Just a ninety-minute flight from Boston in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean lies one of my favorite travel destinations.  I have visited the beautiful Bermuda islands several times, going there for the first time on a family vacation in 1990.  Riding around on a moped with my sister and my parents, I was enchanted by the pink sand beaches, breathtaking views and British charm.   Twelve years later, I introduced my husband to Bermuda on our honeymoon and we have returned there twice since then, collecting more lasting impressions and happy memories.  If you plan a Bermuda vacation, don’t miss the following highlights:

The Reefs:  I first stayed at The Reefs in 1990 with my parents.  It is an award-winning elegant resort hotel on South Shore Road in Southampton.  The rooms are comfortable, the service is excellent and the food is extraordinary.  Dining each evening at Ocean Echo or at the more casual Coconuts is a memorable culinary experience.  Everyone on the staff, from the general manager to the bartender, makes sure that all the guests feel “perfectly at ease” during their stay.

One of the reasons my husband and I love staying at The Reefs is because of its super location.  With a bus stop just steps away from the front door, we enjoy hopping on the big pink bus each morning to  travel from one end of Bermuda to the other.  We also love the ocean views afforded from nearly every room.  After an exciting day of sightseeing, we look forward to sitting on our balcony, listening to the ocean and watching the longtails fly out across the ocean in an aerial ballet.

Aquarium/Zoo:  One of my favorite attractions, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, is small, but fascinating.  I have been there several times.  Upon arriving, I always take a few minutes to sit on a bench in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the main aquarium tank.  Watching the varied and colorful fish glide by while listening to classical music is both soothing and inspiring.  My husband and I each have our favorite animals in the zoo.  He looks for the zoo’s friendly and gregarious peacock that roams the grounds and I like observing the lemurs.

 Dolphin Quest: On our last visit to Bermuda in 2012 to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to splurge on something special.  We made an appointment for a Dolphin Experience at the Dock Yard.  Dolphin Quest offers a variety of different programs.  We chose the 20-minute Discover Dolphins experience.  We met two dolphins, a mother and daughter named Ely and Marley.  We were able to feed the dolphins and pat them in an up close encounter.  The trainer taught us some of the hand signals the dolphins respond to as well (Dolphin Quest also offers a Trainer for a Day program.  Wouldn’t that be cool?)  We had such an awesome time meeting Ely and her daughter, Marley.  For the rest of the day, we could not stop smiling.

Swizzle Inn:  A true landmark, the Swizzle Inn is the oldest pub on Bermuda (established in 1932).  The family-run establishment has since expanded to two locations. The original tavern remains on Bailey’s Bay.  Locals and tourists on the South Shore can now gather at the second Swizzle Inn in Warwick.  Known for its signature cocktail. the Rum Swizzle, the Swizzle Inn also offers an extensive menu of pub food including awesome homemade onion rings!

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse:  Just a short walk from The Reefs, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is a must-see for me whenever we visit Bermuda.  I have climbed the 185 steps to the top of the cast iron lighthouse to enjoy the splendid views.  Along the way, visitors can stop at each level to explore the informational displays about the history of the lighthouse.  Opened in 1846, the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse continues to shine its beacon of light from 362 feet above sea level across the waters of the Atlantic.  Today, the lighthouse also provides a delightful gift shop and restaurant for visitors.

Thank you for reading.  Have a Bermudaful day!