December 10th, 2006
Frolicking in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman islands in the Caribbean tend to be overshadowed by their bigger neighbors, but I like the intimate sound of them and I’d love to go on a Cayman vacation. Christopher Columbus was the first tourist, when he first spotted them in 1503, but they are a United Kingdom territory. Therefore, they drive on the left side of the road. The Caymans are made up of three islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. There is plenty to do here if you want to be active. Personally, I’d look forward to sipping my Pina Colada at the end of the day, and watch the sun set over the bay.
White sands and duty free shopping are very appealing. Holidaymakers like to shop for crystal, china, perfume, watches and jewelry in the duty free shops. The local currency is the Cayman Islands dollar. Temperatures average 80F in summertime and 75F in the winter. That should be hot enough for most people. A Cayman vacation offers a range of sports, including water skiing, parasailing, board sailing and sportfishing. You can also play tennis or play golf on the Jack Nicklaus golf course. If you’re not claustrophobic, you can go on a submarine descent to 100 feet. I wouldn’t be able to cope with that but there’s something even more ambitious. A two person submarine will take you down to see a shipwreck, 800 feet down.
Grand Cayman boasts the biggest tourist attraction with the Seven Mile Beach. Most of the hotels and resort facilities for a Cayman vacation are here. It’s a favorite destination for snorkelers and you can swim with stingrays. The water is as clear as it gets and scuba divers love to explore the reefs and wreaks here. There’s also the opportunity for horse riding and there is a trail thru the forest for hikers to enjoy.
The capital city, George Town, is situated on Grand Cayman and is a large port for incoming cruise ships. There’s lots to see here, including a turtle farm which keeps over 14,000 turtles. Gardeners will love the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park and there is a Cayman Islands National Museum. There are designer shop outlets, including Fendi and Gucci, and first class dining. A Cayman vacation should offer some history and there is the ruins of a fort built in 1790 at the harbor called Fort George. I would time my trip to coincide with the Pirates Week Festival, which has fireworks displays and mock pirate landings!