Exploring the Island and Feeding the Stingrays

Jeep Day, seeing the rest of the island!

This year we were feeling brave about driving on the other side of the road after our trip to the Bahamas a few years back. So we were off to rent a car to tour the rest of the island. What fun it would turn out to be!

Over the years we have seen about half of the island by taking the local busses. This year we wanted to head all the way put to the other end and se Rum Point. Along the way we would be able to hug the coast, if only we could navigate the traffic circles going in the opposite direction we are used to.

Fantastically, we were able to rent a Jeep for our sightseeing. We all loved riding around with the top down taking in the salt sea air and basking in the warm Caribbean sunshine. Not to mention that BabyJ especially loved the one off opportunity to ride in a big girl seat sans booster! (Just this once little one!)



While heading to the far end of the island we stopped at CubJ’s favourite spot, the Pirate Caves. Now these caves complete with Bats are real caves that were used by the pirates. They have been commercialised for the most part to entertain the kids, however if you ignore the ‘decorations’ they due truly provide an eerie experience! The best part was trying not to scream and run away as I saw the first bat disturbed by my camera’s flash. The Pirate caves are now run by a man who looks and sounds remarkably like our paediatrician! Instead of focusing on children’s health this man rescues and rehabilitates animals. He has created a miniature zoo with animals ranging from Freshwater Stingrays to the local Blue Cayman Iguana. The kids enjoyed watching me become a parrot perch.





After the pirate caves we headed out to Rum Point to check out the beach. While there we tried out the shallow waters on the beach, sampled the usual fare of food for lunch and rated the rum punch with high marks. One of the best parts of getting out there was driving through the local communities. The houses were often painted in bright colours including pink, coral, blue and green. There were more churches of every denomination than you could count and fantastical views of the sea.


What a wonderful way to explore!


Stingray City

This year’s new adventure was taking the kids out to feed the stingrays and snorkelling at both a coral garden and reef. This is a half day adventure begins with a boat ride out to the sand bar where you hop off the boat (slink if you are fearful of stingrays as a result of your older sister telling you that you were going to get eaten by one on your 11th birthday in the Bahamas in a shrieking voice!) and plung into the 4ft deep water.

This allows you the opportunity to see the stingrays surreally swimming by and stare mouth agape as a member of the crew gently picks one up to give you a quick biology lesson. After that if you are brave enough you can touch, hold and kiss a stingray. Kissing a stingray is said to bring you 7 years of good luck! Now that I have concurred my morbid fear of these creatures I can see them for the majestic creatures that they are. They swim with a near movement less grace that all synchronised swimmers can only aspire to.

The kids were very excited at the thought of going out to feed the stingrays after seeing a video about it before we left home. They were very excited on the boat ride out to the sand bar. Once we go there, their enthusiasm was dampened by the sight of so many stingrays and their massive size. Impressively, both bravely jumped off the boat into the water (and our waiting arms) and overcame their apprehensions to touch, hold and BabyJ even kissed the Stingray! I was so proud of them both, as I know how terrifying I used to find the stingrays.





After Stingray city we were off to the Coral Gardens and Reef for some open sea snorkelling. Again I was shocked into awe by the braveness of both kids as they got off the boat and started snorkelling! It is a completely different thing to jump into water that is two to three times as deep as you are tall in the wide open sea without a shore line in sight! Neither of the kids has been (until this year) an overwhelming lover of the water, they enjoy pools with their ledges, the beach with it’s easy proximity to the shore and clear visual of the bottom. Needless to say while the coral garden is beautiful, it was the bravery of my kids that had me in awe. (Under water pictures) It really opens your eyes to possibilities that future vacations hold! With this adventure under their belts, who knows what they will be willing to try next time.....





To wrap up our trip we spent a lovely day and a half at the beach before heading to the airport for our return flights. For the most part our flights were uneventful despite the several layers of security being added at the airports, shocked American travelers trying to adapt to new carryon policies and an increase in police presence. Luckily for us, both children have spent their lives flying under the improved security policies. Ironically, they simply accept these changes without complaint, as they seem to understand that these changes are for everyone`s security and that flying is a privilege. I wish I could have said the same about a number of the adults... lol

All in all, this was most likely our best vacation in Grand Cayman to date. We left wanting to come back, remembering why this is one of our very favourite spots in the world and having shared new experiences with the kids. It is my hope that all of you have a place you love as much as we love Cayman!