ACTIVITIES ON GRAND CAYMAN

There are many things to do while on Grand Cayman, some of which are (almost) mandatory:

My Recommendations:

Rum Point- On the western tip of Northside (12 miles from east end), this beach resort is awesome. The beach is sugar white sand with casuarina (pine) trees overhanging the water to keep the sun from scorching your family. The "Rum Point Club" offers lounge chaises, hammocks, beach service bar, grill, gift shop, bathroom facilities/showers as well as Red Sail Sports concession (jet skis, scuba, stingray city tours, snorkeling, sailing, kayaks, etc.). Advice is to avoid Sundays (many locals visit on Sundays on their boats, so it gets very crowded). Rum Point Club is actually leased/operated by the Hyatt hotel...so it is very professionally operated and kept very clean. You will want to visit Rum Point at least 2-3 times while you are on the island, so I recommend your first visit to be Monday morning about 10:30. (the bar opens at 11AM and you will have your pick of lounge chaises/hammocks at 10:30 or earlier).

Stingray City Sandbar- One of the biggest attractions on the island, stingray city is a wonderful experience for all ages. My recommendation is to call Red Sail Sports and book onto their 65' catamaran on Tuesday or Thursday (3 hour trip) that picks your family up at the Kaibo Yacht Club (near Rum Point) around 9:30AM and then drops you off in time for lunch at the Kaibo grill.  If you are looking for a private stingray city/snorkel trip, I would suggest contacting www.boatsandbutlers.com before you arrive to set that up. Shawn (who also cares for/captains my boat) can pick you up at the Kaibo as well (in a great boat)..but I would suggest making it an afternoon trip--about 2PM - 5PM, as the cruise ship passengers have to return to their ships by 4PM sharp--and will be leaving stingray city just as you arrive (MUCH less crowded).

Snorkeling- Whether you snorkel at "Coral Gardens" after your stingray city visit or just wade into the water in front of the castle point, you will see plenty of fish. Straight off the castle guesthouse (only 100 ft)  there is a hole in the sea bottom that is filled with sea anemones. Further out, there is a marine marker that warns fishermen of a large coral head about 200 yds. off the castle point. We have seen morays, lobster, conch and many species of fish on these 3-4 large coral heads. If you would like a private charter in the east end for snorkeling, you should contact Ocean Frontiers and book their "Top Cat" pontoon boat for just your family. The experienced dive masters will take you straight out to the reef from the castle to 2-3 great snorkeling spots where you will see plenty of marine life. Top Cat carries VHF radio, safety gear, lemonade, water and plenty of dry towels--so please leave ours back at the house. The cost of the standard stingray city/snorkeling trip is about $35-40/person..so if you have 10 people, Top Cat private charter at $300 plus tip for half-day is actually not only a great (private) charter, you actually save money too! When the dock at castle is finally finished (Spring '06), Top Cat will be able to come right to the castle to pick up a private charter. 947-7500

Portofino's Restaurant- Located just one mile north of the castle, this oceanfront restaurant is very versatile and charming. The menu is both Caribbean and Italian, and if you wanted something made to order--they will try most anything for you as well. They are also keenly aware of food allergies (we know personally), so don't hesitate to speak up. The manager (Shakur) and some of the staff are Indian, so if you have a craving for an Indian dish, just call the day before so that he can put it together for you. Portofino's offers both indoor and outdoor seating and has a decent wine list as well. The Sunday brunch (11:30 - 3PM) is a favorite for my guests at Cayman Castle for planning the rest of their week over a great lunch/drinks with the warm ocean breeze. Shakur can also arrange for catering or take out as well 947-2700.

Lighthouse Restaurant- The Lighthouse is the best restaurant east of Georgetown. This is a 4 star restaurant with uniformed wait-staff, an excellent wine list and superb menu. Also Caribbean and Italian, the Lighthouse has a wonderful new bar/lounge and an oceanfront screened dining porch. You can listen to the waves break on the rocks below while enjoying some of the finest food on the island. For a special dinner, "Captain G" (Giuseppe) also has his "port room" which is an air conditioned (wine cellar themed) private dining room with a large round table that can seat 10-16 people. A dinner in the Captain's port room is a true memory, and you would need reservations for this experience. I would always suggest reservations for the Lighthouse to be certain that a table is available. 947-2047.

Roland's Garden- Roland is a former restaurant chef who runs an outdoor (campy) "cafe" at his house in the Cottage District, on the Southeast coast of the island very close to the Castle. Not well-marked- but you will see about 10 tables in the trees behind an anchor chain fence along the road--about 1.5 miles East of the Frank Sound road intersection at the bottom of the island.  He is right across the street from the pastel-colored homes on the Oceanside called "Seacliffs". You arrive at his place where you are greeted by his dog- then Roland then tells you about dinner tonight, if you decide to stay for his 5 course dinner (bring your own beer/wine in a cooler) you will be pleasantly surprised...after dinner you pay him what you feel the meal was worth. No menu, no bill. It sounds hokey, but true. I have eaten with Roland many times. I seem to average about US$40/person and he is very happy with that. His food is plentiful and very good. You MUST make a reservation 926-7670. Tell him you are staying at the Castle with me. That is Roland in the middle of the photo on left. In summer, bring a can of bug spray- just in case there is no breeze.

