Entertainment Guide to Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac may be a sister island to the bigger Grand Cayman, but that doesn't mean you'll have a hard time finding something to keep you entertained. This beautiful little island has some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the world, miles of white sand beaches with crystal clear turquoise water and a few notable night spots to make the hours when the island sun isn't around a little more enjoyable.

Step into a pair of fins and get ready to discover the wonders of what lies beneath at Reef Divers Brac Reef Beach Resort. Whether you're a beginner or have gone on hundreds of dives, this dive resort will make your trip an experience to remember. The Carib Sands Beach Resort also runs a dive operation.

If you feel yourself getting a little waterlogged there are a number of activities that take place on dry land. Walk through the doors of the Cayman Brac Museum, and step into a different time in the island's history. The museum preserves some of the pinnacle moments and artifacts that give the island its rich history. Learn about Cayman Brac's turtling and ship-building industries, as well as the hurricanes and tropical storms that threatened the tiny island's existence.

If you're a morning person, make the early rise and head over to the Brac Parrot Reserve, where the parrots and migratory birds that make the ancient trees their homes tend to be a little noisy right before the sun comes up.

When the sun goes down on Cayman Brac the volume on the jukebox at the local restaurants and bars tend to go up. Locals and tourists alike put on their best pair of flip-flops and make their way to Aunt Sha's Kitchen on the weekends to get in a festive island mood. Get your fill of delicious jerk and barbeque chicken at La Esperanza, and dance seaside to the music of the island band.

If you find yourself tired after a long dive or the night out before, utilize Cayman Brac's greatest resource and plop down on the white sandy shores to take in the beautiful Caribbean sunshine.

Just a short plane ride away, the island of Grand Cayman provides even more island entertainment.

Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is a formation of a high lying limestone reef, which has no fresh water source whatsoever on the island. The lack of rivers and lakes may seem like a disadvantage, but the non-existence of fresh water is responsible for the crystal clear ocean that surrounds the island. This, of course, is what makes Grand Cayman a favorite destination for divers. The island is literally covered with world class dive walls and reefs, and more than enough dive schools to choose from. The oldest established dive school on the island is Peter Milburn's Dive Cayman, which offers years of diving experience to ensure that your dive, whether it's your first of fiftieth, is unsurpassed. If you're looking for the full on diving experience, you can stay at one of the islands' specialized accommodations such as the Compass Point Dive Resort, which offers secluded beaches with emphasis on adventure.

Dry yourself off and take a break from the beach as you discover Grand Caymans' historical side. The island is home to the St. James Historic Site, a 19th-centurey plantation that has been restored and well kept to preserve a part of the island that existed many years ago. A look into the history of the island continues at the Cayman Islands National Museum. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of the wonderful heritage of Grand Cayman, so that present and future inhabitants and visitors can appreciate its rich history. The museum's collection spans over 4,000 artifacts which includes the tiny pieces of the past such as gold coins, all the way to a 14-foot catboat.

As one would imagine, there is a great presence of wildlife throughout the island, and the local Caymans place a good deal of importance on the preservation of these creatures. Grand Cayman is home to the world's only Green Sea turtle farm, Boatswain's Beach Turtle Farm. Every year thousands of tourists make this aquatic nursery one of their vacation destinations when visiting Grand Cayman. The Green Sea turtle is so important to the people and culture of Grand Cayman that its image appears on the island's currency, flag and crest.

Even the smallest of animals are not forgotten by the people of Grand Cayman. You'll notice this when you step into the lush tropical sanctuary at the Butterfly Farm, which houses hundreds of species of butterflies. Providing great opportunities for rare photographs, the Butterfly Farm is a one of a kind experience for people of all ages.

Although Grand Cayman is only 196 square kilometers, it can still be a challenge to navigate through all the activities that the island has to offer and get the most out of your visit. Luckily, the island is in no short supply of tour options to ensure that you get to experience Grand Cayman to it's fullest. For a birds eye view of the island and it's surrounding waters, look into the Cayman Island Helicopter Tours, which will take you high above for a "Grand" Cayman time. If you feel the only time to experience the island from above is when you're either landing or taking off on a plane, then stick to a tour that brings you a little more down to earth. Mainstay Sailing offers one of the best ways to see the island; from the ocean. Hop aboard and set sail for the tropic waters that surround Grand Cayman, taking in the island experience by sailing around it.

The warm Caribbean sun may be one of the biggest draws to the island, but when that sun sets and the stars begin to twinkle above the island, Grand Cayman goes into island party mode. Matrix is one of Grand Cayman's most popular nightclubs, with lively music and tropical liquid concoctions keeping the dance floor busy throughout the night. Raise the bar of clubbing as you enter The Next Level, Grand Cayman's chicest nightclub and lounge. Top of the line sound and lighting systems make this a high tier club experience, offering a variety of entertainment throughout the week. Separate lounge areas allow the atmosphere to shift gears (if that's what you want) into a more low key spot for relaxing and socializing.

When it's all said and done, no one entertains better than mother nature. So grab a towel and a sandy piece of beach and get yourself into the island state of mind.