Can we return now please???? There’s simply one thing about spring break that makes you crave sunshine, salty air, and a full week together with your favourite folks. After a protracted stretch of winter and ice storms and snow and chilly temps blended with busy schedules, we packed up the crew and headed south for every week within the Cayman Islands—and it was EXACTLY the reset all of us wanted. We had gone snowboarding final yr, so we determined it was positively time to go someplace heat + tropical this go-around!
I had been to Grand Cayman earlier than, however solely on a short go to on a household cruise years in the past… however we had heard AMAZING issues about this place and determined to attempt someplace new and add a brand new stamp to our passports, too. This journey was further particular as a result of we bought to spend it with pricey household pals which meant double the youngsters, double the laughter, and plenty of high quality time collectively. Our dwelling for the week was essentially the most unbelievable oceanfront villa in Rum Level known as Olympus, and really the setting couldn’t have been extra excellent for a laid-back island getaway the place all we needed to do was eat + drink, loosen up and unwind and spend time taking in all of the island needed to supply.
Right here’s a excessive stage play-by-play + general recap of our week in Grand Cayman because it appears lots of you might be contemplating taking a look at taking a visit there quickly, too:
Day 1 | Journey Day + Villa Life
Our alarms went off approach earlier than the solar with a 6:40AM flight out of Nashville, however the early wake-up felt price it realizing we had been headed someplace heat and we had been formally on trip. We related via Orlando earlier than touchdown in Grand Cayman simply earlier than lunchtime… there’s nothing like that first second stepping off the airplane and feeling the nice and cozy Caribbean air—it immediately flips the swap into out-of-office mode.
We headed straight to Rum Level the place we might be staying for the week, and I’m not exaggerating after I say the home took our breath away. The villa sits proper on the water with essentially the most lovely views of the reef-protected ocean, and your complete primary dwelling space opens up with floor-to-ceiling sliding doorways to an enormous terrace and pool. It was a type of houses the place indoor and out of doors dwelling mix collectively so seamlessly that you just overlook the place one ends and the opposite begins.
The children instantly claimed the pool and sandy yard as their territory whereas the adults unpacked, settled in, and took all of it in. That night we had dinner on the villa ready by Chef Carlos, and after a protracted journey day it was essentially the most enjoyable option to begin the journey. The children performed outdoors whereas we loved a sluggish dinner collectively—good meals, a lot of laughter, and the right kick-off to the week.
P.S. I can’t say sufficient nice issues about Olympus = the home is tremendous contemporary + trendy with each amenity you might think about = it’s located on the quiet a part of the island which is strictly what we had been searching for. Our home supervisor, Steve, made positive all the things was properly stocked all week and checked in with us day by day on any particular requests, and so forth.
Day 2 | Settling Into Island Time
Our first full day was deliberately sluggish, which is strictly how we like to begin a trip. We woke as much as sunshine pouring via the home windows and ocean views in each path. And naturally sizzling espresso as a result of we had hit up Kirk Market once we arrived… assume Recent Market/Complete Meals on an island = an amazing place to top off on all the things you want!!
A lot of the day was spent precisely how spring break must be spent—pool time, swimsuits all day, snacks everytime you need them, and loads of exploring across the seaside proper outdoors the home with snorkeling proper outdoors within the ocean. The children went backwards and forwards between the sand and the pool nonstop whereas we soaked up the sunshine and lounged + leisured! My favourite sort of days that don’t require a lot planning however find yourself being a few of the sweetest recollections.
That evening, we loaded up within the van [PRO TIP | rent a car as it’s easy to get around the island… just be prepared to drive on the wrong side of the road!] and headed to dinner at an area eatery Kaibo. Probably the most beautiful seaside membership restaurant with love music, unbelievable native seafood fare and nice ambiance with picturesque views for days! And Carson could have had a bit of run-in along with her favourite soccer coach, Josh Heupel = GO VOLS…
Day 3 | Island Adventures + Dinner at Tillies
One other lovely island day meant extra time outdoors having fun with the water and the sluggish tempo of trip life. We hopped within the van and determined immediately was the day to hit up a few of the most iconic and well-known snorkeling spots on the island… and after I let you know how wonderful it was, let’s simply say we swam with sea turtles, a lot of unbelievable fish and wildlife and took in some FABULOUS surroundings as properly!
PRO TIP | For nice snorkeling and public entry, try Cemetery Reef, Starfish Level, Spotts Seashore, Rum Level, Coral Gardens and Kittiwake Shipwreck!
