5 Best Sights in George Town, Cayman Islands

Built in 1833, the historically significant clapboard home of the national museum has had several different incarnations over the years, serving as courthouse, jail, post office, and dance hall. It features an ongoing archaeological excavation of the Old Gaol and excellent 3-D bathymetric displays, murals, dioramas, and videos that illustrate local geology, flora and fauna, and island history. The first floor focuses on natural history, including a microcosm of Cayman ecosystems, from beaches to dry woodlands and swamps, and offers such interactive elements as a simulated sub. Upstairs, the cultural exhibit features renovated murals, video history reenactments, and 3-D back panels in display cases holding thousands of artifacts ranging from a 14-foot catboat with animatronic captain to old coins and rare documents. These paint a portrait of daily life and past industries, such as shipbuilding and turtling, and stress Caymanians' resilience when they had little contact with the outside world. There are also temporary exhibits focusing on aspects of Caymanian culture, a local art collection, and interactive displays for kids.

This office provides a map of historic and natural attractions, books and guides to Cayman, and information on its website about everything from iguanas to schoolhouses. The expanded gift shop provides one-stop shopping for souvenirs, from hair clips to logwood carvings and coconut soaps, all made on the island. Regularly scheduled activities range from boat tours through the forests of the Central Mangrove Wetlands to cooking classes with local chefs and morning walking tours of historic George Town. The office is walkable from George Town, but be aware that it's a 20-minute hike from downtown, often in the heat.

South of the Grand Old House, this tiny but popular protected swimming and snorkeling spot makes a wonderful beach wedding location. The bottom drops off quickly enough to allow you to swim and play close to shore. Although slightly rocky (its pitted limestone boulders resemble Moore sculptures), there's little debris and few coral heads, plenty of shade, picnic tables, restrooms, and parking. Surfers will find decent swells just to the south. Note the curious obelisk cenotaph "in memory of James Samuel Webster and his wife Arabella Antoinette (née Eden)," with assorted quotes from Confucius to John Donne. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

On weekends families often barbecue at this idyllic spot caught between ironshore cliffs and a barrier reef (with fine snorkeling). You might even see some wild turtles swimming here. Follow South Church Street through the South Sound past Red Bay; at a little cemetery there's a turnoff to the beach with a car park. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; walking.

Sitting pretty along the South Sound, Surfer's Beach lures surfers and skimboarders to its occasional herculean waves and soft shoreline. Perfectly positioned for swell when there's a cold front, it's usually deserted and quiet, adding to its undeniable allure. This pristine coastline is ideal for watching adrenaline junkies ride the waves, sunbathing in solitude, and, at the end of the day, watching the sun dipping into the turquoise-streaked sea. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: solitude, sunset, surfing.