Looking for a quick escape to a paradise of clear turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and picture-perfect weather? Leave Thursday morning at 7 a.m. on JetBlue from JFK International Airport and arrive about three hours later in George Town, capital of the Cayman Islands.
Have seafood pasta or grilled fish for lunch at Luca (luca.ky), a waterfront restaurant inside the Caribbean Club boutique hotel.
Check into the Marriott Grand Cayman Beach Resort (from $524; marriottgrandcayman.com). on the famed Seven Mile Beach (which is actually 5 1/2 miles long); some rooms have balconies offering great views of the Caribbean and its striking sunsets.
Head to an early dinner at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (michaelsgenuine.com). Chef-owner Michael Schwartz, a James Beard Award winner who’s beloved in Miami, offers up a creative menu including crispy, sweet-and-spicy pork belly with kimchee and crushed peanuts. And don’t skip the desserts from pastry wizard Hedy Goldsmith.
You’ll still have time for another nocturnal adventure: the Atlantis Submarine Night Dive (800-887-8571) is great for observing the natural colors of the coral reefs on the ocean bottom, as well as predatory fish, such as silver tarpons.
In the morning, get picked up for Captain Marvin’s Stingray City excursion (captainmarvins.com). Don’t forget the suntan lotion and remember to take off your shoes — they are not permitted in the ocean because the rays could get injured. The rays are extremely friendly and you can touch them — but not their tails, of course. Many people liken their skin to velvet. They don’t have teeth, but one might playfully take one of your fingers in its mouth. If you’re bold, offer up a kiss!
Next, it’s off to the Cayman Turtle Farm (turtle.ky). These aren’t the small pet-store turtles to which you’re accustomed: Adult turtles here range from more than 100 pounds all the way up to an astounding 579 pounds — the weight of Sparky, a female green-sea turtle.
Check out the farm’s Aviary Center to view the baby Grand Cayman Amazon parrot, the national bird. Watch the American white ibis and scarlet ibises feed themselves from glass tubes.
Enjoy your closing dinner at the Grand Old House (grandoldhouse.com), which features a spectacular setting overlooking the beach. Treat yourself to a glass of Armagnac Castarède 1888. Live music heightens the experience.
In the morning, go shopping for T-shirts before you catch your JetBlue flight at noon on Saturday. If you’re sad to leave, just remember that it’s all only about three hours away from home.
More information at caymanislands.ky.
Chefs’ Special
The fifth annual Cayman Cookout (caymancookout.com) will be held Jan. 17 to 20 at the Ritz-Carlton. Host chef Eric Ripert welcomes other industry superstars like José Andrés, Paul Bartolotta, Anthony Bourdain and Spike Mendelsohn. Then celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival on Jan. 26 (tasteofcayman.org). Held on the waterfront at Camana Bay’s Festival Green, the “grassroots celebration” showcases the specialties of more than 30 local restaurants.