That night we headed to Seven Mile Seashore for dinner at Tillies, and the setting was simply beautiful. Palm timber, ocean views, and the prettiest sundown made it really feel like a type of nights you wish to bottle up and maintain without end. It was enjoyable getting everybody dressed up just a bit after a day in swimsuits, and the meals was completely scrumptious!! Nice folks watching, a stellar seaside setup, fabulous drinks and meals everybody will take pleasure in…
Day 4 | All of the Island Adventures
By this level we had absolutely settled into the rhythm of the week—sluggish mornings with espresso in hand watching the dawn [my absolute favorite part of the day], lengthy afternoons outdoors [reading a great book and playing Tidal Ball], and evenings gathered across the desk.
The children had utterly claimed the yard and spent hours enjoyable by the pool, utilizing the kayaks to go out into the ocean and snorkeling proper off the shore! Certainly one of my favourite issues about the home was how simple it made all the things really feel. No schedules, no dashing—simply time collectively and catching up on loads of R&R…
Day 5 | Stingray Metropolis + Bioluminescent Bay
This was one of the crucial memorable days of your complete journey and one which I used to be personally counting right down to! We spent the morning lounging round the home… sleeping in a bit [8AM for me = and yes, that’s as late as I can sleep in on vacation] = then within the late afternoon we headed over to Kaibo Docks the place we met the crew from Loopy Crab Cayman for a non-public boat constitution. Our first cease was the well-known Stingray Metropolis sandbar within the North Sound the place you’ll be able to swim with the stingrays, and it was each bit as magical as everybody says. The water is unbelievably clear and the stingrays glide proper as much as you—it’s such a singular expertise and the youngsters had been utterly fascinated [adults too of course!!]… we LOVED having a constitution to ourselves… that approach we may take our time to swim and work together and benefit from the views with out having to really feel rushed! HIGHLY advocate our crew too…
From there, we headed to Rum Level for an al fresco dinner beachside = a good way to unwind, sip on their mango mojitos, indulge of their selfmade pizzas thar had been delish and spend a while having fun with a slower tempo earlier than our nighttime exercise…
After sundown we headed to the Bioluminescent Bay, which actually felt like one thing out of a film. Because the boat moved via the slender and shallow bay, we bought the prospect to leap in and swim with thousands and thousands of tiny plankton that lit up round us, glowing at midnight. It’s a type of pure wonders that’s exhausting to explain however completely unforgettable and one thing we are going to always remember!! Completely advocate doing each of those actions as a result of they’re tremendous household pleasant and an amazing expertise that’s distinctive to Grand Cayman.
Day 6 | Exploring + Dinner Out
Extra sunshine, extra pool time, and plenty of absorbing our previous few full days on the island.
That night we headed into George City for dinner at Grand Outdated Home, which sits proper on the water and was such a enjoyable spot for an evening out. Make sure to request a desk outdoors on the patio so you’ll be able to take within the surroundings + sundown… we additionally bought a tour of this previous plantation venue, which made it all of the extra particular! And in case you’ve bought somebody at dwelling that loves cigars, you should definitely try their grasp cigar curler that’s there every evening = such a enjoyable memento to deliver dwelling! An excellent particular and fancy dinner out with household + pals recapping so many highlights from our journey 🙂
Day 7 | One Final Island Evening
Our ultimate full day all the time sneaks up sooner than you anticipate = whish simply means it’s time to plan one other journey!! We spent the final day doing all of our favourite issues yet one more time—swimming, enjoyable outdoors, extra snorkel time by the home and absorbing each final little bit of sunshine. That night Chef Carlos returned to the villa for one more dinner at dwelling, which felt like the right option to shut out the week! Plus, there’s one thing actually particular about ending a visit gathered across the desk with the folks you’ve spent the week making recollections with.
All in all, our first time as a household in Grand Cayman was all the things we may have imagined AND extra… simple to get to with minimal journey time, the very best views + surroundings, joyful island locals who made us really feel fairly at dwelling all through our keep, beautiful lodging that we’d completely keep at once more and naturally a lot of solar, seafood and surf = we left with full hearts AND a digicam roll stuffed with recollections!
This journey was the right mixture of leisure, journey, and time with pricey pals—precisely what spring break must be! The Cayman Islands utterly stole our hearts, and one thing tells me we’ll be dreaming about these ocean views for a very long time…
