Grand Cayman thrills await on land, underwater
BY ANDREA GUTHMANN April 30, 2011 7:21PM
IF YOU GO
GETTING THERE: Cayman Airways has twice weekly non-stop service from Chicago to Grand Cayman from late November through early May. Weekly non-stop service is offered in the summer.
STAYING THERE: Good hotel options abound along Seven Mile Beach, including the Ritz-Carlton; (800) 542-8680, ritzcarlton.com. If you scuba dive or want to learn, the secluded Cobalt Coast Dive Resort on Grand Cayman’s northwest coast is ideal; (888) 946-5656, cobaltcoast.com.
WHEN TO GO: Winter is high season, but you’ll find better deals and fewer tourists in the warmer months. Check out the Cayman Summer Splash promotion at caymansummersplash.com.
MORE INFO: caymanislands.ky
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands — Picture your Caribbean paradise and chances are Grand Cayman might come to mind.
With miles of pristine white sand and clear water, this banker’s paradise is also a tropical paradise. Traveling with three kids in tow, I needed more than just beaches and banks. Luckily, I found lots of adventure on this tiny island.
My 10- and 12-year-old boys couldn’t wait to dive into Grand Cayman’s most popular attraction, Stingray City, where you can pet, feed and swim with these odd-looking creatures with a dangerous-sounding name. The stingrays were drawn to the area — reachable only by boat — by fishermen who used to clean their catch here.
I also plunged into Grand Cayman’s newest underwater attraction, the USS Kittiwake, a 250-foot retired submarine rescue ship. It’s a sea change from the many other shipwrecks surrounding the three Cayman islands.
The USS Kittiwake is the first U.S. naval ship donated to a foreign country to create an artificial reef. This massive gift was presented to the Caymanian people last Christmas.
“The sinking went just as planned and we immediately had fish living there,” said Nancy Easterbrook, who oversaw the nine-year project from start to finish.
The USS Kittiwake recovered the black box from the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Now, she rests 67 feet beneath the sea, just a few hundred yards off popular Seven Mile Beach. The ship’s top is only 8 feet from the water’s surface, making it ideal for snorkelers as well as scuba divers.
An eerie feeling overtakes you as you explore the old ship, but that’s part of the excitement.
“It’s an underwater museum,” Easterbrook said, “and a great way to give a decommissioned ship new life, instead of being cut up into scrap metal.”
The island is awash in sensational snorkeling. Walk north for a few minutes from where the big cruise ships disembark and head to the pier behind Casanova’s Restaurant. Jump in to find a beautiful reef.
Alan and Kathy Blevin, who live in a retirement community outside of Orlando, Fla., put their snorkels and fins to good use behind the Marriott Hotel on Seven Mile Beach.
“We’ve snorkeled Cancun, Cozumel and Hawaii, and this is the best,” Alan said. “We just saw a school of squid and parrot fish. There’s so many fish here and it’s so accessible. All you have to do is walk into the ocean and there they are.”
Explore the seas without getting your feet wet by hopping aboard one of the many submarines, semi-submersibles or glass-bottom boats.
Children love riding the Jolly Roger pirate ship. During the two-hour sail, costumed pirates entertain you with plenty of high-seas high jinks. Everyone gets to walk the plank.
All of these nautical excursions are close to the cruise terminal, which handles more than a million passengers a year.
Landlubbers can submerge themselves in duty-free designer shopping in Grand Cayman’s capital, George Town. Guy Harvey Gallery & Shoppe is a favorite local store. The marine life artist’s handiwork can be found across the island, from his murals in Grand Cayman’s airport to his popular T-shirts.
Harvey moved here 12 years ago after spending his life in Jamaica, Cayman’s Caribbean neighbor.
“It’s clean and tidy, and you won’t get harassed by anyone,” Harvey said.
To soak up a little of the island’s history, take a 15-minute drive from George Town to Pedro St. James Castle. This 18th century home hosted the country’s first parliament.
Cabs on the island are expensive, so you might want to rent a car. Just remember that this is a British overseas territory and they drive on the left side of the road.
Drive another 15 minutes along the east coast to get to Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, where you can hike manicured trails alongside blue iguanas. The gardens are home to a breeding facility for the endangered reptile.
Another endangered animal is the green sea turtle, but you can still get your hands on them — literally. Kids can pick up the flapping turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm. I preferred seeing them while scuba diving in the magnificent reef off Cobalt Coast Dive Resort. There is a third way to enjoy the turtles: at a restaurant. These longtime staples of the Caymanian diet are served in a variety of dishes, such as turtle stew and turtle burgers.
Children whose parents splurge on a stay at the sprawling Ritz-Carlton Resort on Seven Mile Beach can take part in an “Ambassadors of the Environment” program created by Jacques Cousteau’s son, Jean-Michel. Trained naturalists lead outings for young children to teenagers, from snorkeling to kayaking and underwater photography. They also run activities for the whole family.
Wherever you stay, it doesn’t cost a thing to enjoy the island’s spectacular sunset. Whether strolling the beach barefoot, lying in a hammock or sitting dockside at a tiki bar, be prepared to drink in a mesmerizing view.
Andrea Guthmann is a local free-lance writer.
Information for this article was gathered on a research trip sponsored in part by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.
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