Maybe it’s kismet that the magical archipelago of Bermuda with its legendary pink sands and turquoise waters is shaped in part like a fishhook—fittingly, the nation’s marquee attractions are all related to the sea. In the middle of the Atlantic, 1,070 kilometers (665 miles) off the U.S. coast, Bermuda served as a military stronghold for the British navy for generations. Its museums, lighthouses and forts recall the British territory's maritime past while the English influence is still felt today in its customs, clothing and architecture.
The two main cities, Hamilton and St. George's, are lined with colonial buildings in pastel colors. Hamilton, the capital and also where cruise ships arrive, is home to the enormous Royal Naval Dockyard. Also known as King’s Wharf, this is a microcosm of Bermuda—it artfully blends the present with the past and offers memorable adventures expressly created for visitors. And while cars are not available for rent to non-Bermudans, you can hop a scooter for the day and explore the 53-square-kilometer (20-square-mile) fishhook from end to end.