Highlights
Culture & Traditions
Bermuda likes to be different, a characteristic that’s portrayed in various ways, especially when it comes to maintaining traditions. There remains a huge respect for the English monarchy and British customs prevail like afternoon tea and eccentric dress codes – the longstanding rigout of tailored pink shorts, knee-high socks and blazer would certainly be an acquired taste back in Blighty!
Beaches
The defining feature of Bermuda’s beaches is the gorgeous pink hue of the sands, an unusual characteristic created from crushed shells of microscopic ocean organisms. Even better, the sands are beautifully soft and pristine. The best-known beach is Horseshoe Bay, but it can get crowded in popular seasons. More exclusive are the four private scoops at Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa – Long Bay, Turtle Cove, Pagem Beach and Morning Beach. Rosewood Tucker’s Point is also worth a mention, where private Beach Club facilities ensure everything’s on tap for a blissful day on coral-pink sands. Remember to keep watch for migrating Humpback Whales.
Golf
If golf is at the top of your luxury holiday agenda, Bermuda should be the number one contender, offering more velvet-green courses per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world! Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa is affiliated with every single course – six eighteen-hole and two nine-hole courses at the last count. Championship Port Royal is the closest, while a special arrangement with Mid Ocean Club means guests can play its exclusive fairways on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Rosewood Tucker’s Point is also fantastic, flawlessly remodelled in 2002 and offering hotel guests GPS-guided carts.
Diving and Watersports
Watersports abound in Bermuda, from jet-skiing, parasailing and high-speed catamarans, to paddleboats and kayaks. Snorkelling is a favourite pastime and you can wade from the beach into crystal-clear seas rippled with sunlight, where shoals of fish flicker beneath the surface. Most popular of all is diving – Bermuda is classed amongst the world’s top diving destinations, naturally blessed with fabulous coral reefs and tropical fish. There are various sites accommodating all abilities, both in the shallows and on oceanside walls that plunge into colder, deeper water. Topping this, over 450 shipwrecks dating back over five centuries, skulk on the ocean floor – extraordinary sites to explore and highlight in your logbook.
History
Unravel Bermuda’s intriguing past and discover a trail of colonial buildings and museums exhibiting the heritage of slavery and maritime wars. Top picks include the Royal Naval Dockyard, a huge, 19th Century fortress built to protect British settlers, featuring a complex of museums, restaurants and shops. Not to mention the town of St. George, a UNESCO-recognised site and the oldest inhabited English community in the New World. Other points of interest include the Historical Society Museum, the Old State House, Perot Post Office, Government House, the Unfinished Gothic Church, St. David’s Lighthouse, as well as bijou residences such as Carter House and The Old Rectory.
Shopping
If you fancy a spree, Bermuda offers plenty of choice. A line-up of trendy shops in the pretty village of Somerset, for example, a stroll from Cambridge Beaches. Another good spot is the Bermuda Arts Centre, opened by the late Princess Margaret in 1984, where you’ll find locally-made keepsakes like pink-sand jewellery, island perfumes and colourful art. Or there’s the Clock Tower Mall in the Dockyard, filled with chic clothing shops and eateries. For a stylish mix of high-end shops and independent boutiques selling designer labels and vintage finds, head to Hamilton’s Front Street. Follow this with a visit to Washington Mall, one of the biggest in town.
Family
Bermuda’s family-friendly attractions range from watersports and mini golf, to forts, caves and train rides. The Royal Naval Dockyard is a brilliant place to start, a premier entertainment complex with a Victorian twist. Other favourites at the Dockyard include the Snorkel Park and the National Museum of Bermuda, featuring exhibits of nautical dramas. For a three-in-one treat, visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo, mixing more naval history with tanks of native fish, or head underground to the stunning stalactites, stalagmites and saltwater pools of The Crystal and Fantasy Caves.