Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton is a substantial Victorian fort with a
panoramic view of Hamilton Harbour, built in the mid-19th century
during a period of rising tensions between Britain and the USA. The
ramparts are mounted with 18 ton artillery pieces capable of firing
400 pound (181kg) cannonballs through iron-hulled vessels. Nearby
is Clarence Cove, a popular beach forming part of Admiralty House
Park. The house itself dates from the early 19th century, built as
the residence of the Royal Navy's regional commander. Another
military echo along North Shore Road, Black Watch Well, was dug by
troops of the famous Scottish regiment during a drought in
1849.
Address:
Pembroke, Middle Road, Bermuda
Fort Hamilton
JoeyBagODonuts
Botanical Gardens
Paget is a delightful park providing the perfect
environment to experience the island's flora. It is a fragrant
haven of exotic subtropical plants, flowers, and trees. Highlights
of this 36-acre paradise include the palm garden with native
palmetto trees, the subtropical fruit garden, a garden for the
visually-impaired which features scented plants, a ficus
collection, and a flowering hibiscus garden. There are greenhouses
with orchids, bromeliads, a miniature forest, an aviary, and a
variety of flowering houseplants. The white house on the grounds of
the Botanical Gardens is Camden, the official residence of
Bermuda's Premier, open for tours except when official functions
are scheduled.
Address:
Point Finger Road Pharmacy, 16 Point Finger Rd, DV 04,
Bermuda
Bermudiana flower
Sam Fraser-Smith
Harrington Sound
Harrington Sound is a large inland sea five miles (8km)
northeast of Hamilton. Its calm waters provide perfect sailing
territory. The Sound is linked to the ocean by the narrow Flatts
Inlet where changes to the tide are magnified and waters rush
beneath a bridge connecting the two sides. On the north side of the
inlet, opposite Flatts Village, is the Bermuda Aquarium where
visitors can enjoy more than 100 species of indigenous Bermuda fish
in ocean and reef environments. Located within the same complex is
the Natural History Museum and zoo that features animals from the
Caribbean, Australia, Asia, Madagascar and the Galapagos.
Flamingos at the Bermuda Aquarium
Robyn2175
Crystal Caves
The stretch of land between Harrington Sound and
Castle Harbour is riddled with caves. Located 80 feet (24m)
underground, Crystal Caves never ceases to amaze with its dramatic
stalactites and stalagmites. There is a wonderful walk over the
pontoon bridge to Cahow Lake, with crystal-clear water that reaches
a depth of 55 feet (17m). Visitors can also enjoy a leisurely
stroll through the Palm Garden. A little further on are the
Leamington Caves with their incredible crystal formations and
underground pools that can be explored along well-marked paths.
More caves are located on the grounds of the 300-year-old
Walsingham House, now a well-known restaurant.
Harrington Sound's Crystal Caves
Captain-tucker
Bermuda Railway Trail
Bermuda used to have a public railway that served the island's
eastern and western cities between 1931 and 1948. In 1984, the
government opened the Bermuda Railway Trail as a walking trail and
bridle path. A great way to spend a few hours with the kids, the
trail can also be cycled, ridden on horseback, or even
roller-bladed in certain areas. This 21-mile (35km) trail is a
great way to see the island's natural flora and fauna and to
experience some breathtaking views and do a spot of bird watching.
Organised walking tours are also available.
Railway Trail
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The climate of Hamilton is sub-tropical, with sunny and hot
weather all year round. There are no distinct seasons, but the
hottest weather is during July, August and September when highs can
hit 90°F (32°C). Generally the Gulf Stream keeps temperatures
moderate. There is no specific rainy season, with showers occurring
at any time of year, although the skies do clear rapidly.
L.F. Wade International Airport
Location: The airport is located towards the north of the islands,
10 miles (16km) east of Hamilton.
Time: GMT –4 (GMT –3 from first Sunday in April to the
Saturday before the last Sunday in October).
Getting to the city:
Buses 1, 3, 10 and 11 service Hamilton and St Georges, but have
no luggage storage space and cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Taxis
are also available for hire at the airport.
Car Rental:
There are no car hire companies on the island.
Facilities:
The airport terminal has ATMs and a currency exchange on the
ground floor. The newly renovated shops in the check-in concourse
sell a variety of goods including magazines, books, souvenirs,
jewellery, perfume and clothing. Duty-free is also available. There
are coffee bars/bistros, snack bars, and cocktail bars in both the
US and international departure lounges.
Parking
Short-term parking costs BMD 1 per hour, up to a maximum of two
hours. Long-term parking at Bermuda International Airport is
charged at BMD 5 per day.
It is important to note that visitors to Bermuda are not allowed
to rent cars. There are, however, several transport options, and
the city of Hamilton and Bermuda itself are not large. A bus
service operates in Hamilton and links it to other major points in
Bermuda, with inbound service stops marked with pink-topped poles
and outbound service stops marked with blue-topped poles. If
transferring to another bus, be sure to ask the first driver for a
transfer to avoid paying again. Transfers are valid for half an
hour.
Ferries are another popular way to enjoy the sights of Hamilton
and its surrounds, and scooters and mopeds are also available for
hire. Walking and cycling are also excellent ways to get around. A
traditional means of transport, and a fun way to enjoy the city, is
on a horse drawn carriage ride.
A holiday in Hamilton is a holiday in the principal harbour town
of one of the world's favourite Caribbean islands. Tourists are
spoilt for choice when it comes to attractions and activities in
the city. No one who travels to Bermuda can avoid visiting
Hamilton, the focal point of the island's historic sight-seeing and
tourist attractions. From Hamilton all the sightseeing boats,
ferries and local buses depart and all the cruise liners arrive,
and its busy Front Street is the main shopping area of the
island.
Front Street is the life and soul of Hamilton City and centre of
all the main activities. This is where most of the island's
glittering shops, great restaurants, retail shops and many other
commercial establishments like banks and insurance companies are
located. And as expected, this is the busiest place in the island.
A good place to start exploring is the Visitor's Information Center
located next to the Hamilton ferry terminal. There are
complimentary pocket maps and brochures available, and visitors can
leave from here to enjoy the attractions on foot, or take the
option of carriage ride - there is nothing more romantic than a
horse drawn carriage taking a stately route through Hamilton City.
There are of course buses as well that can take visitors to various
points within the city and the outskirts in Pembroke parish.
From Hamilton it is a 15-minute walk to one of Bermuda's more
recent attractions, the state-of-the-art Bermuda Underwater
Exploration Institute. This is a multi-million dollar institute
built to showcase the natural wonders of the surrounding oceans.
The Institute offers a simulated dive in a capsule and interactive
exhibits detailing local reef wrecks, plant and animal life. Also
worth visiting is the Bermuda Historical Society Museum.