With a unique blend of colonial history and African charm, Bermuda has an old-world charm. Being Britain’s oldest colony, British influences dominate the island’s culture. Here you may walk down a street in the City of Hamilton and see a judge in a powdered wig, or witness a bobby directing traffic or stop to watch a cricket match. Or you could find African influences in the reggae music and spicy cuisine.
181 Islands Make Up Bermuda
Although Bermuda seems like one long landmass, it is actually made up of 181 islands, islets and rock formed by lava millions of years ago. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited, but eight of the larger ones are joined by bridges and one causeway to form what visitors know to be Bermuda. The geographical terrain is made up of low, rolling hills and relatively flat land, with what many believe to be the most exquisite coastline in the Atlantic.
Bermuda is known for its pink sand beaches, which exists in only a few places worldwide. The pink beaches are formed by the colored particles that wash ashore from the tropical coral reefs surrounding the south side of the island. Almost all of the southern shore has the spectacular blushing pink sands, but South Shore Park features the greatest concentration. South Shore Park, a public beachfront area, extends from Warwick Long Bay to Horseshoe Bay, and includes several secluded coves. Many hotels and resorts along this beachfront have private beach oases for their guests.
Bermuda offers an abundance of fish and other marine species for underwater lovers to enjoy. They have everything from anemones to humpback whales that frequent the sparkling clear waters. A vast barrier reef, which is one of the northern-most in the world, is home to an abundance of sea life and corals, and is a rich find for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.
The island offers many things for a tourist to do. For the sun lover, the fantastic beaches offer relaxing public and private sun-bathing, along with spa treatments and have many food and beverage stands. The more active visitor can enjoy body surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, golfing, or kayaking, just to name a few activities. Exploring more than 400 shipwrecks while diving is a treat for any visitor to Bermuda. In fact, Bermuda is called the “shipwreck capital of the Atlantic”. And divers can also see more than 650 species of fish.
Shopping in Bermuda
Shopping is also a popular activity for island visitors. Bermuda is well known as an international shopping destination, and there is no sales tax to be paid here-the price you see is the price you pay. Popular items include handcrafted gold trinkets, cedar-wood gifts, and of course, Bermuda shorts.
For those who love sightseeing, Bermuda offers a great deal. Bermuda has more churches per capita than anywhere else. The visitor can see any one of the many ancient forts built by the British, or visit one of the 785 historic houses. There are Botanical Gardens to see, or the Royal Naval Dockyard (an active naval base during the War of 1812), or even a perfumery to visit.
Bermuda also has an abundance of wildlife for the nature lover. Their world-famous bird watching can include 360 different species of birds. There are many nature reserves with exotic flora and fauna, as well as underground caves to explore. A visitor can also splash around with the dolphins at the Bermuda Maritime Museum. They even have a zoo with animals from the Caribbean, Australia, Asia, Madagascar and the Galapagos.
There are art galleries to view, craft studios to shop in, local cinemas, and classical and modern dance and music productions performed throughout the year. The annual Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts is always popular.
With all that Bermuda has to offer, it is no wonder that it is an extremely popular vacation spot. Imagine sitting on the soft pink coral sands, enjoying the warm breezes that drift across the sparkling waters as the dolphins play and the bountiful fish swim nearby.
