Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic with a distinct culture, mixing British colonial heritage, Caribbean warmth, and American practicality.

Vibrating between a shimmering aqua color abutted by a vibrant sapphire blue, the ocean resembles more an idyllic abstract painting than the vision that greeted us daily. As the morning clouds rolled away, the sky became yet another shade of pale but intense blue. The pink sand is real—crushed coral and red foraminifera mixed into white sand. The beaches are uncrowded by international standards.

This was our welcome and daily delight as I spent a short holiday in Bermuda recently. Our time seemed expanded, as the travel from New York City to Bermuda is a mere two hours. This is not an intensely active vacation, but a restful respite; therefore, a short week can be fully rewarding.

The island glimmers with a vista of pastel-colored homes of traditional local architecture to modern, elegant mansions, alternatively dotted through the hills, punctuated by the small and service-oriented one- and two-room bungalows of the working class in Bermuda. The distinctive white stepped limestone roofs are designed to collect rainwater because the island has no fresh-water supply; they give the landscape coherent imagery.

In order to prevent the half a million annual visitors plus 65,000 residents from overwhelming 21 square miles of road, Bermuda does not allow visitors to rent cars. Viable options are scooters and mopeds, but they require caution to accommodate left-side driving. There are also bus and ferry options, which are well run and easily accessible, plus taxis, which are abundant but surprisingly expensive.

Bermudians are friendly to visitors in a way that feels natural rather than transactional. There are high local wages and living costs, plus almost everything is imported, which results in the expensive upscale tourism that predominates on the island. The result is a very clean and uniquely safe environment. Bermuda is known for its delicious indigenous seafood and its refined international cuisine.

As I have visited Bermuda many times in the past, I chose this time to stay in the more secluded resort widely considered one of the island’s top three: The St. Regis Bermuda Resort, 34 Coot Pond Road, located in the historic town of St. George’s, a mere 14 minutes from the airport. The staff who greeted us were supremely professional, warm, and welcoming. There was a slight disappointment in the room we had booked through a booking site—a mistake never to be repeated; always, in my opinion, call and reserve directly with the hotel. The office team generously upgraded us to a magnificent suite with splendid 180-degree views of the ocean.

The hotel facilities included an ethereal spa and fitness center, plus fine indoor and outdoor dining. A world-class golf course with putting greens winds between the hotel and the sea.

Abutting the hotel is Fort Saint Catherine, believed to be the oldest fort in the Americas and Canada. Absent most of its defining characteristics, it still resonates with somber power and history. There are parapets and cannons still pointing out to the sea and remnants of small incarcerating cells, where one can feel the spirits of those who suffered this ill fate.

On a day trip to Hamilton, the island capital, we visited a fascinating, interactive, and unique museum. This main diving and underwater museum in Hamilton, Bermuda, is the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, often called BUEI, located at 40 Crow Lane, just outside downtown Hamilton. The museum focuses on Bermuda’s shipwrecks, marine life, ocean exploration, and diving history. It includes interactive exhibits, artifacts from shipwrecks, deep-sea exploration displays, and exhibits about the Bermuda Triangle. One of the best-known figures associated with BUEI was legendary resident and Bermudian diver Teddy Tucker, who served as honorary chairman and helped shape its legendary shipwreck and underwater exploration.

It is easy to understand that, although you can see much of Bermuda in one trip, it is far more desirable to return several times and always view Bermuda from a different perspective.Bermuda: A Restful Island Escape of Pink Sands, History, and Ocean Views