Another spectacular day on the island of Grand Cayman, so my friend Cheryl and I hopped in our rental car for an afternoon drive. Traveling from the West Bay, we headed towards our first stop, Pedro St. James, about a 30 minute journey from Seven Mile Beach.
We arrived in Bodden Town at Pedro St. James Historic Site where we parked the car and began the short trek to the attraction. Also known as Pedro’s Castle, the home had been eerily abandoned and was in its first phase of restoration. We were hoping to learn more about the history of plantation life in Grand Cayman and made the decision to explore this fabulous residence.
Dating back to the 18th century, the Great House is considered the oldest surviving structure on the island. The three-story home, reinforced by 18-inch thick stone, was owned by wealthy Englishman, William Eden. Once a working 7-acre farm, the colorful estate sits atop a limestone cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It is easy to imagine fields of yams, cassava and plantains. It was here in 1835 where Jamaican Governor Sligo read the Declaration of Emancipation, freeing the African slaves living throughout the British colonies.
We decided to explore the house and climbed to the third floor veranda to take in the beautiful view of the spectacular turquoise shoreline. As we strolled the property, we were surprised to learn that the “English Castle” was not yet open to the public. The government had just purchased the property in 1991 (we were visiting in 1997) to restore the old stone manor and its English gardens.
Today, Pedro St. James Historic Site is complete with memorabilia, antiques and period furniture. The comfortable theater presents an interactive video providing a historical account of the site. The 20-minute audio-visual runs hourly starting at 10AM with the final show beginning at 4PM. In addition to touring the estate and gardens, the attraction includes a stamp room, a hurricane Ivan memorial and a self-guided rum tour with rum tastings included.
A ten minute drive from St. Pedro are the Pirates Caves. Sitting atop a hill, it was here where buccaneers were said to have hidden their plunder in a series of caverns. A great, family-friendly attraction, grown-ups and children alike can hunt for the buried treasure of infamous pirates such as Blackbeard, Edward Low and local swashbuckler, Roy Bodden. Installed lights within the caves make the venue a more appropriate excursion for families with small children. While legend claims the loot remains within the caves, it has not yet been discovered.
Today, visitors can explore the caves on a self-guided tour. Aspiring trailblazers can don a helmet with a light attached and grab a flashlight to authenticate the experience, reveling in their adventurous fantasy. Fruit bats living in the caves and legendary ghosts said to protect the buried treasure add a level of intrigue to the quest for riches beyond belief.
Our pursuit to locate a pirate’s booty was unsuccessful, so we drove further east towards the blowholes on the southeast side of the island. We couldn’t resist the short drive to relax along the seashore and watch the waves crash along the craggy coast. We stepped out of the car, walked among the rocks and felt the salty spray misting our faces. Searching for hermit crabs and starfish, we enjoyed exploring the shallow pools before ending our day at Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant on Seven Mile Beach. With an abundance of seafood and tropical drinks, I could not imagine ending the day in a more spectacular way.
Have you visited Grand Cayman? Did you venture out past Seven Mile Beach and George Town? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my “throwback” visit to Grand Cayman and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Pedro St. James Historic Site
Pedro Castle Road
Savannah, KY1-1501
Cayman Islands
Telephone: 345 947 3329
- Admission Fee for Self Guided Tours: Adults: CI $10; Children (ages 6 – 12): CI $5 and Children (0-5): Free Admission Fee for Guided Tours: Adults: CI $15; Children (ages 6 – 12): CI $5 and Children (0-5): Free
- Hours: Open daily from 8:30AM to 5PM; closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
- Amenities: Theater, Wedding Venue, Stamp Room, Rum Tastings, Hurricane Ivan Memorial
- Guided Tours: Self-guided and guided tours available (see Admission Fee information)
- Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
- Tips for Your Visit: For a more memorable experience, book the guided tour. One of the guides is a descendant of the original owner. Although the house is open until 5PM, visitors must arrive before 4PM to view the amazing video.
Underground Pirates Caves
281 Bodden Town Road
Bodden Town, KY1-1501
Telephone: 345 929 2520
Email: cindy@piratescaves.ky or ian@piratescaves.ky
- Admission Fee: Adults: CI $15; Children (ages 0 – 11)
- Hours: Open only by reservation; contact Cindy or Ian by email or telephone
- Amenities: Gift shop, Pirates Eatery, Rescue Animals
- Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
- Tips for Your Visit: Wear tennis shoes because the caves can be slippery. Advanced reservations must be made by contacting Cindy or Ian by email or phone (provided above).
Where to Stay:
Sunshine Suites Resort
1465 Esterley Tibbetts Highway
Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1201
Telephone: 877 780 1110
Where to Eat:
Morgans Seafood Restaurant
Governors Creek Cayman Islands
Yacht Club, Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Telephone: 345 946 7049
I started with the Tomato & Mozzarella appetizer and ordered the Fresh Mixed Seafood Risotto which was absolutely divine. We ordered a bottle of Veuve Clicquot to celebrate our vacation!
What to Eat:
- Caymanian Fruit Cake: Very similar to the Christmas fruit cakes made in the US, Grand Cayman also makes its own fruit cake with local fruit soaked in rum.
- Coconut Shrimp: Grand Cayman uses fresh shaved coconut for this lovely appetizer, giving the dish an irresistible flavor.
- Conch Stew: Conch is a popular ingredient in many dishes on the island of Grand Cayman. The stew includes this sea snail cooked with tomatoes, island herbs and Cayman peppers adding some heat to the stew.
- Fish Rundown: Grand Cayman’s fish rundown is unique to the island made from chunks of local fish or salt beef, coconut milk and local spices. The stew can either contain plantain, dumplings or breadfruit, this is a seafood dish you won’t want to miss.
- Heavy Cake: Considered the national cake of the island, the heavy cake is made from cassava (tapioca) flour which comes from a root grown on the island. Based on a 200 year old recipe, the moist, dense cake is very sweet and is usually flavored with the spices cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Johnny Cakes (Fritters): Made from unleavened dough, the Johnny Cake is sweetened, baked and then fried as an outstanding appetizer.
- Mudslide: A cocktail made with vodka, coffee-flavored liqueur, and Irish cream. Often times it is topped with whipped cream from a can.
- Turtle Stew: Turtle stew, the national dish of the Cayman Islands, is a popular staple on many restaurant menus and the locals use farm raised turtles as its main ingredient. Order a side of rice and plantains to complete the experience.
What to Read:
- The Firm by John Grisham
- Founded Upon the Seas: A History of the Cayman Islands by Michael Craton
- The Cayman Islands by Hans Hanau
- Cayman Cowboys by Eric Douglas
Photo Guide for Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Crystal Caves: stalagmites and stalactites; a great place to cool off during the summer
- Rum Point: beautiful shades of blue ocean and the directional sign
- Seven Mile Beach: pristine white sand for miles
- Smith Cove: for its crystal clear water
- Stingray City: above or below water, you can capture some amazing photos of the tame, super-friendly stingrays
- Sunset over the Edge Cafe: amazing sunsets from this restaurant and bar
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