Bermuda
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Isn’t technically part of the West Indies, It’s associated with the Caribbean in the travel industry”
Bermuda is a string small islands, cays, and rocks located in the Atlantic approximately 600 miles of the coast of North Carolina, this beautiful and gracious island has been under the flag of Great Britain for more than three centuries and is steeped in British tradition and hospitality. In fact, Bermuda is the oldest British colony in the world.
Why do people flock to Bermuda? For one reason, the very formal and upscale” British” Bermuda is just a short flight from almost anywhere in North America, once you’re there, you can enjoy its famous beaches, excellent boating and sailing, and diving and snorkeling, it’s also a year round golfer’s getaway
Official Language: English
Explore Bermuda: Close your eyes and picture and enchanted island with beautiful pink sand beaches, boat filled harbors, blue and pink cottages, and turquoise waters. Visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the island from the historic Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, or a fish eye view of the ocean at the Bermuda Aquarium. There’s shopping in the many quaint island boutiques or English clothing stores in downtown Hamilton and throughout the island.
THINGS TO DO:
Unfinished Church:
Settlers in St. George began building an opulent replacement to St. Peter's Church in 1870. But there was poor planning, which led to insufficient funding and creative squabbles. The project was eventually abandoned following a debilitating storm that left a crumbling ruin and eyesore. Cut to present day, and the structure has been fortified to withstand visitors, though it's still unfinished with only the sky for a ceiling. If you only stop by one spot in the historic village of St. George, travelers implore you to make it the Unfinished Church. The "juxtaposition of the ruined gothic architecture and the serene surroundings is amazing." the people says, "The big open windows, grass floor, and blue sky above make this really nice."
Horseshoe Bay Beach:
Southampton Parish's Horseshoe Bay is the most photographed, famous beach in Bermuda, and you'll have to rally hard for a good spot, especially if a cruise ship is in town. The blushing sand at Horseshoe is gorgeous at any time of year, but the water is downright frigid from September to May; unless you enjoy shivering, you should steer clear of the tide after Labor Day. Even in the colder months, Horseshoe is a great spot for a romantic stroll along the sand. And if you're in town during Easter you have to make a special trip to Horseshoe to see the beautiful handmade Bermudian kites flying high on Good Friday.
Summertime swimming at Horseshoe is glorious, and you can rest easy with your kids playing in the waves because this is one of the few public beaches in the Caribbean that employs lifeguards. If you get hungry, there's a nice beachside café where you can dine.
Historic St. George:
Did you know that St. George was one of the first English towns established in North America? And like its contemporaries (Jamestown, Va., or St. John's, Newfoundland), St. George holds firm to its colonial roots. When you visit you'll pass the same Town Hall and Old Rectory that the settlers used. During the peak summer season, period actors roam the winding streets, simulating the old days -- there are even town criers and townspeople sentenced to the stocks. In 2000, the historic town of St. George became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There's much to see in the village, but recent visitors tired out after two hours of exploring. Be sure to include the following on your itinerary: the Old State House (the oldest stone building on the island), King Square (where you'll find a replica of the pillory, stocks and dunking chair used for punishment) and the Unfinished Church, another U.S. News Top Attraction.
Bus 1, 3, 10 or 11 will take you to the village of St. George.
Royal Naval Dockyard :
The Royal Naval Dockyard is a picturesque way to break from the pink sand beaches, and if you're visiting during Bermuda's chillier seasons, it could end up being the highlight of your trip. The site was once the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic Ocean, but it's now a tourist-slanted marina and cruise-ship dock that's stocked with waterfront restaurants, art galleries, quaint (though overpriced) shops and a few pubs. You'll also find the Bermuda Maritime Museum and the kid-friendly Dolphin Quest water program here, at the Keep fortress.
You can hop a ferry or catch Bus 7 or 8 from Hamilton to get to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda West End.
Elbow Beach:
If you're looking for sand at its pinkest, stop by Elbow Beach. Just remember that a good chunk of those pink pebbles is privately owned by the Elbow Beach Bermuda and the Coral Beach Club. Honeymooners should investigate a different spot, because Elbow has a reputation as the most family friendly shore on the island. This is partially due to the reefs that keep the waters safe and mild, and the food wagon that corals the perimeter of Elbow Beach on a regular basis.
All public beaches in Bermuda are open from sunrise to sunset. You'll find this particular beach in Paget Parish. It's accessible from Bus 2 or 7.
St. George's Golf Club:
Leave your kids at the nearby Tobacco Bay to tackle the 18 challenging holes of St. George's Golf Club. The cost of one round here is the same or comparable to other Bermuda courses, but at St. George's you can also get a discount rate for teeing off after 3 p.m. in the summer or 1 p.m. in winter. No matter what time you play, many say St. George's is worth the expense.
Tobacco Bay :
There are few public beaches on Bermuda that have concessions stands or restaurants with a liquor license. One that does -- Tobacco Bay -- is just a short distance from the cruise-ship dock and the village of St. George. In addition to boozing, you can rent snorkeling equipment at Tobacco Bay (though we'd recommend you drink after you snorkel).
There have been reports that St. George's untreated sewage gets pumped into these waters, approximately one mile from the coast. But it seems most vacationers didn't know this before heading to Tobacco, because they report back with glowing remarks on snorkeling in the clear water, lounging on the soft -- if sometimes scalding -- sand, or interacting with the friendly residents.
Warwick Long Bay Beach:
This Bermuda beach snakes along a half-mile of the island's southern coast. Vacations report a pleasant breeze at Warwick Long Bay during the summer months, but take note: Those winds feel like a chilly blast come wintertime. Warwick Long is great for families because it has an inner reef that safeguards against strong waves. Plus it's never as crowded as Horseshoe Bay. It's also accessible by public transportation; to get to this beach, you can take the Bus 7 from Hamilton. What the beach doesn't have, however, is a restaurant or bar -- in fact the Warwick parish residents recently petitioned against the construction of an area beach bar to preserve the serenity of the area. If you want to eat or imbibe at the Bermudian shore, check out Tobacco Bay.
Bermuda Maritime Museum:
The Bermuda Maritime Museum chronicles the island's history with several exhibits on slavery, immigration and tourism. Located on the ground of the Keep fortress in the Royal Naval Dockyard, the museum also recounts Bermuda's naval heritage.
Unless you're really into history or museums you probably need less than an hour to view all of Bermuda's artifacts. Devote most of your time to the adjacent Dolphin Quest, an interactive water program in the Keep Pond. Adults and children ages five or older can play with and swim alongside the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that live at the museum. Travelers say the paltry cost of entering the museum is worth it just to observe the dolphin exhibit, but you'll have to pay an additional (and lofty) fee if you want to participate in the program.
