Bermuda Off The Beaten Path

Lighthouse shining it

by grandmaR

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Lighthouse shining it
by grandmaR
Another view of the lily pond
by grandmaR
Same 2011
by grandmaR
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse
by grandmaR
Pride across the sound
by grandmaR

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Waterville

by grandmaR

Duke took us to Waterville, which was the private residence of the Trimminghams is now the headquarters of the Bermuda National Trust. This was originally a place where sailors could come in to shop. Trimminghams, which is no longer in business because the children aren't interested in running it.What he wanted to show us was a water lily pond which had the islands of Bermuda in it.There is no admission fee at the Waterville. Open Hours Monday - Friday: 9am-5pm Waterville, 2 Pomander Road, Paget, Bermuda Bus Routes: #2, 7, 8

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

by grandmaR

Because I you really can't get to this lighthouse from the bus without walking about 10 minutes from the bus stop, I had put off visiting until we came in 2011 and had a private tour. We went there first because our guide Duke said that if we waited, the parking lot would be too full to even get the taxi into. Here we got out and walked around and Bob and I both took photos. It was quite windy. Since the lighthouse is located on the highest point of the island in Southampton Parish, southwest of Hamilton, we could see the Pride across the sound.I had no intention of climbing it at this time. I might have done were I younger. The lighthouse was damaged in Hurricane Fabian, so climbing may no longer be an option. I might have liked to stay and had tea at the lighthouse, but the restaurant seemed to be closed. . Later we saw the lighthouse again from the road on the way back to the...

Party with the locals at Hawkins Island!

by ReillyGD

This was a GREAT time! It is a little pricey but worth it! We had a great dinner, enjoyed the scenic beach area of this small get away and danced and drank with the Hawkins Island crowd. It was a lot of FUN!Pictures will come shortly - I just got here - Sorry! I have to scan my pix in! Thx for being patient!

Sea Venture over City Hall & Arts Center

by grandmaR

In 1995, when we walked up to the bus station (which we had to do as there were no buses out to the Princess), we always went by City Hall on Church Street. You could see the bronze Sea Venture replica wind vane from near the bus station. (see photo 5)The Sea Venture, which was wrecked off the uninhabited Bermudas in 1609 was commemorated in Shakespeare's Tempest. Inside City Hall is the Bermuda National Gallery. I have not visited this. The website says:"The split-level galleries house both permanent and rotating exhibits of Bermudian artworks. The permanent collection has four elements:European paintings (of non-local scenes and people) over four centuries including works by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Romney, Murillo and Wilson 23 African sculptures from the New York Perls collection, purchased from many sectors of the Bermuda community, plus others donated. Bermudian mostly cedar...

Premier House

by grandmaR

In the Botanical Gardens, visit historic 'Camden', the official residence of the Premier. No Premiers have actually lived there, but receptions and dinner parties are regularly held at the residence. There is a beautiful cedar-panelled dining room, which is said to have taken up to thirty years to complete. Camden sustained some damage during a hurricane and has been redecorated.From the website: "Francis Jones, eldest son of Colonel Thomas Jones of Paget Parish, purchased the home and lived there until his death from yellow fever on September 12, 1796. William Durham acquired it in 1810, then sold it to the Hon. Henry James Tucker in 1823."Henry James Tucker, Mayor of Hamilton the from 1851 to 1870, began to produce arrowroot on a large scale in a factory at the back of the house. The verandah, porch and bow windows in the dining room and drawing room were probably added by his son...

Moongates

by cjg1

Moongates can be found all over Bermuda. The Legend says that people who walk through a Moongate, especially young lovers and honeymooners, are blessed with good luck. My wife and I found a Moongate during our first visit to Bermuda and decided to follow tradition and walk through.

Heritage Passport

by grandmaR

There is a Heritage Bermuda Passport like there was for Barbados. It is really not given enough publicity - very few people know about it."The Heritage Passport"Now you can enjoy Bermuda's top eight cultural attractions for one low price. $25 for adults and $15.00 for children 6-16 years of age."[Note: some places say the ticket is $35, but we only paid $25 in November 2004]The Heritage Passport allows unlimited admission for 7 consecutive days to the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Bermuda National Gallery (photo), and Bermuda National Trust Verdmont Historic House Museum (photo) open Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm; featuring the Globe Hotel and Tucker House Museum, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, Bermuda Aquarium Museum & Zoo, and Fort St. Catherine. "The BUEI (Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute - photo) is just outside Hamilton in Devonshire Parish. The admission is $10.50 for adults and...

Carriage House Museum

by grandmaR

The carriage museum in St. George is interesting and it was free. We visited in 1995, and intended to go again in 2004 but did not have time. This museum is part of a multimillion-dollar waterfront restoration that includes several shops and the Carriage House Restaurant at Somer's Wharf. It is now the site of a restaurant and I'm not sure whether they even have the museum anymore as mostly I read about the restaurant.Automobiles were banned in Bermuda as a result of an accident between a car and a carriage. This museum which is part of a multimillion-dollar waterfront restoration that includes several shops and the Carriage House Restaurant is at Somer's Wharf and has a large collection of carriages from the 18th and 19th century. It pays tribute to the age of carriages on Bermuda. This period actually lasted until 1946, when automobiles were finally allowed on the island. Visitors will...

Verdmont

by grandmaR

Although the Bermuda National Trust says that Verdmont is "easily reached by the #1 bus from either Hamilton or St. George's" that's not really true. It is really very difficult to get to on the bus. You have to get off the bus and walk up the hill. The buses run every half hour. When we were finished with our visit, we walked back to the bus stop. Since there was no room to stand on the side of the road at the bus stop for the bus in the direction we wanted to go, we sat on a wall on the other side of the road. When the bus came, Bob sprinted across the road to the other side to give me a chance to get over there.No photographs inside. The 1710 Georgian-style house, with its 4 huge chimneys, never had electricity or any other modern amenities installed. No plumbing or running water, no electricity, no air conditioning, no ceiling fans and no heating (other than the eight fireplaces),...

Bermuda Historical Society Museum in Hamilton

by grandmaR

On Wednesday afternoon (in 1995) after we got back from the Dockyard and the weather cleared up, we walked around downtown Hamilton and shopped. I had heard that the Historical Society Museum was in the Library and was free, so we visited. They were having a quilt exhibit there. The website has additional photos of the outside of the building. It says: "Located in the Bermuda National Library, Reid and Queen Streets. This small gem of a museum is filled with antiques, china, old coins, Boer War prisoner carvings, and more. Historical Society treatises are for sale."There's even a 1775 letter from George Washington "to the inhabitants of Bermuda." The library contains a 1624 first edition of Captain John Smith's General Historie of Virginia, New England and the Somer Isles, a wonderful collection of old and new Bermuda travel and picture books, and a reading room with recent U.S. and...