Bermuda Music Festival

I adore Bermuda. Who knew such a unique island was out there all by its lonesome in the middle of the Atlantic, 650 miles from North Carolina? It’s not quite British, not quite American, not quite Caribbean, but it’s got a little bit of each. You can spend the day sunning on a gorgeous pink-sand beach, then go out for drinks at a merry pub — and pay for your pint with U.S. dollars.

It’s equally charming for weddings, with mega-resorts like The Fairmont Southampton, cottage-style escapes like Cambridge Beaches, and cozy boutique hotels like The Reefs all offering picturesque venues and tons of package options.

If you can get a way for a very last-minute scouting trip this weekend, you’ll have a chance to enjoy all of the above, plus the annual Bermuda Music Festival, this year featuring music-biz legend Quincy Jones and a host of his industry friends, like Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, John Legend and others. The fun starts Oct. 29 and continues through the 31st, with the Halloween-night program featuring a special 25-year-anniversary presentation of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” You can’t beat the location either — the Keep Yard at the Maritime Museum in the Royal Naval Dockyard; be sure to go early to wander through this historic attraction. Tickets and hotel deals are still available; click here to find out more.