Short of heading off to the Sister Islands, the furthest one can get away from the daily grind on Grand Cayman is to head east.
Once past Bodden Town, the pace seems to slow somewhat, and by the time you hit East End, you could well imagine yourself being on a tropical island paradise, one that does not play host to your office.
A regular stop for those looking to take a staycation out east is the Reef Resort, with its oceanfront rooms looking out on a stretch of beach and ocean just perfect for long walks, snorkelling, or any of a selection of watersports available on site.
The beach is wonderfully quiet, being far away from the usual Seven Mile Beach crowds. Just how quiet? Well, according to Sarah Jane Whitehill at the Reef, the resort had eight turtles nest on their beach last year, and work closely with the Department of Environment to help and inform guests on how to make sure the turtles reach the ocean safely.
Apart from the quiet of the beach, one of the standout features of the Reef is the excellent beach bar, which is the perfect place to kick back with a mudslide or any other frosty tropical beverage for that matter.
During the summer season, there are some excellent staycation specials to be had, making a weekend ‘away’ well worth the drive out to East End. Of course, with The Reef serving as a base of operations, it gives you a great opportunity to sample some of the restaurants that might otherwise be ‘a bit of a drive’, what most folks on Grand Cayman consider anything over seven miles away.
Another option is to rent a villa, with many options available in the Kaibo area with ‘snowbird’ owners visiting only during the northern winter, making summer a great (and affordable) time to see how the other side lives. This is an especially good option when you have family or friends visiting as well, as many of the villas on offer can accommodate relatively larger groups of people.
One of the most unique restaurants in the Eastern Districts has to be Tukka. This ‘native fusion’ restaurant serves up a unique selection of dishes, combining the best of Cayman with some very special offering from Chef Ron Hargraves’ country of origin, Australia.
Where else in Cayman can you have kangaroo fillet mignon? However, there are a lot more traditional dishes as well for those who are not quite as adventurous when it comes to what they put in their mouth. Another unique experience, and a perfect fit with a weekend staycation in East End, is to stop in for Tukka’s Sunday brunch.
From 11.30am to 3pm, diners get to choose from a wide selection of breakfast items, a carving station, soup, salads, dessert, and of course a delicious barbecue as well. Combined with sparkling views of the famous Wreck of the Ten Sails, it truly is a brunch to remember.
However, note that the restaurant will be closed from 5 September to 7 October, so factor that into your planning. However, don’t despair, even if you happen to have a staycation planned when Tukka will be closed, there are numerous other eateries well worth a visit. A short drive away in Rum Point you can find the Rum Point Club Restaurant, which offers a great menu in one of the most popular getaway location on the island.
However, you don’t have to wait for a staycation to experience dinner at Rum Point, as Red Sail Sports offers a complementary catamaran transfer from Safehaven to the restaurant and back on selected evenings with a dinner booking. Just up the road from that, Kaibo Upstairs offers fine dining in a beautiful location overlooking the calm waters off Kaibo.
A new option, and a very convenient one for those staying at The Reef Resort is The Italian Kitchen, which is located in the Morritts Shopping Centre just across the road from the resort.
Rum Point and Kaibo both offer extensive watersports options as well, and while Rum Point may get rather busy over the weekends, if you can sneak away for a weekday staycation, it is a much more relaxing location. The whole character of the area is also different early in the morning, so a pre-breakfast stroll on the beach at Rum Point is a rare treat. WH
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