Top 5 things to do in Bermuda

Few people think to travel to Bermuda but those who do find a charm unknown on many more popular islands. While Bermuda is technically a British overseas territory, the residents of Bermuda consider themselves very much an independent nation. Bermudians are known for their practicality, integrity and simple luxuries - they are fiercely proud of their heritage and it shows in all aspects of their island.

It's hard to find an unattractive place in Bermuda. Thanks to the turquoise waters and multi-million dollar homes, Bermuda is utterly elegant. But like most anywhere, there's a hidden side to Bermuda that will take a tourist past the pink sands and inside the history that makes Bermuda such a great destination spot.

1. Dark and Stormy's: There's no drink a Bermudian loves more than a good Dark and Stormy, which is why it's known as the national drink of the island. The Dark and Stormy gained popularity in the sailing community along the east coast, thanks to black rum brought home by various sailors who frequented Bermuda. Made with Gosling's® Black Seal rum and ginger beer, the drink is poured over ice and garnished with a lime. Some variations of the dark and stormy include adding gingerale, muddling the lime and decorating the rim of the glass with sugar but in Bermuda, simple is best and the old standby is the best: Pour the rum, add the ginger beer, and enjoy!

2. Golf at Tucker's Point: The Tucker's Point golf course is one of the most talked about courses among golf's elite. In its 2005 World's Best Golf Resorts issue, Travel + Leisure Golf's readers placed the club in the top three in categories of Best Golf Resort and Best Restaurants in the Caribbean, but there's a special place on this course for beginners, too. Grab a lesson with one of the golf pros and tee off amid some of the most breathtaking views of the island, thanks to Tucker Point's perfect position along Castle Harbour and Harrington Sound. I took a turn on the links and while I'm not ready for any upcoming PGA tour, I enjoyed the exercise and scenery from my few hours on the course. The undulations and landscape make this course worth a visit for any traveler. After 18-holes (or nine, or just a few driving rounds), head into the Golf Clubhouse for food and drink in the private club, decorated with an authentic Bermuda in mind. Don't worry if you forget anything, the Golf Pro Shop has everything you could want from golf shorts and shirts to hats and shoes.

3. Boat ride to the stars: The beauty of Bermuda lies in its intimacy, which is why many celebrities look for a home on the island. Hope a boat ride to the outskirts of the island and take a glimpse of the famous homes of the stars including Ross Perot, David Bowie and his wife Iman, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones. While you're out and about, tuck into a few of the hidden coves and awe at the homes and boats of Bermuda's wealthiest residents. Why? Because you can.

4. St. George's town: St George's was Bermuda's original settlement and one-time capital located at the east end of the country. It's a great way to kill a few hours and spot some historic architecture. A walking tour is a good way to explore the museums and shops and if you're lucky, you'll run into the Town Crier along the way, who will reenact some of Bermuda's famous moments in history. The hub of town life is King's Square where you'll find Town Hall and the State House, dating back to the early 1600s. Nearby are art galleries and museums, but the best part of the area are the narrow sidewalks and hidden streets that frame the picturesque homes.

5. Bermuda glassblowing: While you're here, don't miss a visit to the Bermuda Glassblowing Studio. Watch the artists in action and marvel at how color and shapes are made with hot glass. Bring your wallet because it's likely you'll want to walk out with a treasure from this idyllic island.

Wreck diving in Bermuda

For as long as Bermuda has been on the map it has been infamous as a land of shipwrecks. A place that makes widows out of sailors’ wives and around which superstitious warnings swirl.

But the very thing that makes this Atlantic archipelago such a hazard for seafaring folk turns out to be a great boon for snorkelers and scuba divers, who flock to these blue waters to experience some of the best wreck diving in the world.

Bermuda’s penchant for ship swallowing can be largely explained by its position in the Atlantic Ocean. Think of the island as a giant pothole in the middle of a freeway. The Gulf Stream draws ships into her path, where Bermuda’s shallow reef effortlessly devours them. Add to that the occasional hurricane and it’s a pile up waiting to happen.

