Bermuda: Hidden Gem of the Atlantic
My vacation requirements have evolved over the years. In my teens, I just wanted to go somewhere with pretty girls. By my 20s, a location with plentiful booze and good music would’ve checked the box. In my 30s, I simply wanted to go somewhere warm with no mosquitoes (bad experience in the Netherlands Antilles). Nowadays, I like to go places with good food, nice beaches, interesting culture, and located somewhat off the beaten path. Bermuda checks all the boxes.
When people initially think about Bermuda, visions of lost ships and planes come to mind from legendary tales of the Bermuda Triangle. When I tried to look up YouTube videos about the island, it seemed there were hundreds of conspiracy theory videos compared to videos focusing on the country.
Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is relatively close to major cities on the east coast of the United States. It is just a short flight away from cities like New York, Boston, and Miami, making it easily accessible for a quick getaway. Our quick flight from New York only took an hour and a half.
In late May of this year, my wife and I had the awesome opportunity to spend five days in the British Overseas Territory. Since I’m an American and drive on the right side of the road, I opted not to rent a car since Bermudans drive on the left side. This didn’t hold me back though, as I found the taxi and bus system extremely convenient and took me to wherever I wanted to go on the 21-mile island oasis.
We stayed at the Azura in Warwick Parish, a 20-minute shuttle ride from the airport on the northern side of the island. Our hotel was a short walk to the bus stop, with regular bus service every 15 minutes. The Azura was located just southwest of the City of Hamilton, so we were in a convenient location to the shops, restaurants, and activities. Every morning I enjoyed getting up early, fixing a cup of coffee, and looking out at the Atlantic Ocean from the balcony. It allowed me to reflect on life and enjoy the gift of each moment.
For the first two days, my wife and I used the rideshare app Hitch, Bermuda’s version of Uber and Lyft. It was super convenient and allowed us to see where we were going on the map in relation to the scenery. By our third day, we gathered the courage to try the Bermuda Breeze bus system, and as the name suggests, it was a breeze getting around the island.
Left up to my wife, our itinerary would consist of shopping, eating, and activities involving heights or deep-sea depths, which I have an aversion to both. Before our trip, I decided to buy tickets to the Bermuda Grand Prix track and field meet that was scheduled during our stay. With both of us being former college track and field athletes, I thought it would be great for us to see the pros in action. It was money well spent.
When we went to the track meet on our second day, we noticed the stadium was on an elevated area of the island which gave it a centrally focused dynamic as if the entire island was watching. All of the athletes were introduced to music and dancers with carnival costumes as they entered the stadium. I felt like I was at a concert. A DJ was at the stadium playing upbeat Caribbean music the entire event. Food vendors lined the exterior of the facility, with tons of offerings from Indian, Jamaican, and American foods. Our seat was on the front row directly in front of the long and triple jump pit, and it was amazing to see Tara Davis-Woodhall leap to the world’s best distance in the women’s long jump this year.
Having been to England and the Caribbean, it was a new and pleasant experience to see people that looked Caribbean speak like the British. Bermuda is an amazing place with amazing people. Bermuda has a fascinating history and a unique blend of British, African, and Caribbean influences. Exploring the island allows you to discover its cultural heritage through historic sites, museums, local cuisine, and traditions.
The next day we discovered our bus ticket also included the ferry boat service, so we decided to take a ferry from Hamilton to the Dock Yards, which took about 20 minutes. We enjoyed the water views and envisioned owning one of the beautiful mansions on the sides of the hills. At the Dock Yards, we got out and decided to eat at Bonefish Bar and Grill. This is the area where cruise ships come to port. Looking out the restaurant window, two cruise ships were anchored, and one was headed out to sea. Talking to another person on the ship ride over from Hamilton about his New England Patriots hat, I quickly learned that a lot of the cruise ships come from the Boston area.
After eating, we ventured to the National Museum of Bermuda. Outside there were huge cannons, probably 14 feet in length. I took the opportunity to live out my Pirates of the Caribbean adventure, aiming the cannon towards a neighboring cruise ship, pretending to shoot cannon balls. Upon entering the museum, I was captivated by the Family Circle wood carved sculpture by Bill Ming, portraying African enslaved people on their way to the west.
Later we made our way to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo via a quick bus ride. Big turtles, orangutans, and small kangaroos were outside. Inside housed various sea animals, including colorful fish, and small sharks resting at the bottom of the water tank.
By dinner time, we wanted to experience the restaurant of choice of the locales or onions, as Bermudians call born and raised citizens, and were quickly referred to Woodys. Although by the time we got there the restaurant was closed, the bar area was still open and a DJ was playing reggae, soca, and afrobeats. A younger Jeff would have hung out longer, but now that I’m older I simply wanted to get back to the hotel balcony to enjoy the ocean view before flying out the next day.
The day we had to fly out, we still needed to check Horseshoe Bay off the list. There are plenty of beach offerings, but Bermuda is known worldwide for its pink sandy beach at Horseshoe Bay. We rode the bus from our hotel down to the stop and walked a little down a hill. From there, a bar teeming with activity and food area allowed guests to eat and drink at their leisure, either under a shaded umbrella, or out in the open under the sun. The water was clear; looking down I could see my feet even in three feet of water. This location had a ton of guests, so I wasn’t able to relax as much as I was at the other locations. Jockeying for beach chair and swimming area real estate with other tourists, and the sun baking down lessened my experience there.
Even though it’s expensive to live there because of the remote location, I was still convinced I needed to spend a longer amount of time there in the future. It has the perfect blend of metropolitan je ne sais quoi and laid-back vacation vibes. Bermuda enjoys a subtropical climate, making it a pleasant year-round destination. The temperature remains mild even during the winter months, offering people the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year.
By the time we had to fly back to the United States, I was convinced that I would be back. I even started looking up employers in my job industry. For the next few years, I will try to sell the idea of a move to my wife. Until then, I will remember a fond five days in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sources:
National Museum of Bermuda | Go To Bermuda
Home | Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (bamz.org)
Bus_Schedule_EFFECTIVE_31January2022.pdf (bermuda.com)
Summer Ferry Schedule 2023.pdf (rccbermuda.bm)
Luxury Hotel Rooms Bermuda | Residential Suites Bermuda (azurabermuda.com)
HITCH | Bermuda’s Best Transportation App
Bio: Jeff Bennett is a Freelance Writer that enjoys traveling to unique destinations and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Virginia Military Institute.