This summer we took a family trip to Grand Cayman. It was our second time on the island and we enjoyed every second of our stay there. Recently, I posted about our stay at The Caribbean Club, and you can read that post here. Today, I wanted to share more about some of the outings we took and touch on all the things Grand Cayman has to offer.
POPULAR SPOTS TO SEE:
Lovers Wall- Pay close attention because you could easily miss it if you’re not paying attention. There’s just a small sign marking the wall, but there aren’t any parking areas here, you basically just pull off to the side of the road and hop out for pictures. I’ve done some checking and no one seems to know the real story behind the Lovers Wall, but it’s considered a historical landmark, because so many tourists visit each year. I have to say, yes the view was pretty but had this been our only reason to make the drive, I would have felt a bit let down. It does make a cute spot to stop and take pictures though and that is mostly due to the cute sign.
Blowholes– The sign here was a bit bigger and there’s a small area on the side of the road for parking. After being there, I can’t ever imagine it being packed but a few other families were there taking pictures when we arrived. I had read about this online prior to the trip and knew this one could be a hit or miss depending on the winds. Apparently, when the Eastern winds blow, waves hit the rocks and enter caverns of coral, which can cause the water to be expelled upwards of 20 feet or more. To take photos here, you climb down a set of stairs to a rocky area below. The rocks are slick and you do have to be cautious when taking pictures if you stand near the actual blow holes but there’s still an area where little ones could stand to capture the water blasts without venturing onto the rocks.
Hell- Hell is an area on West Bay, half the size of a football field made of limestone formations. There are several explanations as to why the area was named “Hell”, but the most popular story is that when a pebble is thrown out into the formations, it echoes and sounds as if the pebble is falling all the way down to “Hell”. Visitors cannot walk on the limestone formations, but they have viewing platforms you may stand on. There is also a gift shop called Hell’s Gift Shop and Hell’s Service Station for gas, but that’s about it. We didn’t end up making it to Hell and I was told by multiple people we didn’t miss much except a chance to buy a t-shirt that said “we went to Hell in Grand Cayman”.
WATERSPORTS:
Parasailing- The kids all loved this and this was on their wish list for both of our Cayman trips. Red Sail Water Sports will come get you from most resorts on seven-mile beach.
Banana Boat– My kids really enjoyed this, in fact they did it on two separate days this time. I would definitely suggest this as an early morning or late afternoon activity when the water is less crowded. A little tip, especially for younger ones, the front riders get soaked with sea water, so goggles help if they have sensitive eyes.
Hydroflight- Available on seven-mile beach. Your concierge can usually provide you with a number to book but normally, you can book from the beach since the hydroflight company moves up and down the beach.
Snorkel/Dive Gear Delivery- This summer, we actually used a service that delivers equipment to your resort. You basically call and place your order and within 2 hours they arrive at your hotel with all your gear ready. This was so nice because we didn’t have to pack all of our snorkel gear for the flight, and when we were checking out, we left it at the front desk to be picked back up. If you plan on snorkeling or diving more than one day, I highly suggest giving Adventura Gear Rentals a call. They also rent kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, beach umbrellas, sea scooters, jet skis and more.
POPULAR ATTRACTIONS:
Cayman Turtle Center– We visited here during our first trip. The turtle center has what they call turtle touch tanks where you can touch and hold the turtles. There’s also a lagoon to swim with turtles, a turtle breeding pond, a shark reef, a crocodile exhibit and swimming pool. I have to be honest, we went in July and the pool was closed, I never saw the shark reef or the butterfly exhibit and we were essentially the only people there. Maybe this is not the norm, but if you’re trying to plan a full day outing, you won’t get that here. I think we covered the whole park and the gift shop in under an hour. I still think small children would love the turtle exhibits but I would definitely check the schedule before going.
