Grand Cayman - Adventure Guide to Cayman Islands - page 104

Reids Premier Tours , 345-949-6531, fax [phone]. Sightseeing

tours, shopping tours, fishing trips, snorkel trips, and more.
Rudy ' s Travellers Transport , West Bay, 345-949-3208, fax 345-949-

1155. Rudy Powery, president of the Bird Club, leads guided birding tours
as well as sightseeing trips.
Silver Thatch Excursions , 345-945-6588, fax [phone]. This

company specializes in the cultural and natural history of the area. George
Town tours include A Walk Back In History, a walking tour to the region's
most historic sites. Birding and nature tours also available. Hotel pickup
and return, drink, and a snack (sandwich and traditional Caymanian
pastries) are included.
Tropicana Tours Ltd. , 345-949-0944, fax [phone]. Sightseeing

and watersports.
Vernon ' s Sightseeing Tours , 345-949-1509, fax [phone]. Sight-

seeing tours, dinner transfers, shopping tours, fishing trips and more
offered.

George Town

For most vacationers, a visit to George Town marks the beginning and end
of their stay. This capital city is home of both the international airport and
the cruise terminal, so a majority of the 1.3 million visitors spend at least
some time here.
The capital is the social and economic hub of the islands, home to over half
the 30,000 residents of Grand Cayman and the base for most of the busi-
ness and government activity. Don't look for a bustling city, however;
George Town is still very much an island community; you'll feel at home
strolling the streets, eating at a seaside diner, and enjoying watersports
just as you would in the resort areas of Seven Mile Beach.
Once, this community was known as The Hogsties . Today, it's a major fi-
nancial center that ranks right up there with Zurich and Tokyo. Modern,
clean, and efficient, this capital city hasn't forgotten its historic roots, how-
ever. Just off Hog Sty Bay, historic homes, churches, and other structures
are now part of a self-guided walking tour designed by the National Trust.
Much of the activity in George Town takes place along North and South
Church Streets , which run parallel to the shoreline. These roads face out
to George Town Harbour and are lined with duty-free shops, restaurants,
and tourist-oriented businesses. The intersection where South Church
Street forks right onto Shedden Road or continues onto North Church
Street (adjacent to the cruise ship terminal), is the heart of town.
East of the shoreline, government buildings and banking centers carry on
the work of the Cayman Islands, helping the nation hold its spot as one of