Add Catalina Island to what you might call the pirate-tourism circuit. The swashbuckling men (and women) who sailed under the Jolly Roger have captured a lasting place in our imagination–from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Pirates are still hot: in his entertaining history, Zacks argues that Kidd wasn’t a pirate at all, but rather a misunderstood bounty hunter. Two recently discovered shipwrecks, presumed to be the vessels of Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) and another belonging to Kidd, have also made headlines. This fall director Jerry Bruckheimer will start on “Pirates of the Caribbean” (the movie).
Most pirates vanished by 1790, but you can still visit their haunts in the United States and the Caribbean, where the rogues preyed on Spanish galleons and where there are plenty of nonbuccaneer activities to enjoy:
Bahamas: Nassau was once the realm of rogues like Blackbeard. Exhibits at the Pirates of Nassau Museum (pirates-of-nassau.com) re-create life at sea. Tour Fort Charlotte–built to defend against pirates, complete with underground dungeons.
Jamaica: Port Royal, near Kingston, was the headquarters of buccaneer Sir Henry Morgan and a place known in the 17th century as the “richest and wickedest city in the world.” In 1692, an earthquake plunged most of the city into the sea. A development company has ambitious plans for a pirate museum and underwater views of the sunken city, but for now take the heritage tours in Port Royal and nearby Spanish Town, where the female pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Read were tried.
Key West, Fla.: The Florida Keys were a haven for pirates until Commodore David Porter drove them out in 1823. Today you can party with people dressed like pirates at Key West’s annual Pirates in Paradise Festival (piratesin paradise.com). The rowdy 10-day affair starts on Nov. 28 and includes re-enactments of battles at sea and pirate trials. (It’s also a good excuse to swill a little rum at bars like Turtle Kraals at Schooner Wharf.) Visit the wrecked Spanish ship Atocha and its treasures at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (melfisher.org).
Cayman Islands: The last week of October is Pirate Week on Grand Cayman (www.piratesweek festival.com). The party gets started with fireworks over the George Town Harbor, followed by plenty of revelry to reggae and soca beats. There’s a re-enactment of a pirates landing–not to mention good fishing and golf.
Provincetown, Mass.: Cape Cod has always been a magnet for renegades, so it’s fitting that Provincetown has an impressive exhibit of pirate lore. The Whydah Sea Lab and Learning Center (whydah.com) houses treasures recovered by explorer Barry Clifford from the wreckage of Capt. “Black Sam” Bellamy’s pirate flotilla. Among the booty: emeralds and real pirate outfits. Yar!
title: “Yar Mate Swashbuckler Tours " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-30” author: “Boris Fonceca”
Add Catalina Island to what you might call the pirate-tourism circuit. The swashbuckling men (and women) who sailed under the Jolly Roger have captured a lasting place in our imagination–from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Pirates are still hot: in his entertaining history, Zacks argues that Kidd wasn’t a pirate at all, but rather a misunderstood bounty hunter. Two recently discovered shipwrecks, presumed to be the vessels of Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) and another belonging to Kidd, have also made headlines. This fall director Jerry Bruckheimer will start on “Pirates of the Caribbean” (the movie).
Most pirates vanished by 1790, but you can still visit their haunts in the United States and the Caribbean, where the rogues preyed on Spanish galleons and where there are plenty of nonbuccaneer activities to enjoy:
Bahamas: Nassau was once the realm of rogues like Blackbeard. Exhibits at the Pirates of Nassau Museum (pirates-of-nassau.com) re-create life at sea. Tour Fort Charlotte–built to defend against pirates, complete with underground dungeons.
Jamaica: Port Royal, near Kingston, was the headquarters of buccaneer Sir Henry Morgan and a place known in the 17th century as the “richest and wickedest city in the world.” In 1692, an earthquake plunged most of the city into the sea. A development company has ambitious plans for a pirate museum and underwater views of the sunken city, but for now take the heritage tours in Port Royal and nearby Spanish Town, where the female pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Read were tried.
Key West, Fla.: The Florida Keys were a haven for pirates until Commodore David Porter drove them out in 1823. Today you can party with people dressed like pirates at Key West’s annual Pirates in Paradise Festival (piratesin paradise.com). The rowdy 10-day affair starts on Nov. 28 and includes re-enactments of battles at sea and pirate trials. (It’s also a good excuse to swill a little rum at bars like Turtle Kraals at Schooner Wharf.) Visit the wrecked Spanish ship Atocha and its treasures at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (melfisher.org).
Cayman Islands: The last week of October is Pirate Week on Grand Cayman (www.piratesweek festival.com). The party gets started with fireworks over the George Town Harbor, followed by plenty of revelry to reggae and soca beats. There’s a re-enactment of a pirates landing–not to mention good fishing and golf.
Provincetown, Mass.: Cape Cod has always been a magnet for renegades, so it’s fitting that Provincetown has an impressive exhibit of pirate lore. The Whydah Sea Lab and Learning Center (whydah.com) houses treasures recovered by explorer Barry Clifford from the wreckage of Capt. “Black Sam” Bellamy’s pirate flotilla. Among the booty: emeralds and real pirate outfits. Yar!
