Fall in Love with Bermuda

In these balmy islands there's an attraction to love at every bend in the road.

A few years back, Virginia tourism officials launched a marketing campaign to convince the world that "Virginia is for Lovers." The same — and more — can be said of Bermuda. No matter what you love — history, nature, culture or simply plain old fun — you'll find it in attractions-rich Bermuda.

There's something for everyone in Bermuda, and that's what makes the islands such a popular spot for couples, families and groups, says Kay Latter, who operates Byways Bermuda, a sightseeing company, with her husband, Ray Latter. "Bermuda is a small place," she says, "but there's so much to see and do."

You can hit the links at a verdant golf course, explore sunken shipwrecks, commune with nature at a sprawling park or simply soak up the sun on a pink-sand beach. For history buffs Bermuda boasts a wealth of sites, and art aficionados won't be disappointed with Bermuda's world-class museums and galleries.

When it comes to sightseeing in Bermuda, your only concern will be how to pack in all the sights worth seeing.

Ready to discover everything Bermuda has to offer? Hop on your scooter and hit the road!

For History Lovers

With more than 400 years of settlement under its belt, Bermuda is especially appealing to visitors enchanted by the notion of travelling back in time.

"We've got more and more discerning visitors coming to Bermuda," says historian Tim Rogers, who takes tourists on walking tours. "They enjoy the beaches and the restaurants, but they're also keenly interested in Bermuda's history and culture."

Devonshire Parish boasts a number of historic sites. Old Devonshire Church is thought to date from the early 17th century. Reconstructed after an explosion in 1970, the church is a national icon. Also worth a visit is Palmetto House, one of the few remaining examples of an early 18th-century cruciform home. You can tour its three main rooms from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays.

Nostalgic for the days when trains traversed the land? Take a ticket at the Bermuda Railway Museum in Hamilton Parish. Once the Bermuda Railway rumbled through woodlands over cliffs, past beaches and dunes. Today all that's left of the route is a nature trail. It's divided in seven scenic sections and each takes one-and-a-half to three hours to walk. Along the way, you can enjoy native plants and views or simply soak up Bermuda's balmy sun.

Paget Parish provides another portal to the past. Waterville, headquarters of the Bermuda National Trust, dates to 1725 and was the home of the Triminghams, whose descendants operated the biggest department stores in Bermuda for more than 150 years. Waterville's drawing and dining rooms are full of antiques, china and art. Amongst the attractions gracing the well-tended grounds is a Victorian rose garden with arbors and benches.

Another historic Paget property is Camden House, the official residence of Bermuda's premier. It's open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. Used only for dinners and receptions, the house's gracious rooms boast beautiful antique furniture, including pieces handcrafted of Bermuda cedar, along with fine china, crystal and other works of art.

Do make time for a stop at the Bermuda Historical Society Museum on Queen Street in Hamilton. It houses a small but impressive collection of antique Bermudian silver and cedar furniture. Also on Queen Street is the Perot Post Office, headquarters of 19th-century Postmaster William B. Perot, who produced the first Bermudian postage stamp.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity is the neo-Gothic seat of the Anglican Church in Bermuda. It's adorned with elaborate reredos and a decorative partition behind the altar features the striking image of Christ flanked by 14 saints. The pulpit was modelled after one in St. Giles, Scotland. Be sure and climb the 155 steps to reach the church tower, which offers magnificent views of the city. The cathedral is open daily and for services on Sundays. The tower is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sessions House, an 1815-era Georgian building with an impressive clock tower, is where the House of Assembly and Supreme Court meet. You can visit the Parliament Street landmark Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. In the downstairs court, Bermuda judges wear wigs and red robes, carrying on a tradition that dates to the 17th century.

Fort Hamilton is also a must for history lovers. The fort dates to the 1860s and offers great views of the city and harbour. The Bermuda Islands Pipe Band greets visitors with a Skirling Ceremony at noon on Mondays from November through March, as dancers move to the bagpipe tunes of Scotland and Ireland. Admission to the fort is free, and it's open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Sandys Parish, Scaur Hill Fort and Park affords visitors majestic views of Great Sound and Ely's Harbour. The British Army built the fort from the 1860s to the 1880s to protect the Royal Naval Dockyard from possible American attack. The park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Somerset Bridge — the smallest drawbridge over the Atlantic — links Somerset Island with the main island. Dating from the 17th century, it's one of Bermuda's earliest bridges and allows only an 18-inch clearance for the mast of a sailboat. Here, you can also rent a Jet Ski or motorboat. From this bridge you can see Cathedral Rocks, a natural formation reminiscent of a medieval church.

