Across a small bridge from town square is Ordnance Island, where tourists can view a full-scale replica of the 17th-century sailing ship Deliverance and a statue of Sir George Somers, who shipwrecked on the uninhabited island of Bermuda in 1609.
The town contains a number of historic museums and buildings owned and maintained by the Bermuda National Trust, including the Old Rectory, a 1699 cottage serving as a B&B; the Bridge House, a 1700 mansion containing an art gallery; the Globe Hotel, a 1700 stone building housing the Bermuda National Trust Museum; the Tucker House, an 18th-century merchant's house displaying exhibits related to its former occupants; and the Unfinished Church, a Gothic ruin where construction begun in the 1870s was never completed.
Other historic sites in St. George's Parish include St. Peter's Church, the oldest continuously used Anglican church in the western hemisphere; the 1620 State House, one of the oldest stone dwellings in the western hemisphere; two forts dating from the early 1600s, Fort St. Catherine and Gates Fort; and St. Davids' Lighthouse.
When my husband and I stayed in St. George's Parish, we especially enjoyed a walking tour centered on St. George's historic buildings and a tour of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (which offers field trips to Nonsuch Island's nature reserve). We shopped at watercolour artist Jill Amos Raine's Studio, the Bridge House's Art Gallery and the Book Cellar and dined at the Carriage House, Freddie's Pub, San Giorgio, the White Horse Tavern and the Black Horse Tavern (in St. David's).
Just west of St. George's Island is the east end of the Main Island, and its easternmost parishes are Hamilton and Smith's. Here we visited the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where we watched a diver feed the tropical fish of the North Rock exhibit (a living coral reef) and enjoyed the antics of the resident seals. We lunched at the Swizzle Inn, which serves good food and a tasty drink, the rum swizzle.
Among the other sites in Hamilton Parish are the Bermuda Railway Museum and Crystal Caves. Attractions in Smith's Parish include Spittal Pond, Bermuda's largest wildlife sanctuary and a birdwatcher's haven; Devil's Hole Aquarium, where visitors can feed fish and turtles; and Verdmont, a Bermuda National Trust property built around 1710 and featuring Bermuda cedarwood furnishings.
Two great bed and breakfasts in St. George's are:
Aunt Nea's Inn boasts three types of accommodations among its 17 rooms, some found in the 18th-century main house and others next door: the Jasmine guest rooms (some with whirlpools), the Palm one-bedroom suites, and the Coral two-bedroom suites with kitchens. All rooms have a king or queen bed, with the Coral suites also offering a twin bed. A continental breakfast buffet is provided at this B&B, which is home to two cats and a dog.
During a December trip to Bermuda, my husband and I stayed in the Lady Palm suite on the inn's second floor; highlights included the hospitable and helpful innkeepers, the lovely and comfortable bed, the suite's relaxing lounge area, and the balcony overlooking the historic town of St. George's. We also appreciated the inn's peaceful surroundings as well as its proximity to a bus stop.
This 350-year-old cottage in the quaint town of St. George's is owned by the Bermuda National Trust. Its two guest rooms, one with a queen bed and fireplace and the other with two twin beds, share a bathroom, living room and dining room. Guests may encounter the Burmese cat and the ghost who reside here. A continental breakfast is served on request.
