First settled in 1612 and home to several prominent Bermudian families, Flatts has a long and colourful history that includes shipbuilding, commerce and even a little smuggling. Today, Flatts is a small community made up of several restaurants, residences and of course, The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. This weekend, travel eastward to Flatts, the little village with big personality.
Visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
Founded in 1926, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (BAMZ) is one of the oldest aquariums in the entire world. Make the most of your visit by planning around feeding times! You can watch the turtles being fed lettuce and biscuits, along with a talk about their biology and conservation. You can also see the seals being fed herring, accompanied by a short presentation. Finally, you can see Galapagos tortoises being fed – a rather messy, but slow moving affair. For a full schedule of feeding times, check here! Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children (kids under 5 years old are free)
Enjoy Rockfish Tacos at Village Pantry
Served with pico de gallo and jicama slaw (jicama known as a Mexican yam bean or turnip) the rockfish tacos at Village Pantry are well worth their $32 cost. Order for one and enjoy as a meal or order for two and devour in lieu of an appetizer, these delicious and fresh fish tacos are naturally-gluten free and the fish is locally-sourced. Enjoy with a glass of white wine is you so desire.
Explore the Underbelly of Flatts Bridge
Flatts Bridge is iconic and so long as the weather is good, it’s well-worth a trip under the bridge to try and catch a glimpse of the abundant sea life present there. If you’re lucky, you might catch a few spotted eagle rays playing in the current. Also easily identifiable are the blooms of red fire coral on the bottom. During the summer months, local kids use Flatts Bridge as a springboard for jumps and dives but one must be careful as the current under the bridge is very strong and the water isn’t as deep as it appears. If you have children, you should avoid going under the bridge and instead, take them to “I” dock or “T” dock adjacent to the BAMZ parking lot which both provide ample opportunity for spotting marine life.
Walk Along the New Bridge
Brand-new to Flatts Village is the pedestrian bridge that connects Gibbet’s to the North Shore railway trail. No matter the time of day, the view from the bridge is spectacular and if you or your littles have bikes or scooters, you can make your way all the way down North Shore. Our writer, Elizabeth Jones explored the railway trail and new bridge and wrote about it for our Spring 2019. You can read it here.
