Listen up: I love a beach vacation as much as the next guy. Probably more. I've been known to lay under my umbrella-ella-ella hey hey hey for like 8 hours on end, moving only to find food, pick up my book for five minutes, or wipe the nap drool off my face. One time I was so fast asleep on the beach that a couple literally poked me to make sure I was still alive. It's awesome. (Meanwhile, G gets so bored you can usually find him playing bingo with the old people at the hotel pool, taking archery lessons with his fellow resort kids, or, you know, sea kayaking.)
All that to say, while I love, love, love the beach I have a hard time exclusively going on a trip to sit on one; I always have to seek out something cultural to do, something that will distinguish the beach/island I'm on from the next one down the chain. Enter, Bermuda.
First of all, Bermuda rules and is like two hours from the East Coast. I sure as heck hope you're reading this from a beach there, because if you aren't, you're crazypants. Bright blue water, soft pink sand, Dark and Stormies - what's not to love? But Bermuda also has fantastic history up the wazoo. (Is that a word? Did I just type it out loud? Interesting.)
Take, for instance, St. George. Settled in 1612, and often referred to as the oldest permanently occupied town of English origin in the "new world," St. George is (spoiler alert!) a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. It's dotted with charming, raindbow-colored, 18th century buildings, historic sites from the fabulous Town Hall to the iconic St. Peter's chapel, and (St.) George's favorite: the requisite forts and canons. (Plus--shipwreck bonus!--St. George was founded after a fleet of ships found from England to Jamestown wrecked on the treacherous coral reefs surrounding the island. Some voyages continued on to what is now Virginia; the others camped out on the island paradise. Smart thinkin' if you ask me.)
George and I spent a day there, wandering in and out of old houses and shops, taking historic walking tours, gawking at the coast line, and, of course, wolfing down our fair share of rum cake.
With only 21 square miles of land mass, Bermuda is one of the smallest territories in the world, which makes getting around a cinch. No matter where your resort is, you can hop on a cheery pink and teal bus and hoof it to St. George for a day of cultural exploration in a truly stunning tropical setting.
All that to say, while I love, love, love the beach I have a hard time exclusively going on a trip to sit on one; I always have to seek out something cultural to do, something that will distinguish the beach/island I'm on from the next one down the chain. Enter, Bermuda.
First of all, Bermuda rules and is like two hours from the East Coast. I sure as heck hope you're reading this from a beach there, because if you aren't, you're crazypants. Bright blue water, soft pink sand, Dark and Stormies - what's not to love? But Bermuda also has fantastic history up the wazoo. (Is that a word? Did I just type it out loud? Interesting.)
Take, for instance, St. George. Settled in 1612, and often referred to as the oldest permanently occupied town of English origin in the "new world," St. George is (spoiler alert!) a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. It's dotted with charming, raindbow-colored, 18th century buildings, historic sites from the fabulous Town Hall to the iconic St. Peter's chapel, and (St.) George's favorite: the requisite forts and canons. (Plus--shipwreck bonus!--St. George was founded after a fleet of ships found from England to Jamestown wrecked on the treacherous coral reefs surrounding the island. Some voyages continued on to what is now Virginia; the others camped out on the island paradise. Smart thinkin' if you ask me.)
George and I spent a day there, wandering in and out of old houses and shops, taking historic walking tours, gawking at the coast line, and, of course, wolfing down our fair share of rum cake.
With only 21 square miles of land mass, Bermuda is one of the smallest territories in the world, which makes getting around a cinch. No matter where your resort is, you can hop on a cheery pink and teal bus and hoof it to St. George for a day of cultural exploration in a truly stunning tropical setting.