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Brac through the Eyes of the Brackers
The people of Cayman Brac, known as "Brackers", are a proud breed. Their home is a special place and they know it. And, luckily for travelers, they are more than happy to share their experiences with anyone bold enough to ask. The first stop on this tour must undoubtedly be Cayman Brac Museum, a locally run ode to this beloved and storied isle. The museum paints a comprehensive picture the life and times of place and its people. The knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff will guide you through the story of their home, teaching you about everything from everyday life to ship building, and from Brac's turtle-centric economy to historical events both cheery and catastrophic. Note that this is the oldest museum in all of the Cayman Islands.
A short drive west, from Stake Bay to the West End, will land you at the next stop. A well-timed visit to Brac Trust House might afford one the opportunity to partake in a guided walking tour, an invaluable way to see the sights. In addition to the main attractions, you'll get a window into the little details and behind-the-scenes community action, all of which will give you a more solid idea of the bigger picture. You'll walk away feeling you truly know Cayman Brac.
When the tour ends, amble over to Aunt Sha's Kitchen, also located in the West End. Many a chowhound will tell you that the only way to truly know a place is to eat its food. And not the high-end contemporary-fusion jobs angling for the tourist dollar, but rather the little down-home shacks favored by local working stiffs. Aunt Sha's is just that. End your tour here, and over plates of conch fritters, you can revel in the no-frills charm and the friendly neighborhood camaraderie. This is Cayman Brac.
Get Bluffed
Cayman Brac is quite famous for its astonishing natural beauty. Nature lovers tend to eschew the other Caymans, opting for Brac's less-touristed frontiers. That said, resorts are cropping up at a somewhat steady rate, all along the coast. Thankfully the Bluff, the stunning geological outcropping from which Cayman Brac takes its name, has been protected in a number of ways so that locals and travelers of all ages can continue to enjoy the singular spectacles available only on this lovely island paradise. Destination numero uno is Brac Parrot Reserve, located high atop the bluff. Here, you'll come face-to-face not only with parrots but also a great number of other exotic birds and wildlife, as well as intriguing trees and shrubbery not found on any of the other Caymans.
The Parrot Reserve's most well-known blufftop neighbor is Christopher Columbus Gardens, a beautifully manicured park full of native flora and fauna and unbelievable panoramic views of the island and the sea. It is also home to a gazebo, a system of boardwalks and a number of stone memorials, though careful consideration was undertaken to ensure they complement the natural surroundings rather than encroach upon them. Sit awhile, in the shade of the trees, and take pleasure in the heavenly views. You'll appreciate life on Earth perhaps more than ever before. Who knew a bluff could be packed with so much fundamental truth?
Clearly, there is plenty of touring to be done here on Cayman Brac, but remember that, if you find yourself looking for more things to do, take a quick trip over to Grand Cayman, home of tons more tour-style adventures:
While Grand Cayman is very similar to its sister islands, it has one rather distinguishing feature that sets it apart: size. There’s enough variety on Grand Cayman to make a tour of the island entirely worthwhile, but there's also just enough space that you probably won’t want to try walking. For transportation, a rented bike, car or taxi will quickly get you from one spot to another.
George Town and Seven Mile Beach
Most people who come to Grand Cayman end up staying along the strip of Seven Mile Beach, just two miles west of the airport. Despite being only five miles in length it has by far the greatest concentration of resorts and hotels on the island, bordered by George Town to the south and West Bay to the north.
Start off your tour in George Town. If you get here early enough you’ll find the town quiet and peaceful, the storefronts still closed and the very water off the cruise docks seemingly sleepy and tranquil. A little later, the duty-free shops open up and the shoppers come out. You can enjoy the shopping and cafes, or, if your interests run more to the academic, stop in at the Cayman Islands National Museum. Be forewarned, though: George Town is Grand Cayman’s docking point for cruise ships, so if you happen to get caught there when one is passing through, you might be in for more of a crowd than you bargained.
There’s no reason to stay in the town for too long, so when you’re done, walk out to the docks and head north until you hit the sand. This is Seven Mile Beach. It’s reputedly one of the most beautiful in the world, but it’s up to you to decide whether its coral sands and cerulean seas are part of your makeup of Paradise.
West Bay
If Seven Mile Beach fails to entice you with beach towels and breezes, keep going north; when you’re tired of walking, a quick taxi ride along West Bay Road will get you past the beach to West Bay in no time. This area is home to several dive tour operators, most notably the small boats that launch off the eastern side of the peninsula to visit Stingray City. If you’re not a diver, don’t worry; you can snorkel too, making this a can’t-miss Grand Cayman destination.
Boatswain's Beach is on the western side of the peninsula, and makes for a few hours of entertainment. A large Turtle Farm near the beach allows you to see and even touch turtles, both tiny and titanic, as well as other Caribbean wildlife. A noted tourist trap, Hell, is also located in the center of this part of the island.
Bodden Town and North Side
The area stretching from George Town to West Bay provides plenty of diversions, and it’s all that most visitors ever see of the island. For the more adventurous, though, there’s much more in store.
Bodden Town is the birthplace of democracy in Grand Cayman’s old capital; a tale told by the restored Pedro St. James Historic Site. A network of sea caves is also rumored to exist beneath the town, although their entrances mostly collapsed during storms over the years. Some still exist however, and any of the locals can point you toward them. The local soccer team also makes its home here.
Head north and you’ll reach, guess what – North Side! The main draw here is a rival to Seven Mile Beach called Rum Point. Far less crowded but arguably just as beautiful, the beach at Rum Point will be a siren-call for those who prefer seclusion.
East End
The East End of Grand Cayman is often ignored by everyone except for diving enthusiasts. With few options for accommodation or dining and an utter dearth of shopping, it just isn’t everyone’s scene.
Before you head all the way out to the eastern beaches, stop at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. This park offers miles of hiking trails and can give you a good idea of what island life is like away from the ocean. Hike here for a while, and you’ll start to spot some of the unique wildlife that makes this island home, including the Cayman parrot.
Further on and farther away from the hustle and bustle of the island’s tourist centers, the East End shoreline is the last retreat on Grand Cayman for lovers of peace and quiet. It’s not exactly undeveloped, but scattered houses and sweeping beach and ocean vistas are the norm out here. If you’re in the area, stop in at Castro's Hideaway to meet some of the island’s quirky characters, and enjoy a good meal, to boot.
Offshore
No, this last section isn’t about how to scam foreign investors while you’re in Grand Cayman. It’s about the one thing conspicuously missing from this tour – diving! While some opt to become beach bunnies seemingly rooted to the sand during their stay, others who visit Grand Cayman could, believe it or not, care less about the beach. Here, they come for the water.
For this tour, however, you’ll need a tour operator, complete with a boat (sorry, ours can’t make it). Every side of Grand Cayman has its own undersea attractions. While Stingray City has been mentioned, true diving aficionados will demand far more. In general, the island offers diving off the North, West and South Walls, and also from the East End. Different tour operators cover different sections of the water, so if you want to dive at a particular site, just ask, and they’ll either ferry you out, or refer you to someone who can.
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