Recommend January 2012 - (Page 38)

Bermuda Bermuda Posh is the word for this island set north of the Caribbean, closer to the coast of North Carolina than to its island neighbors to the south. You’ll feel the English inﬂuence strongly here, especially in its capital city of Hamilton, home to a wealth of 19th century buildings built by colonists from England. St. Theresa’s Catholic cathedral, for example, shows off a collection of historical items including a chalice that was a gift to the church from Pope Paul VI. The Royal Naval Dockyard is another relic of colonialism, dating to over two centuries ago when it served as a British stronghold during the War of 1812. The former military outpost is today a center for shopping and dining, with the historic buildings restored to become restaurants and boutiques. Bermuda is also one of the biggest golﬁng destinations in the region, with eight championship courses packed into the island. That means plenty of picturesque holes looking out to sea, like the famed 16th hole at Port Royal, with the green located on a bluff beside a cliff that drops down to the sea. At the Fairmont Southampton Golf Club, golfers can expect plenty of colorful tropical ﬂowers and landscaping. Most travelers split their time here between the green and the blue, trading golf clubs for yachts, particularly during the summer racing season. Million-dollar vessels frequent the marinas and those marinas are packed to capacity during events like the Newport Bermuda Race, taking place in June every other year. The race entices hundreds of boats to sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to St. David’s Head, the easternmost point in Bermuda. The treasures continue beneath the waves, with shipwrecks like L’Herminie, a French ship dating to 1838, dotted around the island. FACTS • Best time to go: March to September • Fun Fact: The island of Bermuda is the easternmost point of the Bermuda Triangle • getting there: Delta ﬂies from Boston and Atlanta to Bermuda • entry documents: Valid passport and roundtrip airline tickets • currency: Bermudian dollar • must-try local Food: Cassava pie • Best Buys: Designer clothing, jewelry, crystal and china • inFormation please: Bermuda Department of Tourism— bermudatourism.com Bonaire Bonaire FACTS • Best time to go: Year-round—Bonaire lies outside of the hurricane zone • Fun Fact: You won’t ﬁnd a single trafﬁc light on the entire island of Bonaire • getting there: Delta ﬂies from Atlanta to Bonaire • entry documents: Valid passport • currency: Netherlands Antillean Guilder • must-try local Food: Aros moro, a well-seasoned dish of rice and kidney beans • Best Buys: Local handicrafts • inFormation please: Tourism Corporation Bonaire— tourismbonaire.com This quiet island in the southern Caribbean is famous for exactly one thing, diving. If you’re a diver, this is your holy grail—an island in the middle of a diverse underwater ecosystem, giving deep-sea explorers the chance to encounter more ﬁsh, plants and animals than anyplace else in the islands. And the undersea life is in Bonaire to stay, thanks to the Bonaire Marine Park, a protected reserve that encompasses the shores and offshore reefs of the entire island, as well as its small sister island, Klein Bonaire. Divers here have to undergo a short but important orientation outlining responsible scuba practices within the conﬁnes of the marine park. Once they’re in the water, however, they’ll discover exactly why Bonaire’s waters are so precious. Water temperatures hover around 80 degrees, and visibility averages 100 ft, making it both comfortable and easy to see all the exotic wildlife lurking beneath. There are groupers, moray eels, sponges and an entire spectrum of colorful tropical ﬁsh. Visitors are practically guaranteed an eventful dive experience at any of the island’s 50 ofﬁcial sites. The nature on land is also enticing, particularly at Washington Slagbaai National Park, another protected area for ecotourists to explore. Birdwatchers have several sites to choose from, including Bronswinkel Well at the base of Mount Brandaris, where more than 200 species of birds gather to preen. Salina Mathijs, a former salt ﬂat, is another popular hangout for feathered friends, especially ﬂamingoes. In Bonaire’s capital of Kralendijk, visitors will ﬁnd well-preserved examples of Dutch colonial architecture, including the Old Fort and Customs House. The town is also host to a lively market held near its pier, eclipsed only by celebrations of Carnival held in February or March. D18 january 2012 recommend.com http://www.bermudatourism.com http://www.tourismbonaire.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2012

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: Hard Rock Hotels and Resorts
Tour Talk: Lindblad Expeditions
Holland America's Veendam
Delta Air Lines' 2012 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Las Vegas' 2012 Offerings
Hot European Tours for 2012
Hokkaido, Japan
Egypt's Antiquity Attractions are Eternal

Recommend January 2012