GRAND CAYMAN
Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands, comprised of
Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The islands are
located 480 miles south of Miami. Grand Cayman is 22 miles long
and 8 miles at its widest point. The average temperature in the winter
is 75 degrees Farenheit, in the summer 85 degrees. Tuesday,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays are the busiest cruise ship days.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND CURRENCY
English is the official language. The official currency is the Cayman
Island dollar, but U.S. dollars and credit cards are widely accepted.
The Cayman Island dollar equals roughly $1.25 U.S. dollars.
GEORGETOWN
Georgetown, the capital city of the Cayman Islands, offers some of the
best shopping and finest cuisine in the Caribbean.
SHOPPING
Grand Cayman is a duty-free port offering cruise ship passengers a
good selection of duty-free items such as watches, china and crystal,
perfume and fine jewelry. Specialty local products include hot pepper
sauces, tropical fruit jams, and blended rum and rum products, such
as the Tortuga rum cake.
GRAND CAYMAN HIGHLIGHTS
STINGRAY CITY AND SANDBAR
Stingray City is located in Grand Cayman's North Sound and can only
be reached by boat. Cayman Island's most famous attraction gives
visitors an opportunity to swim with up to two dozen Atlantic Southern
Stingrays. The stingrays are harmless because they stay in constant
motion looking for a handout. Stingrays only cause harm to humans if
they are stepped on while feeding, unseen, in the sand. Some of the
stingrays are over 6 foot in diameter. The water at Stingray sandbar is
waist deep.
Note: The editors of Family Travel Fun visited Sting Ray City in
February 2007. The stingrays are very gentle and tame so don't be
worried.
SEVEN MILE BEACH
Seven mile beach is truly one of the most beautiful beaches in the
world. Located only three miles from the cruise ship terminals in
Georgetown, the public beaches can be reached by a short taxi ride.
The beach, actually only 5 1/2 miles instead of seven, runs from
Georgetown to West Bay. The beach is public with several public
access spots marked along the road. The crystal clear water and
white sand makes Seven Mile Beach a not-to-be-missed destination.
HELL
Thousands of tourists go to Hell each year and some even write
lettershome about it. Postmarked from Hell, of course. This site
features black rock formations that look like the charred remains of a
fire. The biggest attraction in Hell is the post office where tourists can
send postcards that say things like, "This is a Hell of a place" or
"Greetings from Hell."
TURTLE FARM
The Cayman Turtle Farm is home to over 16,000 sea turtles, ranging
in size from six ounces to over six hundred pounds. The top priority of
the farm is breeding the endangered turtles. Every year they raise over
8,000 hatchlings. They've been so sucessful that since 1980, they've
released 29,000 turtles back into the wild to replenish the wild
population. The farm is open 7 days a week from 9-5. Admission is $6
for adults, $3 for children.
www.turtle.ky
FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS:
THE DOCK
Cruise ships dock in the harbor at Georgetown called "Hogs Sty Bay."
Tenders deliver passengers to one of two terminals located directly in
front of Georgetown's shopping district.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS