Grand Cayman Family Travel
Earlier this year we traveled as a family on a trip to the Cayman Islands. Josh pulled off the biggest surprise of our marriage by booking this vacation completely under my radar. There were some very clever “Christmas lies” involved including fake texts from the local hot tub dealership to throw me off the scent. It was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. Everything was planned, booked and better than I would have done on my own thanks to my very decisive husband who does not suffer from decision fatigue.
Josh and I went to Grand Cayman for our honeymoon eight years ago and we loved it. Film schedules have kept us busy the past few years so we hadn’t been back. Last year we had loose plans to travel internationally so I went ahead and applied for Hugo’s passport and updated ours. Team Walsh was ready to fly!
Where we Stayed: Botanica Cottages on Grand Cayman
Josh found Botanica on Airbnb and it was a perfect spot. Gorgeous little cottages, thoughtful and generous amenities, a private pool for the guests, and our own little courtyard where we spent our mornings with coffee in hand.
What we did – Grand Cayman Family Travel
- Catamaran Tour – To celebrate a very special birthday we booked a 3-stop tour with ???. We stopped at Stingray City, a sandbar with dozens of stingrays (snakes of the ocean, no thank you, I stayed on the boat, but Josh and Hugo had the time of their lives…) went snorkeling over the coral and then visited Starfish Bay. It was a great day to be out on the water and a really fun tour.
- Shopping and eating at Camana Bay – We visited here several times. Great restaurants, shopping and coffee shops.
- Beach at Kimpton Seafire – There is a public beach right next to Kimpton Seafire. I highly recommend it because it is steps away from the hotel and it’s a very easy spot for families with children. They have a great restaurant just a few steps away, Coccoloba and there is a coffee shop in the lobby of the hotel.
- Shopping in George Town – We also visited George Town several times. It is a very touristy area that can quickly be overrun with cruise ship guests, but is a fun spot to see. I bought a special Swatch watch on our honeymoon and thought that a visit to the Swatch store would be the a fun birthday gift. Hugo picked out an amazing Flik Flak watch that is perfect for learning to tell time (I need this in my size!)
Our catamaran tour.
Sunset at Palm Heights hotel. An absolutely gorgeous new hotel with an unreal aesthetic.
Swatch men. Josh’s watch. Hugo’s watch.
What we ate – Gluten Free Grand Cayman Family Travel
- Mizu at Camana Bay – We ordered sushi and gluten free fried rice. They also served gluten free soy sauce which is surprisingly hard to find.
- Island Naturals – We loved this spot! They had my favorite cup of coffee on the island, gluten free treats, açaí bowls and more. It was perfect for grabbing something healthy on our way to the beach. The creamy pumpkin soup was the surprise hit and something that I still dream about.
- Arepa 345 – OH MY GOSH! This might have been the best meal we ate on the island. A friend of ours is venezuelan and she once taught us how to make arepas at a dinner party. This is something I would love to practice making again. Arepas are naturally gluten free and made of corn, the fillings here were so fresh and delicious. We stopped here after our catamaran tour and nothing ever tasted so good!
- Ms. Piper’s Kitchen – The cutest spot! You’re going to feel like you’re in the wrong place, but just trust the process. This little cafe is located behind the Hampton Inn and is so charming! It feels very stylish and feminine and the little details everywhere are fun. We were able to order a few different gluten free items (including the cheese bread!) and took coffee with us after lunch.
- Mykonos – This must be the new hot spot because this restaurant is advertised all over the island, we ran out of meals and didn’t make it here for a meal. But we did pop in to their Bird Bakery collaborated cafe one night after dinner for ice cream and a decaf coffee.
- Jessie’s Juice Bar at Camana Bay – Amazing coffee, juice and treats!
- Casa 43 – When Josh and I honeymooned in the Caymans, friends of ours sent us here and told us to order the “trio of street corn” this ended up being one of the most memorable things we ate our entire trip. We were happy to discover that it was just as good as we remembered!
Island Naturals açaí bowl, curries and pumpkin soup.
The Brooklyn Pizza & Pasta for delicious gluten free pizza.
We stocked our little cottage with goodies from Fosters Market and I was completely hoooked on a local kombucha with butterfly pea and this muesli (on my list of things to do is to recreate at home). One of my favorite memories of this trip was my morning bowl and a steaming french press coffee in our garden.
Arepa 345 for the best meal of the trip! Clockwise is the Cheese, Beef and the Reina Pepaida which is chicken and avocado salad and their most popular item.
Tillies was our magical last night dinner on the island. Located inside the Palm Heights hotel, it is very elegant and the service was outstanding. They monitored every gluten free dish that came out of the kitchen. After watching several people order the flaming Baked Alaska we asked about dessert, they were able to make us a gluten free version and we cheered when they lit it on fire!
Paradise Pizza is also located inside of Palm Heights Hotel. The most fun pizza spot! In the spirit of full disclosure, we ordered gluten free and double checked with the server, but I am still 99% sure that the pizza we ate was full gluten because it was unbelievably good! They also serve shawarma and if youre staying local you can order delivery or takeout.
The New Yorker pizza at Paradise Pizza.
Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden
The cheeriest coffee at Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden reminding you to “live a little”.
Grand Cayman Family Travel – Tips & Tricks
- Car rental and insurance! – Our location ended up being perfect, maybe 3 minutes from the beach. Once we got used to driving on the wrong side of the road (Josh drove, I just screamed!) we were good to go after a few days. We loved popping around to different spots and exploring on our own. Do yourself a favor and get the full insurance!
- Stop by a bookstore and buy new coloring and activity books. – There is a large bookstore at Camana Bay, in anticipation of leisurely vacation meals, I bought a few coloring books, markers and some new activity books to keep Hugo busy. Having a mid-trip refresh was prefect and kept him entertained.
- Remote Beach – I had read a few recommendations to go out to Barker’s Beach. We drove out in that direction, it gets really wild, really fast! I think we found the right spot and the beach was beautiful but there was trash, a sofa, maybe tents in the woods and a very unsettling feeling. Keep to the main beaches, there is safety in numbers, and also coffee shops!
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