Other historic sites in Sandys include the Anglican St. James Church of Somerset. A hurricane destroyed the church in 1780, but it was rebuilt nine years later on its scenic promontory, graced by a spire and sweeping entrance.

Pass through Smith's Parish and you'll come upon the quaint village of Flatts, which features a number of charming pastel-coloured houses, shops, boutiques and restaurants. The village hugs the tranquil blue-green waters of Flatts Inlet, once a haven for pirates and smugglers, and picturesque Harrington Sound, an unusual saltwater lake. Also in Smith's is Verdmont, a 300-year-old, Georgian-style home that showcases Bermuda cedar furniture and period-planted gardens. The Bermuda National Historic Trust property is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Built in the mid-1840s, Gibb's Hill Lighthouse is one of Southampton Parish's most familiar landmarks. The lighthouse, open daily from 9 a.m., is 117 feet tall, with 185 steps to the top. You may find that perfect souvenir for the folks back home at The Lighthouse Gift Shop, and afterwards reward your efforts with a spot of England's finest in the Lighthouse Tea Room.

The entire Towne of St. George, meanwhile, is practically a living museum. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in St. George's Parish transports you to the days of Bermuda's early settlers.

Pose for pictures in the replicated stock and pillories, or stand by a ducking stool like the one once used to dip "gossips" and "scolds" in the town square. Today costumed guides such as Alison Outerbridge re-enact such events from colonial days. "I'm ducked three times a day in summer and twice a week in winter," she says. "It's lighthearted fun that everyone seems to enjoy."

The Old State House is the oldest stone dwelling on the island. The limestone building was constructed in 1620, using lime and turtle oil as mortar. It then became the home of Parliament, which had been meeting in St. Peter's Church.

Across the bridge from Town Square is Ordnance Island, where tourists can view a full-scale replica of the sailing ship Deliverance I.

Sir Thomas Gates, one of the original Sea Venture colonists, built Gates Fort, dating from 1609. Also worth a visit is Fort St. Catherine, which towers over the beach where the ship came aground.

If maritime history interests you, plan to spend some time in Warwick Parish. Darrell's Island, visible from Harbour Road, was a quarantine area for arriving ships, the site of a prisoner tent camp during the Boer War and a refuelling station for trans-Atlantic vessels in World War II. It was also the site of Bermuda's first airport, in 1937.

The past is also present in the many fine examples of traditional Bermudian architecture that grace this district. Across from the ferry landing are lovely old homes with stepped white roofs, thick plastered walls of coral rock painted in cheery pastels, and whitewashed stone arches over doors and windows.

For Nature Lovers

With its rolling green countryside, weathered caves, lonely coves and bio-rich marshes, Bermuda never fails to delight ecotourists or anyone who appreciates the great outdoors.

In Devonshire Parish's Palm Grove Gardens you'll find floral delights and several charming ponds brimming with water lilies and hyacinths. Palm Grove is privately owned, but visitors may view the gardens at no cost Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

East of the gardens are the pond, marshlands, native plants and migratory birds at the Edmund Gibbons Nature Reserve. The 22-acre Arboretum features lovely ornamental and fan palms, poinciana and golden shower trees, and Bermuda olivewood and black ebony trees.

In Hamilton Parish you can explore the Crystal Caves of Bermuda, discovered in 1905, as well as Crystal's sister, Fantasy Cave, discovered in 1907. The caves are named for subterranean pools of crystal-clear waters fed by Castle Harbour. From a pontoon bridge you can admire the incredible shapes of stalactites and stalagmites. The site is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in season.

Nature lovers will also appreciate Paget Parish's Botanical Gardens. The Garden for the Sightless features a collection of plants known for their unique scents. Take a free tour of the Botanical Gardens at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Afterwards, swing by Paget Marsh, which looks much as it did when Bermuda's first settlers encountered it. Learn about indigenous plants here by reading the markers along the boardwalk.

Hog Bay Park in Sandys Parish offers 38 acres of trails, vegetable gardens and wooded hillsides. The views from Sugarloaf Hill are worth the climb. If you like to bird-watch, this is the place for you. More than 120 species have been sighted here, including orchid orioles, purple finches and rough-legged hawks.

At nearby Springfield is Gilbert Nature Reserve, five acres of unspoiled woodlands and grounds on the site of a plantation house built in the early 1700s.

