grand cayman Archives - Page 2 of 2

Mar 29 2016

Grand Cayman – Paradise for Families

Grand Cayman is home to one of the most beautiful and well-known beaches in the world: 7 Mile Beach. It is a place where time stands still and conch is the catch of the day. If you are visiting Grand Cayman in search of clear aqua blue waters, soft white sand, and soca music, you will not be disappointed. But Grand Cayman has more to offer families than just languishing in the sun. Try these activities during your stay:

The Jolly Roger Pirate Experience – Have you ever wondered what being on a pirate ship might be like? Find out in Grand Cayman! Enjoy a sword fighting, swashbuckling pirate show in the Caribbean.
Visit Stingray City – This excursion is fun for everyone. Located on the North Sound, Stingray City is home to just under 100 wild stingrays. Mingle with the stingrays while standing on a sandbar in the middle of the sea. These gentle giants are incredibly friendly and love to be fed. A visit to Stingray City is only a sensory experience that you will not soon forget.
Swim with the dolphins – Dolphin Cove and Dolphin Discovery offer the opportunity for you to swim with the dolphins. The perfect excursion for children of all ages, the parks both have other opportunities to see exotic wildlife and sea life in lieu of swimming.
See Grand Cayman by helicopter – Children and parents alike will enjoy soaring above the beaches and mangroves below to see the island in a unique way.
Snorkel at Rum Point – Enjoy some of the most shallow and clear water on the island.
Cayman Motor Museum – If you are looking for an activity away from the water and sand, head over to the West Bay and visit the Cayman Motor Museum. The kids will love seeing the bat mobile that was produced for the 1960s TV Series, “Batman”.
Try a water sport together -There are so many things you can do on the beach to spend a day. Snorkeling is a favorite for all ages, riding Jet Skis, paddle boarding, banana boating, parasailing – the list goes on and on. Make sure to collect seashells along the way to commemorate your day at the beach.

Grand Cayman is a fantastic place to spend your family vacation. Playing in the sun, meeting new people, and having unique experiences are part of what life is all about. You can do all those things and more in Grand Cayman, the jewel in the Caribbean Sea.

Mar 22 2016

The History of Seven Mile Beach

Called one of the best beaches in the Caribbean by “Travel + Leisure” magazine as well as “U S News and World Report,” Seven Mile Beach (also known as West bay Beach) sits on the west side of Grand Cayman Island. This 6.3-mile continuous stretch of sand (despite its name) is one of the most developed areas of the island and home to many of the resort destination’s top hotels.

The History of Seven Mile Beach

Grand Cayman Island and Seven Mile Beach were originally home to the Carib tribe. Christopher Columbus and his crew brought Europeans to the island’s shores in 1503 on his fourth voyage to the New World. Subsequent slavery and the introduction of European diseases for which the native tribe had little immunity erased the indigenous population. All that remains today is the lovely topography of the islands and the name, Cayman, which is derived from the Carib word for “crocodile.”

The Cayman Islands were ruled by Jamaica between 1863 and 1962. When Jamaica won her independence from Britain in 1962, the Cayman Islands elected to remain a protectorate of the United Kingdom. A governor administers the island nation today.

The structure of Seven Mile Beach continues to evolve and the stretch loses a little bit in length each year to erosion. Still, the beach is one of the most lovely and most beguiling in the region. Seven Mile Beach is known for its colorful coral reefs just offshore and the excellent snorkeling and diving found there. As with

all beaches in the Cayman Islands, access is open to the public. In addition to the many luxury hotels, the beach is home to multiple seaside restaurants.

To book your own idyllic vacation along Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach, contact South Bay Beach Club at soutbaybeachclub.com or by calling 407 992-2844.

Jan 18 2016

The Five Best Restaurants to Try in Grand Cayman Island

Sure, you go to Grand Cayman Island for lots of great reasons, to lounge on the warm and lovely white sand beaches, swim, snorkel, fish, and boat in the crystal clear blue waters, relax in the luxurious resorts and hotels, and enjoy the native flora, fauna, and culture. Not to mention the vibrant night life.

But if you’re like most people, visiting Grand Cayman to sample the cuisine is probably at the bottom of your list, an afterthought, if it’s there at all. And that’s a shame, because the island has a reputation for some of the best Caribbean cuisine to be found in those waters, at least among foodies.

As a matter of fact, the food should get top billing, right after the beaches. But find out for yourself. Here are five of the best gastronomic experiences that Grand Cayman has to offer.

