Bermuda is perfect for a spur of the moment getaway vacation. There are so many activities to do along the unique pink tinted sands. For the diver, Bermuda is surrounded by a magnificent coral reef perfect for diving and snorkeling. Or for the more cautious, Elbow Beach in Paget Parish is the perfect location to soak up the sun along the beach. Whatever your preference, Bermuda has something for everyone.

Bermuda is much closer than you think–less than 2 hours away from most eastern US airports. With Bermuda’s incomparable weather, pink sand beaches, breadth of historic sites and warm, friendly people, it’s no wonder Condé Nast Traveler readers have voted Bermuda “Best Island in the Caribbean/Atlantic” 18 times since 1994.

To start with, many people mistakenly believe this island is part of the Caribbean. In fact, Bermuda rests hundreds of miles north of the Bahamas in an astoundingly beautiful stretch of the Atlantic, a mere 650 miles east of North Carolina.

All of Bermuda fits in a cozy 21 square miles with a remarkable 75 miles of dramatic coastlines. With its unique location in the Atlantic provides this island with an extraordinarily pleasant climate that rarely sees extremes of either hot or cold.

There are two main areas of Bermuda that tourist visit. They are Hamilton and St. George. Hamilton has a lot more activities and parties going on. There is no gambling in Bermuda.

I have been to Bermuda five times on cruise ships. Bermuda has some of the best beaches anywhere; pink sand beaches that you can easily find a deserted spot on. In my five visits it seemed to me that the majority of the people visiting the island were those on the two or three cruise ships which docked there during my stay. There are a few hotels in the town of Hamilton and about a dozen other properties/beach hotels, but they are nice. There are NO slums and ghettos in Bermuda like you may see on other islands. All of the houses are well maintained and painted in pastel colors. All of the public beaches are great. Be sure to go to Elbow Beach and Long Beach. When you cruise there its less expensive than flying and staying in a hotel because meals (and everything else) is expensive since everything has to be imported.

The optimal times to travel to Bermuda are May and October. The temperature is generally in the 80’s during these months. To experience temperature in the 70’s, one should travel to Bermuda in April or November.

There is not a lot to do in Bermuda other than water sports and golf. There are two main towns Hamilton, the largest (where most cruise ships dock for at least a day) and St George (also a port stop) which is like a small town and has just a few shops. The third place ships may dock while there is The Kings Dockyard. The Dockyard is on the far end of the 22 mile long island and has a small mall with shops and a museum. The Crystal Cave and Fantesy Caves are worth visiting as a tour. I also visited one of the lighthouses, for lack of anything else to do. You can visit one of the many forts on the island like Fort St Catherine if you like that type activity.

In the town of Hamilton we took a walking tour which took us to the Cathedral of the Most Holy, a maritime museum and a nice garden/park a few blocks from the port. There is shopping in Hamilton and restaurants, but not much else. The best way to get around in Bermuda is to buy a transportation pass (may be able to get it on ship) which will let you take the buses, and the ferry, all over the island. There is a big bus depot just a couple blocks from where ships dock in the town of Hamilton. You can take the buses to the beach, they are not very far away and easy to get to from the bus stop. If you want to go to Elbow Beach and Long Beach you can also take the bus, but it is a little farther away, both open to the public. If you want to snorkel, the Tobacco Bay Beach near the town of St George is great, and its walking distance (about 3/4 mile from town)..

I do not think you will find a lot for kids ages 4 & 8 to do in Bermuda, other than play on the beach. If you want to go to Bermuda because you have never been there, go by cruise ship. You will be able to see and enjoy the same things as flying there and staying in a hotel.