There’s a 21-square mile island less than 650 miles off the coast of North America that, with its vibrant coastal life, quaint and walkable seaside towns, long beaches made for strolling and things to do in the semi-cooler low season we still manage to overlook this time of year.
It’s called Bermuda.
The island adored for its beauty, activities, food and history isn’t just ideal for warm weather high season. Shoulder and low season months may not equal long days on the beach and in the water, but they do mean comfortable weather, sparkling ocean views and best of all: easier access to the things that make Bermuda (https://www.gotobermuda.com) great.
On a shoulder season visit, I realized quickly that those “off” times of year are full-on great.
First, let’s talk weather. Bermuda sits 650 miles off the coast of the Carolinas, which means it does not hold on to summer the way Caribbean islands do. But it does hold on to comfort: temps seldom dip lower than the 60’s and most days the sun warms you enough to allow you to tuck your light jacket away. Hearty New Englanders may even find themselves savoring a pool day, since most months still average near 70 degrees. There’s barely any humidity, too, a nice bonus.
I arrived at the island via Bermuda Air (https://bermudair.inkcloud.io), the smaller fleet airline that just celebrated its first birthday, and I highly recommend using them. Bermuda Air is a chill experience, and they even serve your coffee in a real, full-sized mug. It’s the little things.
Bermuda customs is a snap too, and if you’re traveling to and from Boston, you take care of things on the way home on the Bermuda side – and they have Global Entry.
Here’s a rundown of great ways to savor the island this time of year.
Golf: Bermuda is home to seven acclaimed golf courses, including famed Port Royal, the Robert Trent Jones public course that’s home to the PGA’s Butterfield Bermuda tourney. In shoulder and low season you’ll find more access to tee times, lower greens fees and fewer crowds, but still the same interesting course challenges and breathtaking views you find all year round.
You can bring your own clubs or rent. And you can more easily grab a lesson with one of the island’s many teaching pros.
Wonders of nature: Cliff lookouts, sandy beaches to walk and craggy coasts to take in greet you above ground. But Bermuda has beauty underground. Visit the Crystal Caves of Bermuda for a tour of a natural wonder, discovered in 1907 by two boys looking for a cricket ball.
Down there, as you walk along a suspended walkway and floating bridge, you’ll see and learn about stalagmites and icicles of white limestone dripping from the ceiling as well as the formations in the water below you, so clear you can see 30 feet down. It’s beautiful, interesting and worthy of a visit.
The wonders of nature are out in the water as well. In March and April, more than 15,000 humpback whales pass close to shore on the way to their summer home in Canada. You can often view them right from the shore at spots like the West Whale Bay Park, or you can hop aboard a whale watch boat to get up close and personal.
Fishing, while quieter in the low season, is still an option too. Wahoo and tuna are particularly active and fishable in the winter months.
Sip and savor: And then there’s the food and beverage scene, something Bermuda is famous for. Lower season, you’ll find it easier to score seats at your dream spots – even last minute. From sushi at Harbourfront to the Rum Swizzle, the signature drink of the island at the Swizzle Inn and everything in between, you’ll have plenty of access this time of year.
A must try is Clarabell’s (https://clarabells.bm), serving “Bermuda style pizza” which, I’m telling you, you simply must experience. You’ll sit open air but comfy (with plenty of heaters) and nosh on the three-day-set sourdough crust topped with creative as well as classic combos. On a pizza scale of one to 10, it’s a solid 11.
There are reasons to pick certain weeks. Like the Butterfield Bermuda Championship (https://butterfieldbdachampionship.com) in October that features the tourney itself, golf experiences and parties galore. Or for celeb watching, the Bermuda International Film Festival in March. And how cool is this: when rockets launch from America, they are almost always visible to the naked eye as they pass over Bermuda. NASA’s tracking station sits on Cooper’s Island.
Hotels are cheaper too; even the big names like the famed Hamilton Princess are deeply discounted in low season months.
It’s not surprising that Bermuda is lovely; everyone knows that. But know too, that low season is special. Easy to get to and from, warm enough to leave the fleece behind and just as active as the rest of the year — I’d call that a winner of a winter escape.
Low season golf in Bermuda is highly rated with more open courses and the beauty of the winter sunlight slant. (Photo Moira McCarthy)
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Publish date : 2024-11-23 15:22:00
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Author : theamericannews
Publish date : 2024-11-24 06:25:18
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