Visit the Turtle Farm at Boatswain's Beach.
The silver lining of the devastation of Cayman Turtle Farm during Hurricane Michelle in November 2001 is the massive re-development of the turtle farm.  Boatswain's Beach is an ambitious, multi-million dollar project covering 20 acres, located across the road from the old Turtle Farm.  This premeire attraction incorporates fresh and salt water swimming lagoons, predator tanks, aviaries, a nature trail, fresh-water pond and traditional Cayman-style architecture. Boatswain's Beach has been marketed as a showcase for Cayman's culture, functioning both as a farm and research center, as well as an attraction where, rather than making a brief visit, people will want to spend the day.

Grand Cayman's Garden of Eden
For nature lovers, a visit to Cayman's 65-acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is often the highlight of their vacation. Bewitching in its range of unusual flora and fauna, the park houses majestic native trees with sprawling canopies, spectacular orchids, wetlands and a lake, a heritage garden, woodland trail, floral color garden, iguanas, aquatic birds and more.

Walk through history Pedro St James, known locally as Pedro's Castle, is a landmark whose story bears all the elements of a Hollywood epic: the wrath of nature (fires, hurricanes and deadly lightning) loom large in the house's history. alongside human dramas which lie behind the old belief that the house was haunted. Built as a family home in 1780 by Englishman William Eden and used as a central meeting place, Pedro St James is where the island's first tentative steps towards democracy were taken at a time when the total population was about 2,000 people, including slaves whose emancipation was on the horizon.

The pride with which Caymanians view their history is reflected in the meticulous restoration of Pedro St James by the government when it acquired the property in 1991. In Savannah, about 15 minutes' drive along the coast, east from George Town, Pedro St James is built on seven acres of cliff-land and offers visitors an opportunity to experience something of the political and cultural history of these islands, in an intimate, authentic and picturesque setting. Well worth a visit.
An early morning visit will reward you with colors and views unlike those on offer as the sun sets; in spring, the park is dressed in shades very different from nature's winter palette. As you progress through the various displays, you will also note how the habitats change, depending on the elevation of the land, its soil type and other whims of nature. The woodland trail, a leisurely 35-minute walk, takes in a variety of habitats and showcases about half of Grand Cayman's native plants. (For those unable to walk, the park offers the use of a golf cart.) Be sure, too, to visit the traditional Cayman home with its sand yard featuring conch shells, its medicinal garden and vegetable patch. The park is open daily.

A different view
If sight seeing is what you prefer, you could opt for a more down-to-earth experience of our islands by renting a scooter, soft-top jeep, convertible or minivan. Horse riding is the best way to get off the beaten track: saddle up and head off on horseback, though natural woodland or along a beach. Nicki Eldermire takes pride in her happy, healthy and loved horses. Call her at  (345) 945-5839 or cell  (345) 916-3530.

Reviving history
The 19th Century Old Courts building at Hog Sty Bay, which has played a prominent role in the history of Cayman for more than 150 years, now houses the Cayman Islands National Museum. Spending an hour here will be a great introduction to our islands' natural and cultural history. An up-to-the-minute multimedia presentation complements intriguing features such as the 3-D bathymetric model showing the undersea ridges and canyons which surround Cayman. Local art and cultural artefacts enhance the museum's entertaining and informative presentation of Cayman's history. Open Monday to Friday; half-day on Saturday.

Take a hike! The Mastic Trail, a three-hour walk along a traditional pathway through virgin woodland, offers a complete change of scenery for the adventurous. Rocky and uneven, the trail is more than two miles long and connects the Black Mangrove wetland to the sunny meadows of North Side. Passing through a variety of ecosystems and habitats, alive with birdsong and the rustling of crabs, lizards and other wildlife, the trail was reopened by the Cayman National Trust 10 years ago. You can choose to take a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour, using a pocket trail guide produced by the National Trust. This is recommended reading: it points out seasonal changes on the trail; poisonous plants to avoid; information about the traditional uses of many of the plants and background info about the ecosystems through which you will pass. Bring mosquito repellent and a bottle of water... and take a walk into another world. To book a guided tour or to purchase a trail guide, call the National Trust  (345) 949-0121.

Sightseeing Tours Off the tourist trail, you'll find unexpected treasures. Hire a scooter or open-top jeep for the day and take yourself into the heart of Grand Cayman's districts. In West Bay, as well as visiting Cayman Turtle Farm and Hell, be sure to see the picturesque samples of traditional architecture which still stand, alongside modern mansions, particularly on roads such as Boggy Sand Road. Back in George Town, take North Sound Road to drive past the conch shell house which is built from more than 4,000 conch shells. You might also like to do the walking tour of George Town, devised by The National Trust, which highlights the center's historical buildings such as Fort George which dates back to 1790.

Heading towards East End, take South Sound Road and, at the intersection with Walkers Road, look out for the distinctive former home of intuitive artist, Gladwyn Bush, known to all as Miss Lassie. Regarded as one of the most influential artists in this genre in the region, Miss Lassie covered the exterior walls of her old cottage with her art.

Nearing East End along the coast road, look out for the blowholes where seawater is forced through holes in the ironshore to create natural geyser-like fountains. In East End, you'll also see evidence of old shipwrecks which dot the coastline. Maritime historians will be particularly interested in the Wreck of the Ten Sails Park in East End which marks a wreckage in 1794, the worst maritime calamity in Cayman's history.

North Side is pervaded by a sense of remote, away-from-it-all charm. Geographically cut off from the rest of the island in the early years, North Siders learned a self-sufficiency and resilience that still characterises their district. Look out for some idiosyncratic gift stores and, en route to the charms of Rum Point and Cayman Kat seek out unusual souvenirs at Caribbean Charlie's workshop.

In memory... The bronze memorial, titled Tradition, situated on the George Town waterfront at Fort George, pays tribute to the almost 500 Caymanians who have lost their lives at sea. Motivated by dive industry pioneer Bob Soto who worked on the project with his wife, Suzy, and daughter-in-law, Leslie Bergstrom, the memorial, by Canadian sculptor Simon Morris, was unveiled in 2003 by Prince Edward, son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Also commemorating Cayman's maritime heritage, a specially-devised trail has been added to Cayman's land-based attractions. Shore-side signs around the islands tell of the tempests and tragedies which have shaped our history. Brochures and posters detailing the maritime heritage trail are also available.

Hang loose at Rum Point! Swinging slowly in a hammock strung between tall shady trees, gentle breezes blowing, waves lapping the sandy shore... it doesn't get much better than this! A visit to Rum Point (named after barrels of rum that were washed ashore after a shipwreck many years ago) is the quintessential Caribbean experience.  The Wreck Bar serves tantalizing cocktails plus tempting lunches on the beach.  Getting to Rum Point is simple: Driving by car from the Seven Mile Beach area takes about 45 minutes.

Reserve your car rental in advance to avoid high "walkin rates" at the rental counter.   

Go To Hell... If anything like the scorched, jagged ironshore near the village of Hell lies in store for the world's wicked, then a glimpse of these 1.5 million year old rocks in West Bay ought to be enough to keep all who visit on the straight and narrow... Send a postcard complete with a postmark from Hell, a hellish way to bring a smile to friends back home!

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