Who doesn’t love clear blue water and soft white sandy beaches? Grand Cayman quickly became a home away from home and I can’t wait to show you all about this amazing island. A quick backstory about this little paradise; many years ago my mom found an article in a magazine talking about the Cayman Islands and since she loved the water and scuba diving she decided to book a trip. She took a solo trip to Grand Cayman to explore this beautiful place and needless to say she loved it so much that she continued trips there multiple more times. My mom eventually married my dad and soon enough introduced him to her love for this country. After many stories of how great this place was, I decided to check it out for myself in 2003. Since that trip, I have gone back every year and now have a network of some amazing friends that we love to be able to visit each year. If you haven’t been to the Cayman Islands, it is time you add it to your list of trips!

WHERE TO STAY:

There are definitely a lot of options on where to stay but I would recommend staying on Seven Mile Beach. Waking up and being able to walk right out to the ocean is truly incredible. Take a walk down this strip of beach and check out the many resort restaurants and beach bars along the way.

Some of my favorite hotels are:

The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is stunning and super chic. This is a beautiful hotel was just finished and towards the end of Seven Mile Beach if you are heading towards West Bay.
The Ritz-Carlton has the best service and of course incredible location and views.
Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort is a more budget friendly option that is newly renovated a few years ago. The grounds are so lush and they even have turtles swimming and sunbathing in the little ponds on your walk out to the beach.
The Grand Caymanian is located on the North Sound and right across the water from Rum Point. This resort is so quiet and peaceful as it is a little removed from Seven Mile Beach and more of a boutique style property.

EAT + DRINK:

Oh wow, where do I start? There are so many delicious options so I apologize if my list is a little lengthy.

Casanova Restaurant quickly turned into one of our favorite dinner spots. Might seem strange to go to an Italian restaurant in the Caribbean but let me tell you, their food is incredible and the seafood options melt in your mouth. I highly recommend requesting one of their tables in the sand right next to the water.
Rackam’s has by far the BEST fish & chips you will ever have!! This restaurant/bar is located within walking distance of downtown George Town and overlooking the absolutely stunning water. You can take the ladder right into the water to do some snorkeling with the colorful fish while you wait for your food. If that’s not adventurous enough, then you can even jump off the the bar top for a more exhilarating entrance into the water! Come here during the day, or to enjoy the sunset, or both (which we may have done once or twice!)
Deckers Caribbean Inspired Grille has such a cool vibe and they host live music weekly along with an all you can eat lobster night!
Coconut Joe’s has such a fun atmosphere and was built surrounding a giant tree. Think of this place kind of like a tree house but not elevated. Its really cool! They have a big variety of food options so there is definitely something for everyone. Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner they don’t disappoint.
Macabuca is an oceanfront Tiki Bar located on the same property as Cracked Conch right down the street from the Turtle Farm. You can also snorkel right from the deck.
Coccoloba is a casual open concept beach bar located next to the Kimpton hotel. They have great food and really cool drinks! Definitely a spot you can set your stuff down and hang out at all day at the beach while you swim or sunbathe!
Cimboco is our absolute favorite breakfast spot and THE BEST breakfast pizza we have ever had.
Calico Jack’s is our favorite beach bar and you are guaranteed to have a great time. Whether you want to hang at the bar, sit at one of their picnic tables in the sand or just lay on your towel to relax, there is a spot for everyone. The food is so yummy and the drinks even better! Come hang at the end of the day to watch the sunset with the locals, it’s sure to be unforgettable.

THINGS TO DO:

The island life is, of course, all about relaxation in this beautiful paradise but there are also tons of awesome activities to do as well.

The Turtle Farm is such a cool experience to see so many different sea turtles being raised to eventual release. You are able to pick up some of the smaller turtles in the tanks and they also have a swim lagoon so you can get up close and personal with the giant turtles.
Dolphin Discovery is right across the street from the Turtle Farm. You get to experience learning all about the dolphins, how they are trained, and even get to feel the power of them push you through the water. Definitely an incredible feeling!
Stingray City is a one of a kind experience! There are so many companies that do excursions here but I highly recommend Captain Marvin’s. They have beautiful boats that take you out to the sand bar and the staff is so much fun. Each boat also includes a photographer so that you can choose to purchase pictures at the end if you want. They also provide a bucket of squid so that you get the chance to feed the stingray once you are in the water. Seriously these amazing animals are like little puppies in the water. So fun and playful!
Starfish Point is also part of the Stingray City excursion. It is a shallow sandbar just a 5 minute boat ride away and right over from Rum Point. There are tons of starfish along the shore that you are able to pick-up (while still keeping them touching the water) to get that perfect picture. Each one is unique and its just amazing to see them in their natural habitat.
Smith’s Cove is a local beach located about a mile South of downtown George Town. There is a parking lot located across the street as well as public restrooms onsite. This beach also has amazing snorkeling and the water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom!
Scuba Diving is the most amazing experience and Cayman is home to some of the most incredible diving in the world. The visibility is between 60-100 feet and the water temperature is typically around 80 degrees (I don’t ever wear a wet suit since the water is so warm). There are a handful of companies that have scuba excursions but our favorite, by far, is Divers Down. We even did our PADI certification with them while on vacation in Cayman years ago.
The Fish Market is about a block or two from downtown George Town and it’s where the local fisherman come in and clean off their fresh catch during the day. You never know what type of fish they will have caught that day but you can walk right up and they will sell you what they have. They will even prep it if you choose. They can filet it, chop it, give you the fish whole, its totally up to you!
Pirate’s Week is such a big deal that there is a dedicated website for the event. It takes place in early November each year and it is a week long celebration including parades, street food, family friendly activities, and finishes with an awesome fireworks display in the harbor!

Grand Cayman, B.W.I.