Of course, you can't miss Bermuda's first marketed tourist attraction. Devil's Hole in Smith's Parish is a small but deep cavern lake filled with angelfish, green parrotfish, snappers, Bermudian green turtles, moray eels and other marine creatures. The site is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Also in Smith's is Spittal Pond Nature Reserve and Bermuda's largest bird sanctuary. The best time of year to spot birds is November through May. Atop a cliff on the southern shore of the 34-acre reserve is a rock with a Spanish inscription dating from 1543. Trails lead through lush woodlands and along shoreline cliffs.

For Culture Lovers

Scenic and tranquil, Bermuda has long been an inspiration for artists and writers. Throughout the islands visitors will find world-class museums and galleries.

Learn more about the artists who visited or lived in Bermuda by perusing the shelves of the Bermuda National Library in Hamilton, the star of Pembroke Parish. Among the collections here are rare books and current periodicals and newspapers from Bermuda and abroad.

Crowning Hamilton's City Hall in Pembroke Parish is a bronze replica of the Sea Venture. On the second floor is the Bermuda National Gallery. Several exhibit areas spotlight Bermudian and international art. Check the papers to see when the gallery offers readings, concerts, lectures, slide shows and films. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bermuda's newest cultural attraction is the multimillion-dollar Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, set to open this fall in Paget Parish's beautiful Botanical Gardens. "In all, there will be four galleries, a reading/research room, a cafeteria/bistro, a museum shop and a courtyard," says Tom Butterfield, museum director. "Many of the visitors we have talked to have stated an interest in returning to Bermuda as a result of this facility."

Included in the museum's collections are works by Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keefe, Marsden Hartley and other well-known artists. "We believe," Butterfield says, "that the opening of the museum will change the paradigm of the visitor and the local artistic experience."

In Sandys Parish is the tiny, historic chapel at Heydon Trust, a bucolic, 43-acre preserve graced by rose gardens, stately Bermuda cedars and olivewood trees. The Sisters who care for the chapel, which dates from the early 1600s, are famous for singing inspirational Gregorian chants.

The retreat is part of the estate of Dr. John Dalzell, who made his fortune in Bermuda after he was shipwrecked here on his way to Nevis. The chapel, once a labourer's cabin, dates from about 1620. Since 1943, it's been a place of worship.

Each day from 7 to 7:30 a.m., the chapel resounds with Morning Prayer; Holy Communion is offered each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. In addition, visitors can enjoy the Sisters' chants on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and Monday through Saturday at 3 p.m. These services are known as Lauds, a Latin term denoting praise and gratitude.

The sisters sing the Psalms in the manner prescribed by St. Gregory 1,400 years ago. The Latin chants are meant to nurture heart, mind and soul.

For Fun Lovers

Bermuda has long been a favorite with couples and families. That's because there are so many ways to have fun in the islands.

In Pembroke Parish you can spend a day under water without getting wet by browsing amongst the fascinating exhibits at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

"We get about 28,000 visitors a year," says Wendy Tucker, BUEI director and daughter of famed Bermuda diver Teddy Tucker. "Kids and grownups alike always find something fun to do here."

Completed in 1997, the 40,000-square-foot facility features interactive and multimedia exhibits. A state-of-the-art capsule simulates a 12,000-foot dive, and an interactive map indicates the locations of Bermuda's many shipwrecks. View more than 3,000 seashells from around the world in the Lightbourne Shell Collection, and learn more about underwater crafts, such as the bathysphere. La Coquille, the institute's waterfront restaurant, is open for lunch and dinner and you can browse for souvenirs at two gift shops, The Logo Shop and Ocean's Gift Shop. The institute is open from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Flatts, the focal point is the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. Built in 1926, it's one of the oldest continuously operating aquariums in the New World and it features an intriguing look at the wildlife of Bermuda and other islands.

The facility features more than 200 species of indigenous fish, including parrotfish, sergeant majors, barracudas, sharks and moray eels. You'll also enjoy reptiles, birds, pink flamingos and lush gardens.

Exhibits include "North Rock," a 140,000-gallon display that replicates a living coral reef, and "Islands of Australasia," which introduces visitors to lemurs, otters and wallabies. Children love the touch pool in the "Local Tails" exhibit, and the coastal walkway offers splendid views of Harrington Sound. If you're curious about how Bermuda came to be, then visit the Natural History Museum.

The aquarium and zoo are open daily (except Christmas Day) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, the facility offers a daily North Rock dive talk at 1:10 p.m. from April through October (call for a winter tour schedule). Seal feedings follow tours.

Fun lovers also flock to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Sandys Parish. Dockyard, which dates from 1809, was once the largest naval base in the western Atlantic. Today the complex houses a variety of boutiques, restaurants and unique attractions.

