Masterworks Credit : Bermuda Tourism Authority
CRYSTAL & FANTASY CAVES
There ’ s a world going on underground in Bermuda . That ’ s what two local boys discovered one day in 1907 when following a cricket ball down a hole . They found two vast caves covered in dramatic limestone stalactites and stalagmites and a 55-foot-deep lake so clear that formations at the bottom appear to be just below the surface . Today , cross the water yourself on floating pontoons and bridges on illuminated guided tours of both caves that explore their magnificent beauty .
GIBB ’ S HILL LIGHTHOUSE
The tallest lighthouse in Bermuda appears even taller set atop one of Bermuda ’ s highest hills . Erected in 1846 to ward off ships from the dangerous reefs , the lighthouse was one of the first in the world to be made of cast-iron . In the lantern room , a 1000-watt bulb beams 40
miles out to sea , while outside on the circular balcony is a 360-degree view that goes as far as the Royal Naval Dockyard , Hamilton Harbor , and all manner of homes , farm fields , and landscapes in between .
MASTERWORKS
The artistic spirit of Bermuda has lured many creative masters to its shores , including John Lennon , who wrote much of his final album , Double Fantasy , here in the summer of 1980 . Tribute is paid with a 6-foot-tall , 4,000-pound steel sculpture in front of the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art . It ’ s just an appetizer of the tremendous Bermuda-inspired art on the premises , including works by Winslow Homer and Georgia O ’ Keeffe . The museum is inside the Bermuda Botanical Gardens , where the rare and protected Bermuda cedar grows . Its striking natural aroma and workability have made even slivers of it prized for artists and perfume makers .
PORT ROYAL GOLF COURSE
There ’ s a reason Bermuda grass grows on the fairways of championship golf courses around the world , and perhaps nowhere does its remarkable beauty and durability stand out than in its native soil , home to more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world . Despite many able contenders , the Charles Bank-designed Port Royal Golf Course remains the grand poobah , with 18 championship holes landscaped against sweeping vistas of the Atlantic . The 16th hole is particularly legendary , requiring a shot across pure ocean to the green perched on a coastal peninsula .
HARTLEY ’ S UNDERSEA WALK
The trip to Bermuda is incomplete without slipping below the stunning blue waters that endlessly caress the coast . Snorkeling and diving opportunities abound , but none are quite like this guided underwater walk in bell diving helmets , fed oxygen from topside , about two miles from Bermuda ’ s western shore . Only 8 – 10 feet under water , “ divers ” can explore the seabed , meet and befriend starfish , sea urchins , lobster , and a host of tropical fish — all without the weight of air tanks , annoyance of mouth pieces , or the training required for scuba diving .
Port Royal Golf Course Credit : Bermuda Tourism Authority
Naval Dockyard Credit : Bermuda Tourism Authority
BARRACUDA GRILL
The vast seas surrounding Bermuda make fresh fish and seafood a highlight of the diet , from five-star , fine dining affairs to roadside sandwich carts . One of the most award-winning restaurants is Barracuda Grill in Hamilton , serving boutique versions of island favorites — grilled yellowfin tuna , seared rockfish , pan-fried snapper , and its signature fish chowder — in a sophisticated dining room of mahogany furnishings , designer lamps , and etched glass partitions . For added romance , reserve the “ snug corner ,” with a table for two out of sight of other diners . For a more casual experience , grab a fish sandwich Art Mel ’ s Spicy Dicy , also in Hamilton , with fresh-caught fish stacked high on thick raisin bread .
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