Kid-Friendly Bermuda

Being a kid in Bermuda is like stepping into Fantasia or Alice in Wonderland. There are plenty of weird animals—lizards, trilling treefrogs, yellow-bellied kiskadees. Manta rays gliding like planes under Flatts Bridge and turtles popping up behind your kayak. Roadsides are polka-dotted with trails of Technicolor blossoms, perfect for pretend princesses. And sunshine-packed days spill over with sandcastles, real-life forts, bubblegum buses, and hovercraft ferries. As for snacks, the outdoor variety are always there for the taking: sweet wild loquats, bottom-of-the-garden bananas, and fish pulled up by a handline.

It may sound like a no-brainer as a destination for family holidays, but ironically, the island has received a bad rap over the years, mainly due to transportation challenges caused by the lack of rental cars. No doubt, it can be difficult managing the logistics of toddlers and public transport, but Bermuda’s payoff in terms of kiddie—and parent—satisfaction is more than worth it.

Sights and Recreation

Even without set events or activities, there’s plenty for little ones to enjoy. Visit Wahoo, the Wyndham Bermuda Resort and Spa’s South Shore waterpark, for a day; its slides, waterfalls, and geysers have proven a monstrous hit with every age. Hop on to the bus or ferry to see the dolphins at Dockyard or the hokey but hilarious performance by “George the Ghost” at Fort St. Catherine in the East End. Join young islanders at the half-dozen government playgrounds around the parishes; Warwick Playground, Shelly Bay, and the mock pirate ship at Dockyard are particularly well equipped. The Saturday morning Bull’s Head Farmers Market, held in the fall, winter, and spring at Bull’s Head carpark in Hamilton, should also be on your hit list. Children can listen to local musicians, ride the resident pony for $1, or sample fresh-baked banana bread and island honey. Highlights like these should leave positive impressions on inquiring young minds, long after the island is a distant memory.

There are special rates for children at most museums and sightseeing attractions; kids under five are usually free. Don’t miss the big favorite, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo in Flatts, or the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on East Broadway with its giant squid and Bermuda Triangle presentations. Like these educational facilities, the World Heritage Centre in St. George also has a children’s learning area, allowing kids to experience history hands-on. Check out the children’s sections of local bookstores; most stock numerous Bermuda books for kids, well-illustrated publications which also teach about island wildlife, folklore and traditions.

Beaches

Bermuda makes it pretty easy to entertain children of most ages, because you usually don’t have to arrange anything more organized than a trip to the beach — so parents can actually have a vacation, too. Kids entertain themselves for hours at rock pools, body surfing, creating castles from the soft pink sand, spying on reef-life with a mask and snorkel, or collecting mountains of ocean-washed glass or sand shells. Even infants are lulled by the sound of surf and the sea breeze. Some of the best beaches for children are Jobson’s Cove, John Smith’s Bay, the “Baby Beach” at Horseshoe Bay, and Clearwater Beach (where there’s also a playground and restaurant). Make sure to bring hats, shades, and plenty of sunblock. Choosing a hotel or guesthouse on the beach, or at least within easy walking distance, is probably a wise choice when vacationing in Bermuda with children of any age.

Entertainment and Events

Certain times of the year are no-holds-barred magical for kids in Bermuda. Easter weekend kite-flying festivals, with their mandatory fishcake sandwiches; Cup Match camping and boat raft-ups; the Christmas Boat Parade — even island children accustomed to such annual rituals are enchanted by these spectacles. Kids can take part in a wacky sandcastle competition sponsored by an architects’ institute in late September. They can ride the toy-like train or dance to the rhythms of gombeys at summer’s stay-up-late Harbour Nights. There’s also a kids’ film festival in October, a spin-off of Bermuda’s popular adult version. If you’re staying at any of the major hotels, you’ll find that several, including Elbow Beach, Wyndham, and Fairmont Southampton, have well-run summer-long kids’ programs to keep little ones happy and busy while parents get some R&R.

Food and Shopping

Lots of local restaurants, including standouts La Trattoria in Hamilton, the Paraquet in Paget, and the Frog and Onion at Dockyard, are kid-friendly to the max, easily accommodating family groups, with baby chairs, kids’ menus, speedy service, and entertaining wait staff to keep young diners amused.

Kids don’t have to be bored even during a shopping spree. They’ll get a kick out of many kid-friendly island stores, including Treats, Jack’n’Jill’s, the Annex, Pulp & Circumstance, and People’s Pharmacy in Hamilton; Robertson’s Drugstore in St. George; and Somerset Drug Store in Sandys. Master craftsman Chesley Trott makes delightful pull-toys of Bermuda cedar from his Dockyard studio at Bermuda Arts Centre, and little cedar cars and buses are sold in the next-door Bermuda Craft Market.