Kaibo Yacht Club- Near Rum Point, the Kaibo Yacht club & Marina is a great venue for a casual meal and for entertaining the kids. The quiet cove that the marina is located in has a small swimming dock  (see in photo above) and the dock is a great place to see fish swim by. The food has a Cajun flair, as Jerry (the chef) is from New Orleans. The Kaibo also celebrates Mardi Gras each Spring with a huge beach party. The (more formal) restaurant upstairs may not open again until next year, but the food downstairs is awesome and the bar has 4 satellite TVs as well as some of the coldest beer on the island (they make their own ice for the beer coolers). The Kaibo is also the dock where you catch the Red Sail Catamaran for stingray city and is a great place to have a lunch afterwards. Volleyball net, dock and lounge chaises on premises. The manager (Daniel) is a great host 947-0075.

Morritts Beach Resort- Morritts is a time share resort located about 2 miles north of the Castle. It is an enormous complex, and between the two largest oceanfront buildings is a fantastic infinity pool with hot tub and kiddie pool too, as well as a swim up bar. The beach at Morritts (and the whole island for that matter) is technically public. Morritts is trying to sell timeshares, and they invite many people to enjoy their amenities to that end. As long as you are spending money and enjoying their hospitality, they are glad to have you (especially if you will take their tour!). They also offer rental watersports equipment and some of the best windsurfing in the Caribbean. Red Sail Sports also owns/operates Morritts' Tortuga Divers concession, so there are dive boats available there as well if Ocean Frontiers boats are full and can't accommodate.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Garden- In roughly the middle of the island is a 65 acres oasis of lush gardens and walking trails maintained by the Cayman Islands to preserve the indigenous species and provide habitat for native fauna as well (mostly iguanas). The Botanical Garden is open from 9AM - 6:30PM every day and charges a nominal fee for entrance. It is a great shaded walk for some exercise, and there are places to rest along the route, including a wedding gazebo overlooking a lake. The Botanical Gardens are also available for private affairs in the evenings (weddings, etc.) Bring a bottle of water for the walk and your camera. There are many species of tree-bound orchids and other Caribbean plants/flowers.

Scuba Diving- Grand Cayman consistently ranks in the top ten dive destinations in the western hemisphere. The island is safe, the corals and marine life pristine, and most of all; a well-regulated dive operator industry second to none in the world. Cathy Church (world renowned underwater photographer) makes her home here, so does Guy Harvey (artist) and many others. My preferred dive operator is Ocean Frontiers in the East End, but Red Sail (Rum Point and Morritts) do a great job too. Most important is that the island's hospital maintains (2) two recompression chambers and a dedicated professional staff who operate them. I have had two guests in 5 years that have needed to use them. Decompression sickness does happen, and even to people in great physical shape. I suggest to all my guests who plan to dive that they consider joining DAN (www.diversalertnetwork.com) . For the nominal cost they charge you, it is a great security blanket. A family membership costs only US$44.00/year and the insurance for a dive accident is only another $25.00/yr. If you need to be flown to Miami in a private jet at low altitude, it will cost close to $35,000.  The biggest contributor to decompression sickness is dehydration- usually brought on by heavy drinking the night before--so a word to the wise; if you are diving in the morning, watch yourself the night before and drink plenty of water.

Professional Photography- Not a mandatory attraction-- but I think it is worth mentioning to families who are celebrating an anniversary, wedding or reunion. There is no second chance at photography and a professional series of family shots in paradise by David Wolfe will make the memory that more cherished. David not only does all the photography for my villas, he also does all my weddings and is my only recommendation. When you consider the expense of flying a large family to the Cayman Islands for a week in a luxury villa, a professionally photographed tangible memory of the trip is a wonderful surprise for your guests. David also provides a high-resolution CD so that you can pick it up from him on the way to the airport.

Hiring a Cook, Chef or Caterer- A real treat for the person in your group who usually gets stuck preparing the meals is hiring someone on a special night to cook a dinner for your family while at the Castle. Like many things, this can be done simply or more elegantly. I have a Caymanian lady who cooks just about every week at one of my homes for my guests and I have never heard anything but praise for her. Carolyn Carter (I will provide her private number) shops for the food, arrives about 4PM, cooks, serves, clears and cleans and then leaves by about 8:30PM. Her meals are typically "Cayman Style" fish with lobster meat, plantains, rice & beans, salad and a key lime pie. She can also prepare a more simpler dish for finicky children (spaghetti usually works). You pay her for the groceries and her & her assistants time. For a family of 10, figure US$45/per and you will be close. I also have the name of a private (formally educated & very experienced) chef who will prepare a private meal on his evening off as well. This is always a much higher level of service with wait-staff as well. Because this is more expensive, it may only be truly appreciated by adult parties who want to enjoy their food and wine at leisure and not have to get behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car on a unfamiliar island and drive on the left-hand side of the road as well!