Families and Kids in the Cayman Islands

Bringing the kids along on vacation might seem like an adventure in itself, but in the Cayman Islands it's an easy task.

The island has many family-friendly accommodations that make children welcome. Condominium units generally accommodate four to eight people and usually include televisions with VCRs as well as full kitchens...to cut back on dining costs and to satisfy picky eaters.

The low crime rate in the Caymans Islands also makes this a top destination for families. Here's a sampling of activities for family travelers:

Cayman Turtle Farm: Children of all ages delight to the tiny newborn turtles and the massive breeders. Kids enjoy picking up turtles in the special tanks (don't forget your camera!) and school age children find the trip and education.

Snuba: Good for children eight years and older, this tethered scuba experience is a great way to introduce youngsters to the sport of scuba diving.

Scuba resort courses: Children age 12 and up can take a resort course in the swimming pool for an introduction followed by a shallow water dive.

Glass-bottom boat ride: Families with children of all ages enjoy the Seaworld Explorer, a semi- submersible that gives you a peek into the undersea world.

Atlantis Submarine: Submerging up to a depth of 100 feet, this submarine is good for children but not recommended for those that might be prone to tantrums or fits in enclosed situations (there's no taking unruly kids out of this attraction).

Jolly Roger pirate ship: The kids will love a two-hour cruise aboard this replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon.

Pirate Cave, Bodden Town: Take a look at indigenous Cayman animals, the agouti and a parrot, before heading down to the cave. Pretend you're a pirate in the damp, dark recesses or on the lookout for pirate treasure.

Watersports on Seven Mile Beach and Rum Point: The youngest kids just enjoy splashing in the gentle surf of digging in the sand, older children can ride the banana boat, try their luck on a windsurfer, or snorkel in the clear waters.

Cardinal D's Park, George Town: This small zoo gives youngsters a look at the Cayman parrot, blue iguana, agouti, whistling ducds, and turtles. A petting zoo is popular with young visitors.

Bodden Town - Caymans First Capital originally called 'South Side', the name Bodden Town appears to have first been used in 1773 when a visiting British navy surveyor, noting the predominance of families with the name 'Bodden' remarked: At this time there are 21(families) at the South Side, which we have called Bodden Town.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park - You see a wide variety of plants, birds and small animals, and you might just see including the agouti (often referred to as the Cayman rabbit) and the indigenous blue iguana.

Stingray City - Take the family on a snorkeling trip to Stingray city, known around the world as the greatest 12' dive site. Whether you dive or snorkel or just stand on the deck of the boat, it's a one of a kind experience. Children and adults delight in the interaction between these amazing creatures. Can you imagine frolicking with 20 or 30 Southern Stingrays just like a litter of playful puppies?

Been to Hell? - Well if your going to Grand Cayman you can. Take the family over to Hell, Grand Cayman located near West Bay. This unique site features ancient rock formations that have created a barron and haunting landscape appropiatly named 'Hell'. Hell's intriguing formation, which resembles the charred remains of a hell fire, is weathered from rock called ironshore. Common around the island, but in less dramatic form, ironshore has been estimated at 1.5 million years old. The formation, which looks like volcanic rock, is actually made up of very hard limestone, at one time snow white, now blackened by a surface coating of the algae which are secreting acid and eroding the rock into these unusual shapes. A sturdy boardwalk was established to provide a better access to the rock formation. It's worth a trip...

Be sure to send a postcard from the local post office and it will be postmarked: Hell, Grand Cayman!