Last month, I had the Pleasure of spending a weekend in Bermuda with Garden & Gun.

The trip was in honor of the launch of their newest book, Southern Women, so we spent the weekend celebrating in the best way possible- with female-led activities, woman owned businesses and, of course, lots of strong Southern women.

I was also thrilled to get some time to explore Bermuda. While it had always been high on my list of places to visit, I often overlooked it due to its proximity to NYC. After all, a 90-minute flight hardly seems like it is far enough away to truly escape city life. But, after spending a weekend on this beautiful island I can say that it 1000% feels like a far away tropical destination, complete with stunning beaches, the most beautiful blue water I’ve ever seen, delicious rum swizzle cocktails, plenty of fresh seafood and the friendliest people. The only problem? That I waited so long to visit!

You can peek Garden & Gun’s Bermuda guide here, and keep on reading, below, for my own guide on where to stay, eat and play, plus all my packing and travel tips.

photo credit: Meredith Andrews {right image}

BERMUDA

116 South Road, Tucker's Town HS 01, Bermuda

This beautiful boutique property is a great for several reasons. It’s only a short 10 minute drive from the airport (meaning you have more time to spend in the sun), it has both a pool and a private beach (some of the public beaches can get pretty crowded so this is a nice amenity), there is an on-site restaurant serving delicious food and beverages three meals a day, there’s a gym and there’s even a spa (which uses Sisley products). In other words, you don’t have to leave this little slice of paradise unless you want to.

• Cruise around the island in a Twizy {aka the only “cars” tourists are allowed to rent, see more in below notes}

• Visit Gibbs Hill lighthouse for great views of the entire island

• Walk around St. George’s (Hamilton can get especially crowded from the cruise ships, but St. George’s feels a bit more local)…don’t miss things like the unfinished church and Somers Garden

• After exploring St. George’s walk over to Tobacco Bay…it’s just a short 10-minute walk and you can even grab a rum swizzle at the beach bar

• Go snorkeling (the water is so clear and there are so many colorful fish, even close to shore)

• Visit the St. George’s Historical Society Museum ($5 for adults, $2 for children)

• Check out Wadson’s Farm to buy local produce from their shop and see where many of the restaurants on the island source their fresh ingredients; tours are also available

• Check out some of the old forts

• Go on an Edible Walking Tour to learn about produce that is native to the island and discover {and try} some of the things growing in the wild

• Explore South Shore Jungle + Cove

• Take a class: Make candles {We did a workshop with the woman who behind the local candle business, Limestone + Cedar Co.}, perfume or baked goods…not only are you learning something fun, but you also are creating unique souvenirs to take home + supporting local businesses in the process

• Book a photo session: There are so many incredible local photographers and photos are a great way to remember a trip. This would be especially fun for a couple!

photo credit: Meredith Andrews {image 1} + Nhuri Bashir {image 4 of myself with my friend Venita Aspen}

116 South Road, Tucker’s Town Smiths, HS01 Bermuda

brunch, lunch, dinner

Great for breakfast, lunch and dinner; get the gnocchi with lobster and their mojitos are super refreshing!

36 Water St, St.George's GE 05, Bermuda

lunch on the water

Great spot for casual lunch right on the water; the portions are huge (definitely enough to share) and I highly recommend the wahoo nuggets or Bermuda Triangle washed down with a pina colada

34 South Rd, PG 04, Bermuda

dinner

Coral Beach & Tennis Club: Reserved for members and friend’s of members, but if you can snag an invite, it’s so worth it. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks, the views, the water…it’s an iconic spot to be!

1 Water St, St.George's GE 05, Bermuda

coffee

For an amazing iced latte, you have to go here! It’s got very Brooklyn coffee shop vibes and the drinks are delicious! Plus, they do dockside deliveries, you know, if you just so happen to be pulling up to Penno’s Wharf in your yacht!

