nice;not spectacular but nice. The tour used to take you there by bus. If you don't want to take the tour than you can take a taxi I guess. Seems like it wasn't too far but not super close either. The history behind the garden is the neatest part of it. The marketplace was nice too but not fantastic. You could probably fit both of those in during your stop; we did! Have fun!

Thanks...I was wondering about the time thing also. We'd rather see the National Park than the gardens. So maybe take a taxi out to the Park? Then to the Marketplace.

[mortpes]

You can eat lunch at the Garden and then go down to Banana Bay.