Swing by the Bermuda Craft Market, which features the works of more than 60 local artisans. Follow Maritime Lane around the far end of Dockyard and you'll discover the Bermuda Arts Centre, where you can browse and chat with working artists such as painter Jonah Jones, sculptor Chesley Trott and jeweller Lynn Morrell. Then make your way across a moat bridge to the imposing Bermuda Maritime Museum, which features a number of nautical exhibits. You won't want to miss Dolphin Quest Bermuda, where you can swim with dolphins while learning the vital role we can play in conserving their marine habitat. There's also a snorkel park with water sports and activities to delight every member of the family.

Have you fallen in love with Bermuda yet? It doesn't take long after you discover all that these enchanting islands have to offer.

Moon over Bermuda

The moongate may have originated in China, but the distinctive archway has become an internationally recognised symbol of romance in Bermuda.

According to Bermuda lore, you'll be blessed with everlasting fortune and happiness if you and your beloved walk hand in hand through a moongate. That may be why you'll often see locals and visitors alike exchanging wedding vows before a moongate.

Legend has it that a Bermuda sea captain brought home the first plan for a moongate in 1860, after visiting a Chinese garden. He sketched a design for a circular wooden gateway and had one made for his own Bermuda garden.

Today Bermuda moongates are made of stone, not wood. Look for this national symbol when you're out and about — and don't forget to make a wish.

Locate a hotel in Bermuda, by Parish.

Visit our Maps section for detailed and printable free maps.

Getting Around

Buses and ferries can get you from one end of the island to the other. Taxis are plentiful, and some are driven by certified guides. Tourists aren't permitted to rent cars on ecologically minded Bermuda, but you can pick up a scooter or moped at several locations. After a bit of practice, you'll be whizzing around like a true Bermudian. "Things work here," says tour and incentive group manager Derek Morris. "Transportation works. Taxis and buses are clean and on time. That's one of the things that's great about Bermuda."

What you'll find around Bermuda:

East End

St. George's Parish
Old State House
St. Peter's Church
Ordance Island

Hamilton Parish
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
Bermuda Railway Museum
Crystal Caves of Bermuda

Smith's Parish
Bermuda Bell Diving
Devil's Hole
Verdmont
Spittal Pond Nature Reserve

Central Bermuda

Pembroke Parish
Hamilton, Bermuda's Capital
Visitor's Service Bureau at Albouy's Point
Par-la-Ville Park
Bermuda National Library
Bermuda Historical Society Museum
Perot Post Office
City Hall
National Gallery
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity
Sessions House
Fort Hamilton
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute

Devonshire Parish
Palm Grove Gardens
Edmund Gibbons Nature Reserve
Old Devonshir Church
Palmetto House

Warwick Parish
Darrell's Island

Paget Parish
Waterville
Camden House
Paget Marsh
Botanical Gardens

West End

Southampton Parish
Gibb's Hill Lighthouse

Sandys Parish
Royal Naval Dockyard
Maritime Museum
Bermuda Craft Market
Bermuda Arts Centre
Dolphin Quest Bermuda
Somerset Village
Somerset Bridge
Heydon Trust Preserve
Scaur Hill Fort and Park

Bermuda's Birds

Have you noticed the bird on the back of a Bermuda $10 bill? It's the cahow, or Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma petrel), and if it could speak it would have quite a story to tell.

Cahows are birds of a different feather. They spend most of their time in flight, fishing in the ocean as far away as the coast of North Carolina. When they do touch down, they make their nests in burrows on the ground.

In the 1600s, cahows covered the skies over Bermuda. An easy source of food, cahows sustained Bermuda's earliest settlers—to say the least. Within 25 years, the birds were extinct. At least that's what Bermudians thought.

Three centuries later — in the 1950s — local scientists discovered cahow nests on islets in Castle Harbour. Today the birds that kept Bermuda's first colonists alive are protected and prized as natural national treasures.

DID YOU KNOW? Johnny Barnes is a self-appointed "Good Will Ambassador of Bermuda." You'll find him standing by the roundabout near Crow Lane Park in Paget every weekday morning from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., waving to travellers and greeting the folks heading into and out of Hamilton. He has been doing this for more than 20 years.

400 Anniversary Offer! Book now and celebrate with hotel credits of up to $400 for travel through March 31, 2009. Plus get a 400 Anniversary Passport for additional savings of up to $1000 on island.

Make your Bermuda trip even more memorable with dolphins! Dolphin Quest offers fun, interactive dolphin encounter programs for all. Book your adventure today!

Have a fun-filled vacation with a cycle from Oleander. If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride an Oleander scooter. See all of Bermuda...reserve one today!