There was a time when the Cayman Islands were lost in Jamaica's shadow but, little by little, travelers discovered the pleasures of its scuba diving, which outclasses that of just about any other island, and the warm welcoming islanders that make you feel like part of their family. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman make up this British colony. George Town, in Grand Cayman, is the capital, serving mostly as a business center that borders a protected harbor popular with cruise ship passengers pouring in for top-notch duty-free shopping. The National Museum occupies one of the few remaining 19th-century buildings, and chronicles the natural and seafaring history of the Caymans.

This is not a party island, and the happiest visitors are those looking for peace and quiet, wishing to exert themselves with little more than water activities and shopping. Resorts and hotels line the cool, white sands of Seven Mile Beach, which is a popular spot where many visitors wind down after a morning of excursions. Originally named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) by Columbus when he sailed past and saw the sea alive with turtles, the Caymans are still rich with marine life, thanks to a mostly undisturbed environment and strict protection laws. Though suburban life and conveniences have settled comfortably into the Grand Caymans, you still find the simple life complete with a rooster that crows the town to life each morning!