Stingray City- This area is a shallow sandbar in the middle of the North Sound where you can swim with stingrays. We chartered a boat and did the Stingray/Starfish Point combo tour. We departed from the marina at Camana Bay. Stingray City was beautiful and the stingrays were amazing. I highly recommend booking a tour that will have you on the water for sunset. Not only was it breathtaking, but we were the only boat there at the time! Be aware of cruise ship arrival days when booking popular excursions such as this one because it can get packed at these spots.
Starfish Point– Located on the North side of Grand Cayman, this stretch of beach houses tons of red cushion sea stars. It can get a bit crowded, which can cause the water to get murky, so plan to go early a.m. or before sunset. It really is neat to see so many starfish in one place. The water is shallow which is nice for small children. There can be a lot of boats coming in and out though, so use caution.
Segway Rentals– Cayman Segway Rentals offer multiple daily tours for group sizes up to 8. Minimum age to ride is 13 and you have the option of a daily tour or a sunset tour. You drive on both the beach and the road/sidewalks during this tour. We’ve had several families we know do this tour and they enjoyed it. Their tip was to pick the coolest time of day because you’re wearing helmets and it can get very hot. Tours last 90 minutes long.
Horseback Riding– There are several companies that offer horseback riding in Cayman, but Cayman Horse Riding with Nicki is the preferred company on the island. These rides last 1.5 hours on the beach or you have the option to do a 2-hour ride with a portion of your ride in the ocean! They do require riders to be 10 and up. Cayman Horse Riding also provides pickup and drop off to any hotel on seven-mile beach and Nicki also takes photographs of your group throughout the ride.
WHERE TO SHOP:
Camana Bay- The town center at Camana Bay has a mix of shopping, dining, and a movie theatre. It’s also where the marina is located. You can find everything from bookstores, jewelry stores, home accessories, clothing and more. Several restaurants offer live music and there are often farmers markets set up, as well as booths with local vendors showcasing their arts and crafts.
Georgetown- Georgetown is the capital of the island and has blocks of stores near the cruise ship docks. This area can get very busy when cruise ships are there but there’s no sales tax and Americans can purchase up to $1000 in duty-free items, so it makes for a popular shopping area. The area has jewelry stores, cigar shops, perfume, clothing, souvenir stores, dining, henna tattoo artists and more.
WHERE TO EAT:
Chicken! Chicken!- Casual fast food place that serves Caribbean chicken that’s been grilled over a wood fire. So many yummy sides. Our faves were the cornbread and the buttermilk mashed potatoes. Located on seven-mile beach.
The Cracked Conch/Macabuca– This place is known for its location and it’s also a popular spot for snorkeling. Macabuca is the tiki hut bar that serves burgers, shrimp, and locally caught fish on the outdoor patio. It has a daily happy hour and is a casual spot to grab lunch or drinks. The Cracked Conch is the restaurant attached that offers waterfront dining and Carribean fare. It’s located close to the Turtle Center and is an easy family-friendly spot to grab lunch. Check out the view!
Luca- You can read more about Luca in this post, but if you’re looking to have dinner and a nice bottle of wine, this has an awesome wine selection. The food was great and the chef changes the menu often based on what has been caught fresh that day.
Tukka– Offers fresh daily catch dishes like Mahi Mahi, Snapper, and Yellow Fin Tuna and is known for its Caribbean spiny lobster. It’s located on the East end and the patio overlooks the famous wreck of the Ten Sails.
Heritage Kitchen– Tiny building in West Bay. Has a few outdoor picnic tables to dine at and offers fried fish, fritters and fresh guava juice. Located right by the sea wall and has amazing views!
Big Tree BBQ– Texan approved. They serve BBQ, jerk chicken, fish, slaw, rice, beans, corn, plantains, spice cake and more. It’s all cooked outside in a parking lot under a big tree. You can BYOB and eat outside or order and take it to go. Be prepared for a line and it’s worth calling to make sure they are open since the hours can fluctuate.
Just writing this post has me wanting to go back already! This last trip was honestly one of our best family vacations to date. It has definitely become one of our favorite destinations.