Get lost in this corner of the Bermuda Triangle and you will never want to be found. Once mainly a favorite of British royals and international celebrities, Bermuda now beckons the ubiquitous cruiser as well as the eco-adventurer.
Whether you are interested in colonial architecture, art galleries, shipwreck diving or secluded beaches, Bermuda offers it all, and with a British accent to boot.
It's famous and unique pink sand beaches and quiet pastel neighborhoods set it apart from the Atlantic islands to the south, and its more northern location keeps the weather a bit cooler (but still warm enough to warrant Bermuda shorts). It forgoes a life of hedonism in favor of quiet luxury, while the warm weather creates the laid back way of life that one expects from an island getaway.
If you didn't manage to get a window seat on the plane, you may still be able to get a bird’s eye view of Bermuda from the top of the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. Constructed in 1844 the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse represents the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world and measures 117 feet. A 1,000 watt bulb sits inside a lens revolving in a trough of 1,200 pounds of mercury. The light beam it produces can be seen by ships about 35 miles away and from a distance of 110 miles by a plane flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
From the top of the lighthouse, you will be able to view South Shore Park, Hamilton and the Fairmont Southampton Hotel and the Great Sound. During the Spring season, you may also spot whales migrating to their summer feeding grounds. So don’t forget that camera!!! And make sure to check out the panorama from Queen’s View named after Queen Elizabeth II who paused here in 1953 to wonder at the scenery. A commemorative plaque in the grounds marks the spot.
Hamilton is the capital city of Bermuda since 1815 and is home to two museums, the Museum of Bermuda and the National Gallery, in addition to the imposing and moated Fort Hamilton, a soaring Gothic-revival Anglican Cathedral, a Maritime Museum, the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, and many other historic sites. But the favorite activity here seems to be shopping at the numerous boutiques and dining in upscale restaurants. Unique shops feature local artists as well as imports from Great Britain and Ireland. English woolens, Harris tweed jackets, Irish linen, china, island-made jewelry, local crafts made of Bermuda cedar and local products can all be found here. The major stores and smaller boutiques carry a range of cosmetics and perfumes, some of which are available at prices less than in their country of origin—and there’s no sales tax!
St. George's was named the fourth oldest municipality in the Western Hemisphere by UNESCO in 2000. Old walled lanes from the days of the early settlements are filled with small museums and historical sites: St. Peters church (1620); Tucker House—an architecturally elegant merchant’s home from 1711; and King’s Square—where stocks, pillory and dunking stool were once used to punish criminals. The bay is home to replicas of 17th century ships, such as the all-important Sea Venture, which crashed here in 1609 while taking supplies t
The area comprising Bermuda's nine parishes covers the breadth and length of the Island. The western parishes is known for beautiful pink sand beaches and coves along with narrow and winding backroads ideal for bikers. Fancy resorts and stunning golf courses won’t disappoint. On the eastern parishes, you will discover some affluent residential estates with important historical sites like Fort St. Catherine and St. David’s Lighthouse.
The West End of Bermuda features Somerset, beautiful islands, nature reserves, tranquil bays and harbors and wooded areas. As you cross Somerset Bridge, you will fall in love with fascinating landscapes from gentle beaches, picturesque parks and farms to wildlife serves. If you are an avid crafts lover, make sure to visit the crafts market located at the Royal Naval Dockyard, a tourist center with great restaurants and pubs. Another stop not to be missed is at the Bermuda Maritime Museum which exhibits artifacts and relics from approximately 300 boats wrecked off the island’s reefs. And if you love dolphins and want to get closer, the Dolphin Quest has programs that will enable you to swim with the dolphins!
Named for the Spaniard Juan de Bermudez, who came upon the islands in 1503 while searching for the New World, Bermuda is England’s oldest colony. Colonized since 1612, Bermuda shares a similar history with other Atlantic islands near the American East Coast in that it imported African slaves (from America and the West Indies) to harvest tobacco and sugarcane and profited greatly from trade with the southern states during the American Civil War. Bermuda was sympathetic to the South and supplied the Confederates with munitions and supplies in return for bales of cotton bound for England.
In the early days of settlement, Bermudians were traders, and built swift ships out of native Bermuda cedar to carry them and their goods south to the West Indies and west to the United States. They were a cosmopolitan, practical people, who earned their way in the world with their wits. Their shipbuilding skills were well known—Bermuda sloops had a reputation as the fastest on the sea. At first these vessels were gaff-rigged, but Bermudians developed the Bermuda rig, which is now the basis for the rigging of nearly all sailing yachts. The multi-ethnic nature of those early inhabitants is carried on by present-day Bermudians, who are among the world’s most-traveled people, and who trace their heritage back to Britain, Africa, the Azores, North America and the West Indies.
Bermudians have British citizenship. The island has been a self-governing British territory since 1968.
With its quiet and reserved lifestyle, Bermuda has its own distinctive manners. One should always address a person met in the course of one’s day with the appropriate greeting of "Good morning," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening," plus the name of the person, "Sir", or "Madam"; this rule applies to strangers as well, such as shopkeepers or bus drivers. Daily greetings extend to the roadways, where drivers will "honk" their hellos to one another.
Despite its tropical climate, Bermuda can be especially formal, such as the requirement of a dinner jacket and tie at restaurants or strict adherence to traditional white on the tennis court. It is considered proper for men to wear Bermuda shorts, knee socks, jacket and tie. "Resort" and "beach wear" belong strictly to resorts or aboard cruise-ships, but not on this formal British island. Proper business attire is the norm.
The hook-shaped mid-Atlantic archipelago of Bermuda lies 500 miles east of the United States and several hundred miles north of the Bahamas. Blessed with a wide platform of protective coral reefs reflecting stunning blues and greens, Bermuda’s ocean is so clear that shipwrecks and coral can be easily seen from above the water. Picturesque pink sandy beaches on the south shore make up for the lack of natural resources—there are no fresh water sources on the island. All water comes from collected rain.
The entire main island is accessible by taxi, bus, bicycle or moped. Divided and named for the island’s original shareholders, Bermuda has nine sections called “parishes” and can be grouped into the following categories: Hamilton, St. George’s, the West End and Dockyard, the Western Parishes, the Central Parishes, and the Eastern Parishes.
Bermuda attracts visitors from around the world who enjoy a mild climate and warm water. Cruise season is April through October but the best time to go is summer. Off-season is November through March; many shops and attractions are closed during these months. December through March sees average temperatures from 55°F to 70° and winds; May through October is a warm 75°- 85°. Hurricanes can occur from August to September and rain occurs throughout the year.
No matter where you go in Bermuda, you are never far from a museum. The island’s rich history can be experienced in museums throughout the island, highlighting everything from art, china, maps, paintings, carriages, stamps and underwater objects that take you back to Bermuda’s turbulent seafaring days.
The architecture of Bermuda is very distinctive: limestone block painted pristine white or pastel, and a tiered white roof designed to catch rainwater. Another feature is the "Moongate" or garden arch, which is thought to bring good luck.
Bermudian cuisine offers the traditional British fare of fish and chips, bangers and mash, and scones and tea, as well as the more local dishes of fish chowder, tuna, mahi-mahi, rockfish, mussel pie, shark hash and cassava pie. A locally made favorite is black rum, which is made with molasses and a special barrel aging technique. The Bermudan Parliament does not allow fast-food restaurants on the island.
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