A British Overseas Territory with a land area of just 21 square miles – the size of a middling city anywhere in the world – and a population of 73,000, Bermuda is named after its original discoverer, Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez. It has been settled for 412 years and has been a popular tourist destination – especially for those in the United States, for whom it´s a flight of just over two hours from the East Coast – since the 1880´s, when the Hamilton Hotel (now the Fairmont-operated Hamilton Princess) was built. The climate is balmy, the people are friendly, and as I found during my last visit, the island is easily navigable (by moped and taxi, as non-residents aren´t permitted to drive cars here). Many of its hotels and guesthouses are located along the South Shore.
James Willamor
Capital Hamilton
Founded around the center of the island in 1790, this laid-back, low-slung city is known for its blend of history, shopping, dining, and cultural sites. Its heart is waterfront Front Street, lined with pastel-colored buildings, shops, and restaurants. Highlights include the Bermuda National Gallery; 154-year.old Fort Hamilton with its fascinating underground tunnels; beautifully landscaped Queen Elizabeth Park; the Gothic-Revival Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, finished in 1905: and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute with its glitzy, three-story Ocean Discovery Centre. And try to be in town on a summertime Wednesday, when Front Street stages Harbour Nights, with live music, food vendors, and showcasing local handicrafts.
Out on the eastern coast, Bermuda´s first settlement (1612) – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is the oldest continuously inhabited Anglophone towns in the Americas. It´s a delight to wander its charming, cobblestone streets and visit historic buildings such as St. Peter’s Church, the Old State House (the island´s oldest remaining building, built in 1620), the Old Rectory, and Fort George.
Built in 1795, this strategic British navy base on the opposite, northwest coast is now a popular cultural and entertainment area. It’s home to the National Museum of Bermuda; Dolphin Quest, where you can swim with dolphins; and myriad artisans stalls, shops, and restaurants.
Kendrick Arnett
Located in Hamilton Parish, these breathtaking caverns feature underground pools and stunning rock formations. Strolling along the wooden walkways through the illuminated stalactites and stalagmites is a magical experience, and the clear waters reveal limestone formations beneath.
Anthony DeFreitas
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo
Located in the village of Flatts between Hamilton and St. George´s (and actually at the island´s geographic center), this is a modest but interesting affair showcasing local natural history as well as its terrestrial fauna and coral reef environments.
Moving onto flora, these 36 lush, beautifully landscaped acres in Paget Parish, a short drive from Hamilton, showcase blooms including fragrant frangipani, roses, orchids, and flowering hibiscus, as well as subtropical fruit and native palmetto trees. On the grounds you´ll also find the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, as well as Camden House, the official residence of the island´s prime minister.
Those Fabled Beaches!
Fabled because a number of them have pink sand thanks to a particular mix of red shells, corals, rocks, and more. The most iconic – and popular – of these is Horseshoe Bay in Southhampton, a gorgeous crescent surrounded by limestone cliffs and with a full raft of water sports and amenities. Also pink and well loved is Elbow Beach in Paget, though here there are no amenities. Wonderful, more secluded options (again, usually with few or no amenities) include Somerset Long Bay Park and Nature Reserve in Sandys parish in the southwest; and Astwood Cove in Warwick parish on the South Shore.
Spectacular Diving and Snorkeling
Scuba divers will have a ball exploring numerous wrecks and coral reefs in relatively shallow water (typically 30 to 40 feet in depth), and with virtually unlimited visibility. For snorkelers, many close-in reefs are readily accessible from shore, with colorful marine life including angel fish, blue tang, damselfish, grouper, parrotfish, triggerfish, rays, and even giant marine turtles and the occasional shark. Top snorkeling choices include Astwood Cove, Church Bay on the South Shore, Cooper´s Island Nature Preserve on Bermuda´s southeastern tip; Daniel´s Head Park way out west in Somerset near the Royal Naval Dockyard; and Tobacco Bay near St. George´s.
More info at Bermuda.com and GotoBermuda.com.
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