Porthole....

BERMUDA SHORTS

Step ashore at any of Bermuda's three ports, and explore the best that the island has to offer.

Hamilton - The classic capital city is ideal for exploration by foot

*Ships dock right in front of bustling Front Street, where friendly guides and horse-drawn carriages provide an overview of downtown. After your introduction, explore the compact city  at a leisurely pace on foot.

*Don't miss the ‘birdcage’ where a bobby directs traffic during "rush hour; shopping on Front Street (yes, you can buy Bermuda shorts); the Bermuda Cathedral, built in 1911; Sessions House and the Cabinet Building, both government facilities open to the public; Bermuda Historical Society Museum; and Bermuda National Gallery.

*Fort Hamilton, built in the mid-19th century during tense times between the U.S. and Great Britain, is an easy 15-minute walk from the city center.

*The best way to break up a day in Hamilton is with a typical pub lunch at the Hog Penny, a convenient pub that serves typical British and Bermudian fare. The fish chowder is popular, as is shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash. Wash it all down with one of several British beers on tap.

St. George - on the east end of Bermuda

*The port is on Ordnance Island in St. George’s Harbour, where there’s a statue of Bermuda’s shipwrecked founder, Sir George Somers, and a replica of the Deliverance, which Somers built in 1610 to sail on to Virginia.

*From Ordnance Island, it’s a short walk to King’s Square and the start of your St. George walking tour. King’s Square features the 1782 Town Hall - where the parish’s mayor and council still meet - surrounded by stunning Bermuda cedar walls and portraits of former mayors. Nearby, replicas of pillory and stocks, as well as a ducking stool, show how locals once were punished.

*Mark these for a visit:  Bridge House (once home to island governors), the Old State House (built in 1620 and the oldest house on the island), quiet Somers Garden, St. Peter’s Church, and the excellent St. George’s Historical Society Museum.

*Visit Fort George, just 15 minutes by foot outside the town center. Visitors are rewarded with sweeping views that prompted the British to build the fort in 1612.

*End your walking tour at the classic White Horse Tavern. Cool off inside the air-conditioned pub or enjoy open-air waterfront seating.

Royal Naval Dockyard - on the island's west end

*Once a major military outpost, buildings used in the 19th and 20th centuries have been renovated to welcome cruise ship passengers with shopping, dining, and maritime history.

*Ships dock within easy walking distance of such attractions as the Bermuda Maritime Museum (separated from the rest of the area by a moat) and shops that offer locally made pottery, glassware, and more.

*The Royal Naval Dockyard is also an ideal base for other popular Bermuda pursuits--such as snorkeling and moped rentals. The Bermuda Snorkel Park is on the north side of Royal Naval Dockyard and offers easy snorkeling (and equipment rentals). Though many lines discourage it, mopeds (called ‘cycles’ on Bermuda) offer a great way to explore more of the island (best enjoyed from Royal Naval Dockyard or St. George, rather than the busy streets of Hamilton).

*No day on Bermuda would be complete without a pub stop - just be sure you’ve already returned that rented cycle!. The pub of choice in Royal Naval Dockyard is the Frog & Onion, where there's a bustling mix of locals and tourists with whom to share a pint or two.