If there is a best-kept secret on Grand Bahama Island, it probably rests somewhere on a secluded beach, within the lush tangle of a mangrove swamp, or in the colorful folds of a coral reef. Most people who come to the island never realize that its natural attractions are its finest assets, an oversight resulting from the simple fact that few of them ever stray far from the resorts and nightlife of Freeport/Lucaya. They have no idea what they're missing. To begin with, there are three national parks on Grand Bahama Island. Lucayan National Park, the star of the triad, is the only place in the Bahamas where visitors can see all six of the island's ecosystems – a collection of plants and wildlife that offers an unparalleled view into the complex interaction of native land and sea. Also within the park is one of the world’s longest underwater cave systems – a sprawling network of tunnels resulting from the island’s unique limestone geology. The Rand Nature Center, with its resident flamingo colony, and reef-enveloped Peterson Cay National Park are equally thrilling in their beauty. Both the Lucayan National Park and Rand Memorial Nature Center are easily accessible, but Peterson Cay can only be reached by boat.