The Incredible Silver Sands Seaside Pool!

During the low season Silver Sands takes the opportunity to make improvements to the condos and the grounds. This year we did the tennis courts and the pool! Oasis Pools did a fantastic job revamping the whole pool and specifically, putting in the extended step so there is a large shallow area making a safe comfortable place for kids or a nice lounge area for lazy adults. 

Thanks to one of our owners Karen, who was here during the entire process, she got a step by step photo tour of the pool redo.

Once they started gutting the pool they realized there was a huge crack down the center, so once they stitched that up, they could move onto the rest... the extended steps and the new tiles!

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to get our pool looking beautiful again!

And presto! We have out new and improved pool back, can't wait to take a dip myself!

Photography by:

Heather Holt Photography

Karen Shearer

Silver Sands News Summer/Fall 2015

French, Fish and First Class Views: Not to Miss Venues to Get Your Fill

Introducing a few new Grand Cayman restaurants in 2015. In no particular order they all offer a pleasant dining atmosphere whilst delivering you culinary delight.

Morgan's
Some of you might remember the restaurant Morgans, that used to be up at Morgan's Harbor, well this is the new and improved Morgans! With a view equal to the old venue, the new restaurant is bigger, with a more diverse menu, and sits at the water's edge at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club. From fresh caught seafood, to chicken Schnitzel, you are sure to find a delicious dish on the menu.

Photo credit: Stephen Maciolek and Morgan's

Catch
The venue that USED to be Morgan's... is now Catch! I know it is only slightly confusing but not to worry either one you choose you can't go wrong. Catch also has super fresh seafood, the owners have certainly achieved their goal to serve only the freshest catch... and with the view of the quaint Morgan's Harbor and the North Sound, you can't go wrong. 

Photo Credit: Catch

The Bistro

In the mood for something slightly different than seaside dining? Try this new French restaurant in the heart of 7-Mile. It is casual and friendly experience with a modern-vintage flare. The restaurant is done by Mise en Place, a top notch catering company on the island, and from quiche and crepes to steak and snails, the menu is diverse and delicious.

Photo Credit: The Bistro

Sun Showers in September

The end of summer in Cayman is a pretty cool time of year. The island is fairly quiet due to low season, the water is calm and warm, turtles are nesting and hatching, it is hot as hades, and rainy season is in full swing. These summer thunderstorms that come passing through the island are beautiful, noisy and a pretty amazing site to see. There are times the sun stays shining, as seen from the photos in this post, making the water and blue of the storm pop against the sun lit surroundings. Don't let these storms deter you from visiting us at Silver Sands, you might get the passing storm that clears in a few hours, and it might not even rain on you at all! Never the less it is a gorgeous time of year to be here if you are willing to risk a shower or two.

Part of living and visiting the Cayman Islands during this time of year is that it is also Hurricane Season. Technically hurricane season is June until November but it is usually most active in September and October. The memorable Hurricane Ivan hit us on September 11, 2014. For a trip down memory lane and to see how far Silver Sands has come since that monster storm, check out our past post Hurricane Ivan's Destruction and Rebuilding of Silver Sands. 

Lucky for us we live in a day and age where we can prepare and predict these storms from the moment they are created off of West Africa. The storm system changes and grows and sometimes dissipates as the system approaches the warm waters of the Caribbean. Weather Underground is my personal favorite site to track these weather systems.

Photography by Heather Holt Photography

Plant of the Month: Delicious Local Avocados

The West Indian Avocado is the local avocado you will find growing on trees down here in Cayman. There are several different kinds of avocado through out the globe, with differences in the shape and size of the fruit, to the textures of the skin. What do they all have in common? Avocados are all delicious! and we are so lucky to have one growing right here on the Silver Sands grounds.

Mostly everyone likes guacamole and knows how to make their favorite version of the delicious dip. But have you ever thought of making avocado chocolate mousse?? I know crazy idea right, but I can speak from recent experience that it is awesome! And so simple to create. Here is a simple recipe:

1-2 large avocados
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup soy or almond milk
1/4 honey, maple sugar or sweetener of your choice
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together until creamy and well blended, chill and enjoy!

And now the maze to find the avocado tree, this photo pretty clearly shows where it is on the grounds, now if your are lucky to pass by when there is a ripe avocado on the tree ready for picking!

Parasailing in Paradise

On your average day here in Cayman, if you look out onto those turquoise Caribbean waters you are sure to see one of the many multi-colored parachutes flying high over Grand Cayman. 

Parasailing is a fantastic activity for Silver Sand's guests of all ages. Life jackets and safety gear are provided and once you are strapped in you lift off and sail up to 500 feet above the earth with a bird-eye view like no other! You can see the entirety of 7-Mile Beach, count the cruise ships docked  in Georgetown, you can even see all the way over the island to the North Sound and you might even catch a glimpse of the occasional turtle surfacing for a breath of air.

If you are interested in participating in parasailing it is a few hour excursion and very easily accessible from Silver Sands. Here are a few local companies:

Salty Rays Parasailing Adventures: 938-3603
Parasailing Professionals: 916-2953

Photos by: Heather Holt Photography and Parasailing Professionals.