By Rebecca Fontenot, San Antonio Magazine

A fine balance of adventure and leisure makes the most of a Grand Cayman vacation

Rising into Warrior position, I wiggled slightly and looked out to the horizon of the deep blue sea as I regained my balance. Bending forward into downward dog, I could see hotels behind us and couples pausing on morning strolls to watch our yoga class. The instructor broke my trance when she told us to drop our feet back into a plank.

Splash.

Before I could realize I’d lost my balance, I was soaked and climbing back onto my paddleboard—that’s right, this was yoga on water. As an only-occasional yoga-goer and first-time paddleboarder, I was impressed I’d lasted this long without falling in. It sounds intimidating but between the view, the gentle rocking of the waves and the wake-up call of an unexpected dip in the water, the new offering from Red Sail Sports was a pretty great way to begin a Saturday in the Cayman Islands.

A mix of calm and exhilaration, paddleboard yoga turned out to be an apt summation of my trip to Grand Cayman, where for four days I spent nearly equal parts in the water and out, soaking in as much as possible of the fun, the beauty and the nature of the island.

Staying at the recently renovated Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa located on Seven Mile Beach meant being happily marooned on an exclusive strip of the island where serenity seemed to be personally catered to. The hotel’s updated decor set the island mood, and my first-floor deluxe ocean-front room had a patio just off the sand that was perfect for sipping morning coffee. I spent a few lazy afternoons in a cabana on the beach with tropical cocktails frequently replenished, and the distractions of only the waves and a small crowd of fellow guests. Traveling before family vacation season, I was there with more couples and corporate groups than kids.

I didn’t come all the way to the Cayman Islands for a tan—there were adventures to be had. That started with a trip to Stingray Sandbar aboard a Red Sail Sports catamaran. Lore has it that stingrays have been gathering at this sandbar for decades, because fishermen would stop in the shallow waters to clean their fish and toss the scraps. Now, the rays—which a Red Sail guide described to us as acting similar to small dogs—come because they know they’ll be fed and pet by visitors. A lot of them.

As one of my travel companions remarked, this “stingray city” looked more like Times Square. It’s not unusual for a dozen boats to be there at the same time, but the crews do a great job of making sure guests can interact with one of the creatures. It’s definitely a touristic experience—but the velvety touch of the friendly rays is a feeling worth experiencing at least once.

I got more one-on-one with nature the next morning on a snorkeling tour. Jet skiing to Cheeseburger Reef—named for its proximity to a Burger King—the wind in my hair and spray in my face had my adrenaline flowing. Then with snorkel mask and fins on, I gently bobbed around the water looking for colorful fish. The big sight of the day: a barracuda, who we let go on its merry way.

After all that gallivanting around the Caribbean—including meandering around the sea with kayaks and aqua-trikes (think tricycle meets John Deere tractor on water)—a spa treatment was just the pick-me-up I needed. A hydrating wrap at the Westin’s Hibiscus Spa soothed my skin with aloe and my muscles with a massage, leaving me reenergized and ready for more island adventures.

The fun didn’t end when the sun went down. Westin Executive Chef Michael Farrell, new to the island from New Orleans, shared with us his new menu for Casa Havana, the hotel’s AAA Four Diamond restaurant. He injects Gulf and Atlantic coastal flavors into Caribbean cuisine in small plates, including great starters such as octopus carpaccio and lobster grapefruit salad as well as heartier dishes such as pan seared sea bass or albacore tuna crudo.

Venturing into town one night I dined at Miami-import Michael’s Genuine, where local brew CayLight beer paired wonderfully with grilled wahoo. It’s one of several restaurants and shops at Camana Bay, which hosts the annual Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival. Another huge culinary draw: the Cayman Cookout, hosted by New York chef and TV personality Eric Ripert. The four-day fest, set for Jan. 16-19 in 2014, brings together local and celebrity chefs including Ripert’s friend, Anthony Bourdain, food and wine tastings, a barefoot barbecue, champagne brunch and gala.

They say island time runs slow. But my four days in Cayman flew by, leaving me exhilarated yet peaceful, just enough to make me consider more frequent trips to yoga—but, sadly, only on land.

If You Go

Fly: From San Antonio International Airport to Owen Roberts International Airport

Stay: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa westingrandcayman.com

Eat: Casa Havana: Chef Michael Farrell presents his small-plate menu with Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic coast offerings. westingrandcayman.com/dining

Michael’s Genuine If you need a break from seafood, try the grilled niman ranch pork loin. Indulge at the end with a banana toffee panini. michaelsgenuine.com/grand-cayman

Do: Snorkel, scuba, standup paddleboard and see the stingrays. Take advantage of Red Sail Sports’ onsite locations at several resorts, including The Westin Grand Cayman. redsailcayman.com

For more on this story go to:

http://www.sanantoniomag.com/SAM/June-2013/The-Island-Way/

Photo by Will Burrard-Lucas:Cayman Islands Department of Tourism