Back in 1505, Juan de Bermúdez was the first European sailor to brave the treacherous reef. He survived the ordeal unscathed but others were not so lucky. In fact, many of today’s Bermudans are descended from shipwreck survivors. The Sea Venture, which ran aground in 1609, is the Bermudan version of the Mayflower. Since then, more than 400 other vessels have suffered a similar fate.

The shallow water and remarkable visibility in the seas surrounding Bermuda make diving here an unforgettably vivid experience: a typical dive allows plenty of time to explore the coral encrusted hulls, barnacled cannons and holds populated with a kaleidoscopic array of parrot fish, barracuda and angel fish. The deck of some boats, such as the Taunton, a 228 foot Danish steamer built in 1902, lie just 10ft below the surface, an easy duck dive for even an average swimmer.

Diving the wrecks of Bermuda is also a lesson in history. Tragic and heroic tales abound in equal measure. One of the most popular dives is the Cristobal Colon. The 500 foot Spanish luxury liner (the largest wreck in Bermuda’s waters) was one of the fastest boats in her day. Her speed proved her downfall in 1936. A signal malfunction on shore meant the captain misjudged the channel and ran aground. A year later the 250 foot Norwegian freighter Iristo suffered an identical fate while trying to avoid her.

Bermuda has so many wrecks they are literally piled on top of one another. In spite of the rough weather, the sheer number of sites and strict marine preservation means that many wrecks remain remarkably intact. The most famous example is the Constellation, a 200ft schooner which was writer Peter Benchley’s inspiration for the film, The Deep. This ship was carrying building materials, medicinal drugs, and 700 cases of scotch whiskey to Venezuela when she went down in 1943. Among the hardened concrete bags, storm swells continue to unearth the occasional ampoule.

The San Pedro’s cargo was far more valuable. She wrecked in 1596 and lay undisturbed for hundreds of years. Local historian and marine archaeologist, Teddy Tucker (who runs the Bermuda Underwater Marine Institute) discovered the site in 1955 and unearthed many gold buttons, precious stones, chains and the famous Tucker Cross, an emerald studded crucifix made by Incan natives.

While many a fortune has been made scavenging the wrecks, it’s a pastime best left to the professionals. Not all that glitters underwater is gold: The Pollockshields, for instance, which sunk a century ago, is still laden with live ammunition and shell casings. But novices need not fear: local dive masters know how to best match the site to the prevailing conditions. Unlike the wretched sailors of old, there’s little chance of joining the remarkable display of marine archaeology in Davy Jones’ Locker.

Introducing Bermuda

You go to heaven if you want - I'd rather stay here in Bermuda.' So gushed Mark Twain in the 19th century, and Bermuda's promise of sun and sea still lures vacationers to its shores. These days celebs like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones call Bermuda home, and millionaire executives pop over for a little R&R. The island makes for a delightful getaway vacation. If you're looking for peace and quiet, Bermuda has pampering resorts to soothe your soul. Romantics will find atmospheric inns with four-poster beds and candlelight dining. Or perhaps you want to really let loose. Jump on a motor scooter and let the wind whip through your hair. Go out on the town and dance the night away in the seaside capital, the City of Hamilton.

The island is surrounded by a fantastic coral reef that harbors colorful fish and has ensnared scores of shipwrecks, making for memorable diving and snorkelling at spots like Elbow Beach in Paget Parish. Elsewhere, the crystal-clear waters of Southampton Parish provide perfect conditions for kayaking and yachting. The offerings on land are splendid as well. You can play a round at a world-class golf course, hike peaceful trails and sunbathe on glorious pink-sand beaches. Or stroll the crooked streets of the colonial settlement of the Town of St George, Britain's oldest surviving town in the New World, which is so well preserved it's been made a World Heritage site.

Bermuda boasts a balmy climate that's comfortable all year round and friendly people who readily strike up conversations with strangers. And there's plenty of distinctive local color as well, from a landscape of tidy pastel houses to dapper businessmen dressed in Bermuda shorts.