and coverage of sights both on and off the beaten path. FEATURES OF THE BOOK in-depth culture, environment and food chapters enrich your understanding of the country and its people; classic and themed itineraries help you plan the perfect trip; full-color highlights section introduces this lovely island; 15 pages of maps help you find your way; easy-to-use directory provides practical information; mouth-watering restaurant reviews help you find the perfect meal WHY DO PEOPLE VISIT subtropical Bermuda is a delightful getaway, especially for east coast Americans, as it's only a two-hour flight away; pink-sand beaches, genteel British-influenced culture, clear skies and clean turquoise waters entice those looking for relaxation; active vacationers enjoy snorkeling and diving amongst colorful coral reefs and scores of shipwrecks, as well as sailing, deep-sea fishing, hiking, golf, tennis and horseback riding; it's been a popular honeymoon destination for decades, and is increasingly a wedding destination as well; with a British colonial history that dates back nearly four centuries, Bermuda offers numerous historic attractions; the West African heritage of the majority of Bermudians is reflected in the arts, particularly the distinctive Gombey dancing; TRAVEL TRENDS Starting in May 2004, US Airways and United Airlines will expand air service between Bermuda and Ft. Lauderdale, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Chicago; JetBlue is expanding to the Caribbean in June 2004, and hopes to open operations in Bermuda in the next few years; Royal Caribbean is adding two new cruise routes to Bermuda in 2005 DID YOU KNOW: Bermuda was voted as the 'Best Island' in Condé Nast (Nov 03); Isolated Bermuda is nearly 600 miles from its nearest neighbor (Cape Hatteras, North Carolina) and nearly 3450 miles from the motherland (England); Bermuda's famous pink sand comes from the crushed shells of a tiny sea creature; Bermuda shorts are not casual wear in Bermuda, they're conservative business attire; no matter where you stay in Bermuda, you're never more than a mile from the ocean; visitors can't rent cars but can (and do) rent mopeds to get around the islands; Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones call Bermuda home; for sailing aficianados, the biennial Newport-Bermuda-Race is not to be missed; Mark Twain is quoted as saying, 'Sometimes a dose of Bermuda is just what the doctor ordered'; the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, commemorating the role African slaves played in Bermuda's development, has just been launched."  (less)