Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with Bermuda. The Dockyard closed as an official outpost of the British Empire in
1951, and Her Majesty's Navy has little presence here today. The Maritime
Museum's centerpiece is the spectacularly restored Commissioner's House, which
during the mid-1800s was the most potent symbol of British military might in the
western Atlantic. Its exhibits on Britain's (and Bermuda's) nautical heritage give
you a good feel for a largely vanished era. See p. 149.
W
Great Head Park
(St. George's Parish): This memorial to the men and women who
died at sea has been cited as one of the genuinely evocative monuments of Ber-
muda. See p. 161.
W
The Back Streets of St. George
(St. George's Parish): Almost every visitor to the
island has photographed the 17th-century stocks on King's Square in historic St.
George. But it's in the narrow back alleys and cobblestone lanes, such as Shinbone
Alley, that you'll really discover the town's old spirit. Arm yourself with a good map
and wander at leisure through such places as Silk Alley (also called Petticoat Lane),
Barber's Lane Alley (named for a former slave from South Carolina), Printer's Alley
(where Bermuda's first newspaper was published), and Nea's Alley (former stomp-
ing ground of the Irish poet Tom Moore). Finally, walk through Somers Garden and
head up the steps to Blockade Alley. On the hill is the aptly named Unfinished
Cathedral. See “The Best of Bermuda in 1 Day,” in chapter 3.
BERMUDA'S
best
-KEPT
SECRETS
W
St. David's Island
(St. George's Parish): Part of St. George's Parish, this remote
little island is often missed by many visitors, but it represents Bermuda at its most
authentic (see listing above).
W
Spittal Pond Nature Reserve
(Sandys Parish;
&
441/236-6483
): Bermuda still
has some oases that aren't overrun with visitors. One such place is the
Spittal
Pond Nature Reserve,
a sanctuary for migratory birds. It's a true walk through
nature, with flowering bushes and citrus orchards. See p. 157.
W
Crystal Caves
(Hamilton Parish;
&
441/293-0640;
www.caves.bm): Bermuda
has the highest concentration of limestone caves in the world, many of them with
echo patterns and sedimentary deposits that some spelunkers consider mystical.
Collectively, these caves form one of the island's major natural wonderlands. Their
surreal formations took millions of years to come into being, and the great stalac-
tites and stalagmites have a gothic grandeur. Crystal Caves, at Bailey's Bay, are
among the best, and also among the few whose tunnels and chambers can be
navigated by laypersons as part of a guided tour. Discovered in 1907, these caves
house crystal-clear Cahow Lake. See p. 158.
THE
best
RESORTS FOR
HONEYMOONERS
Bermuda has long been a favorite destination of newlyweds. Its hotels, from deluxe
resorts to guesthouses, attract lovers of all kinds looking for a little peace, solitude,
and seclusion.
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