Have a Tropical Adventure in Bermuda in the Atlantic

It was late August and I still had the pasty pallor of an office drone. I needed to swim with the fishes, feel sand between my toes, and be decidedly out of reach. But I only had four days. The answer? A short trip to Bermuda. The most surprising thing about Bermuda is that it is so close to the US. It's a straight shot from North Carolina, 600 miles out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. From New York, it took less than two hours to get to lush green foliage, blue skies and tantalizing azure water.

The second most surprising thing was that although Bermuda is so close, it's a British colony, so I felt like I had traveled much farther. The old country aesthetic prevails-the manicured landscaping, the English schoolboy look of men in suit jackets and shorts, driving on the left side of the road, the delicious English sweets, and the British accent of fellow travelers as well as Bermudans.

To a first time visitor, the island is seemingly plunked down in the middle of the ocean, and must surely be vulnerable to being swept away by a large wave at any minute. But alas, the island has been around for centuries; the English stuck their flag in the dirt in the early 1600s. This makes for a rich culture, beyond the rum swizzles and fish chowder that tourists enjoy (although those are good, too).

For example, the annual event that Bermudans from all over the world gather for, is Cup Match-a cricket game between teams from the west and east sides of the island. This match has been going for years and is such a big deal that it's an official two-day public holiday. Parties abound at people's houses as well as on the streets with tents and plenty of dark and stormies (dark rum and ginger beer, a popular local concoction). If you're not from these parts, people will gladly explain how the game is played. Unfortunately, I arrived just after the event, although I think a few people were still hung over from the festivities.

There are plenty of places to stay in Bermuda-bed and breakfasts, hotels, efficiency apartments, as well as resorts. I chose the 400-room ocean-front Sonesta Beach Resort. There was more to do without even leaving the resort than I had time for. There are restaurants, three beaches, indoor and outdoor pools, watersports (kayaking, paddleboats, snorkeling), a fitness room, tennis courts, and an ever-changing list of daily activities.

My favorite activity, by far, was learning to scuba. Fantasea Diving is the on-site headquarters for scuba diving. I had never done it before and now I must do it again. I've been on many snorkeling trips in other parts of the world, and have watched people learn to scuba, and this was by far the safest. During our four-hour lesson, we went over the rules on land, practiced using the tanks in the swimming pool, then hopped in the boat and drove out for a 30-foot dive. I should mention that I was scared out of my mind, but once I got down to the bottom of the ocean, I was too thrilled to be afraid.

When snorkeling, I often get skeeved by fish, but being down there, I just felt like one of the gang. I enjoyed it so much in part because the instructors were so thorough-explaining everything before hand, leading us down one by one, practically holding our hands throughout the whole experience. I have to admit that I clung to the instructor like a starfish on coral.

On another day, I took a taxi to explore life beyond the resort. The island is only about 20 miles long, so I had traversed most of its length getting from the airport to the Sonesta. The best way to get around the island is by taxi because there are no rental cars. There are lots of mopeds, but Americans have to remember to drive on the left side, a task I was not prepared to tackle. Cheap pink buses also run frequently.

Bermuda is one main island surrounded by many little ones-365 to be exact, one for each day of the year, or so they say. I didn't meet anyone who actually counted them. But one of the best ways to see many of these little islands is of course, by boat. Mike Voegeli, the only British man I've ever heard do a Texas accent well, has a couple Morgan yachts (AKA giant sailboats) that you can charter for a day or half day. I got in on a half-day trip, where we sailed around the little islands and Mike pointed out a few abodes of the rich and famous. Or at least rich. We stopped by a sandy beach rimmed with a fish-rich coral reef, and Mike handed out snorkels and fins to those who wanted to jump into the blue water. I did, and enjoyed watching yellow and black striped fish dart in and out of the reef while I cooled off.

It seems cruel to have such good food at a place where you wear your bathing suit most of the time, but the meals at the Sonesta were belly-expandingly delicious. A highlight for me was eating at Lillian's on a Sunday, which is Silk 'n Spice night. Although I generally dislike buffets, I loved having fresh sushi rolls and buckwheat noodles, then going back for basmati rice and salmon. This buffet is where the chef tries out new ideas on his "evolution" theme-mixing menus from all over the world. Another evening, I hopped in a taxi to Hamilton and went to La Coquille where I enjoyed roasted coconut scented salmon with cous cous, and a "chocolate hexagon" for dessert. Just outside the window, I watched the rain sprinkle down on the water.

Who goes to the Sonesta? Honeymooners, families, business meetings, as well as random people like me who just want to enjoy the sand and surf for a few days. Plenty of people get married here-the day before I arrived, there were six weddings. Although I'm child free, I couldn't help but notice all the kid-centric activities that looked like a whole lot of fun: an arcade to send them to while the adults dine, as well as organized activities like storytelling, games and movies. There are internet hookups and meeting spaces, so I also saw groups of people wearing name tags coming in and out of spacious meeting rooms.

I haven't even mentioned shopping or the spa, tennis courts or nearby golf courses, but one can only do so much in four days. Which means, of course, I'll have to go back. It's hard to believe that all this is so close. In less time than it would have taken to pack up the car and sit in beach-bound traffic, I was enjoying a fruity drink on my own private terrace in Bermuda. I returned to New York before anyone really missed me and I was a little tan, sandy, and definitely relaxed.

Photos © Bermuda Department of Tourism, Sonesta Resorts