The Cracked Conch – A popular local destination for over 34 years, the Cracked Conch is located on the waterfront on the North West Point of West Bay, and offers some of the most breathtaking views of the ocean to be found anywhere on the island. It specializes in seafood, Caribbean, and International fare, enjoyed in an atmosphere of island chic, with several spacious outside patios. Prices are affordable, with main dinner courses available from $32-$46. Recommended is the Seared Local Snapper, with chorizo and tomato vinaigrette.

Calypso Grill – Sited on Morgan’s Harbour, the Calypso Grill is a cozy option with a delightful contemporary and island decor. Watch the boats sail in and out of the bay as you enjoy the Wahoo Escoveitch, deep-fried wahoo served with Jamaican hot peppers and onion vinaigrette.

The Brasserie – This George Town eatery just might offer the freshest ingredients around, as it keeps two of the local fishermen on the payroll to supply daily fresh fish, and grows its own vegetables and herbs, as well as breadfruit and banana trees. Prices are low to moderate, and you should try any of the daily catch grilled over hardwood coals.

Catch – One of Morgan Harbour’s newest establishments, opened in 2014, it has an excellent waterfront setting with great views and outdoor dining, and a lounge that’s already gaining a reputation for serving up some of the best cocktails in the area. Prices run low moderate, and one of the house specialties is the Grilled Mahi Mahi at $28 for dinner, served with onion and pepper cous cous, roasted corn, chimichurri, and a selection of organic locally grown vegetables.

Morgan’s – Located at the recently renovated Cayman Islands Yacht Club, this restaurant features large, open dining areas and an outdoor patio with views of Governor’s Creek and the local yacht fleet. Known for fresh daily seafood, the prices range from low to moderate. Any of their catch of the day entrees will be a winner, but make sure to try the Thai Seafood Curry, a spicy mix of shrimp, mussels, and scallops.

Jan 12 2016

The comeback of the Blue Iguanas

Who They Are
Too unique and intelligent to qualify as mere things, the Grand Cayman Island’s Blue Iguanas are fascinating. Even for the Caribbean — where bright colored flowers, fish, reptiles and birds are almost common-place, — the Blue Iguana is a distinct species. With metallic blue skin and thorny dorsal spines, the five-foot lizard has a fantastical, computer-generated appearance, the possibility of extinction for the Grand Cayman resident became a distinct possibility in the late 1990s.
A result of human activities encroaching on the natural habitat of the Blue Iguana, numbers fell to a staggeringly low counts by 2002. Cats and dogs; non-native bird and snake species; and vehicles were responsible for a large sum of the depopulation. While adult Blue Iguana are hardy animals with the ability to defend themselves from most preditors, the smaller juvanile Blue Iguana are very susceptible. Likewise, adult Blue Iguana are no match for cars. Unfortunately, the heat captured by the pavement of roads and highways attract iguanas which leads to a large number of vehicular fatalities.
Blue Iguana Conservation Efforts
Noticing the declining numbers of Blue Iguana in the 80s and 90s, the Wildlife Conservation Society took it upon themselves to begin a captive breeding program, but its efforts were almost too late. By the time the program was ready to begin breeding the reptiles in captivity, Blue Iguana numbers had already fallen to below 15 in the wild. Fortunately, the program has been highly successful and Blue Iguana numbers are already back above 900.
Additionally, conservation areas have been set aside for the Blue Iguana. With reserves around the island that permit the lizards to live free of human influence in their natural habitat, conservation experts believe that the wild Blue Iguana is now here to stay.
Blue Iguana in Captivity
Surviving well in the wild, Blue Iguana are also becoming increasingly popular as pets. Because of their size, the Blue Iguana is not the reptile for everyone, but those people with enough space to house them find the animal to be a wonderful addition to the home. Bright and intuitive for reptiles, the Blue Iguana takes great interest in the activities of their owners, following them with their turquoise-blue-colored eyes.
Best kept outside, a pen for a Blue Iguana requires the fence be buried at least two feet into the ground because — like most legged reptiles — they are proficient diggers. Blue Iguanas have hardy appetites and are ferocious eaters preferring to feast in the morning before temperatures get too hot. They are primarily herbivores, eating leafy greens and vegetables, but they will also eat carrion when it is offered. However, unlike some other large lizards, they are not hunters.
A single Blue Iguana or a pair work best. Mixing two males is a particularly bad idea because they have a tendency to fight which leads to heavy scaring and unhealthy animals.