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The last time I addressed the readers of this blog, I spoke about the little known
destination of Little Rock, Arkansas. Today, I bring to you the glories and travel gem that is the
Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are a semi-autonomous dependency of the United
Kingdom, with their own parliament, laws, and culture. For reference, when I say the Cayman
Islands, I am referring to the territory as a whole, which includes three islands, Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman is the specific island that I have experience
visiting and will zero in on during this blog post, the Island of which happens to be the most
populous of the three and houses the capital city of, George Town.
For starters, Grand Cayman, features some of the best diving in the world, which I was
fortunate enough to be able to experience first hand. Specifically, The Caymans are famous for
their wall diving, as the Islands themselves are major plateaus in the ocean, and the sea floor
dives dramatically deep, just off the coastline. The wall diving allows divers to see the amazing
healthy coral reefs all at once, and this coupled with the clear water (at times, the visibility
reaches up to 100 ft.) make for a vibrant view of sea life, which is unparalleled for divers.
Next up, the sheer size of Grand Cayman as an island, offers a chance for several
different communities to be present. The largest city for the Island is the aforementioned George
Town, but otherwise major communities include West Bay, Bodden Town, Rum Point, and Gun
Bay (East End), each with their own unique atmosphere and offerings. Starting with West Bay, it
is the northern tip of the 7 mile beach area, which features most of the major resorts and beach
hotels on Grand Cayman Island. This area features the major tourist attraction of “Hell”, a
limestone formation that resembles what many envision the depths of hell to appear as, devoid of
any color and inundated with jagged black rock. To add to the appeal and capitalize on the
landscape, tourists can send a postcard home with the return address of “hell.” The area also
features residences for locals and accordingly is a great place to experience the local culture with
restaurants offering various local dishes. Bodden Town, on the south side of the Islands is much
less developed than the West Side of the Islands with George Town and West Bay. The area has
some amazing beaches offering crystal clear water and palm trees for days, plus a specifically
remarkable Croatian restaurant called, The Czech Inn Grill. Continuing up the islands you would
reach an area called Rum Point, a decently newly developed and developing area of the island
that features many upscale houses and resorts along with the famous Starfish Point where many
visitors come to have a close up encounter with the native starfish of the Island. Last, Gun Bay
which is located at the East End of Grand Cayman, this area features some of the most untouchedand pristine water and beaches of Grand Cayman and is a very relaxed area, sitting almost an
hour removed from George Town.
The last area of Grand Cayman, which deserves special mention, is George Town. This
area is very clean and offers an impressive selection of dining and shopping. Most dining options
inside the city offer incredible views of the harbour and cruise ships. The shopping options are
varied with a mix of duty free goods including jewelry, clothing, and other merchandise, the
selection may be a little too good depending on who you are traveling with!
All in all, Grand Cayman is an incredible travel destination that offers a relaxing and
tropical getaway from the States. It was especially such when I was there, as I was welcomed
back home by several inches of snow.
Trey is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028 at the University of Louisville. He studies political science.