16 York St, St.George's, Bermuda

breakfast, sweet treats

Famous for their cinnamon buns, but you can’t go wrong with any of their baked goods!

3 Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton, Bermuda

drinks

An iconic spot for the island’s most iconic drink, the swizzle

juices

Be on the lookout for Doreen’s products sold at different spots around the island; everything is delicious, but I especially love the Wild Sour Orange & Ginger Juice…so refreshing!

DID YOU KNOW?

Rum Swizzles are the unofficial official drink of Bermuda and no trip to the island is complete without having at least one. Traditionally, they’re made with rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, falernum and angostura bitters. Bonus points if you get one made with the island’s own Gosling’s Rum.

A few other local flavors that are not to be missed include fish chowder, a fish sandwich, wahoo nuggets, rum cake and a codfish breakfast, the local Sunday morning special which consists of cod served with potatoes, onions, tomatoes or a tomato sauce, sliced bananas, a hard-boiled egg and sliced avocado.

*Swimsuits

*Flowy dresses

*Silky slip dress and/or skirts

*Jumpsuits + rompers

*Shorts

*T-shirts and tank tops

*A few light and airy blouses

*Light sweater and/or jacket {it gets cool in the evenings}

*A pair of white pants {either trousers or jeans}

*A white or linen blazer {for evening}

*A straw hat

*Woven/straw bags {a smaller option for tours/dinners | a larger option for beach/pool days}

*Sandals + flip flops

*A pair of tennis shoes

*Strappy heels

Notes about Dress Code: Like any island, Bermuda has a more relaxed vibe, but think one that is sophisticated and put together, and even a bit preppy in some sense. You will definitely want more stylish outfits, heels, etc. for evenings and dinners, while daytime can be a bit more casual chic. Don’t be afraid of prints and bold colors, or, if you’re someone like me who prefers neutrals, whites, linens, pale pinks, and shades of blue and green are all great colors for Bermuda outfits.

Notes About the Weather: As expected, the weather is wonderful, and, to my surprise, there was very little humidity in October. It was definitely still hot enough to lay out by a pool or on the beach, but it wasn’t so hot that if you chose a different activity {say a biking tour}, that you were sweating profusely and miserable. It was just perfectly pleasant, warm and enjoyable. The evenings definitely get cooler, and there is the occasional rain shower, so don’t forget a little jacket and or sweater.

photo credit: Meredith Andrews

photo credit: Meredith Andrews {images 1 + 3}

Best Time to Visit // 

I visited in the middle of October and many locals said it’s their favorite time of year on the island. I’d have to agree. Hurricane season is at its tail end, it’s perfectly and pleasantly warm but not overly humid, and there are less tourists and cruise ships so you it’s easier to get around and do things.

How to Get There // 

If you’re East Coast based, getting here is easier than snapping your fingers. There are direct flights from many places like Boston, NYC and Atlanta, as well as direct flights from London.

How to Get Around // 

Tourists aren’t able to rent cars and Uber/Lyft don’t exist on the island, but to get around there are plenty of other options including taxis, ferries, buses, bikes and, my personal favorite, Twizy Cars.

photo credit: Meredith Andrews {images 1, 3 + 5}

• Chickens are basically their crows so don’t be surprised to see them everywhere! There are also wild cats everywhere.

• Be on the lookout for performances from local dancers, better known as the Gombey Dancers.

• You don’t have to be worried about Zika, as there are no mosquitos on the island.

• No adapter plugs are needed as the outlets are US standard.

• US dollars ($USD) is the form of currency.

• Everyone is incredibly friendly and very proud of their country, so don’t be surprised if you get a bit of a tour/history lesson every time you take a taxi ride!

• Be mindful of cruise schedules, as the influx of people can make the more tourist-y areas extra crowded.
  

photo credit: Meredith Andrews {4th image}

Thank you to Garden & Gun for including me as a part of this special weekend in Bermuda!