A family Caribbean vacation can feel as if you’re anywhere at all thanks to ubiquitous resorts with blasting pool music, gaudy playground colors and an over-abundance of so-so food that caters to the young ones. But there is another way to do one: Explore what the island has to offer.

Grand Cayman — the largest of the Cayman Islands, and home to crystal-clear, calm waters, vivid coral reefs, unspoiled woodlands and the spectacular and popular Seven Mile Beach — has more on offer than most. It’s a paradise for kids of all ages, especially those open to playing with dolphins, coming face to face with stingrays, giant blue iguanas and sea turtles, exploring crystal caves and taking magical submarine rides.

Actually, we’re pretty sure that’s everyone.

WHAT TO DO

On the northern tip of the island’s popular and iconic Seven Mile Beach, which stretches along the entire west coast, you’ll find the Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay, and it features more than just the fascinating ancient creatures. In addition to a sea turtle breeding pond and touch tanks, there’s a 9-foot saltwater crocodile named Smiley, a huge lagoon boasting two fun waterfalls in which kids can swim and even an aviary. It’s a place to while away the hours (free for ages 0 to 4, from $9 for ages 5 to 12, from $18 for adults).

The nearby Dolphin Discovery, while not as uniquely Cayman-esque, is where kids can learn all about dolphins, as well as swim with these lovely mammals (from $99 for kids and $119 for adults).

Just off the northern end in the North Sound is one of Grand Cayman’s most exciting destinations: Stingray City. The shallow sand bar is home to some 50 large stingrays — approximately 150 pounds each! — and the place where visitors, after taking a charter, feed and frolic with the gentle giants. Don’t be surprised if your group is a large one at this popular tourist spot. Bonus: There’s a free shuttle service from a variety of hotels on Seven Mile Beach (free for children under 3, from $40 for older kids and $45 for adults).

Down south, at Seven Mile Beach’s southern end, is George Town, a working harbor and the island’s capital — one of the areas in which ships were wrecked and pirates wrecked havoc. Here, in Cayman’s National Marine Park, you and your kids can ride an actual submarine via tours that frequently leave from the harbor.

Try Cayman Island Submarines for a 1½-hour day or nighttime tour. The Atlantis submarine takes you down 100 feet, and its spacious cabin is air-conditioned and maintained at sea-level pressure so your kids’ ears won’t get clogged up (from $59 for children and $104 for adults).

You can also leave the water behind and head inland from George Town for a guidedMastic Trail tour on the Mastic Reserve, part of the largest contiguous area of untouched, old growth dry forest remaining on the island. This one’s best for the older kids, as the going can get both rocky and swampy ($20).

Also in the interior, near the less-crowded East End of the island, the Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park has 65 acres of phenomenal sights, including flora, butterflies, curious-looking frogs and a variety of birds. Best of all, you can stop in the Blue Iguana Habitat, where the island’s largest native land animal — which until recently was at risk of extinction — grows to more than 5 feet long (free for children under 3, $6 for kids and $18 for teens and adults).

About now, it might be time to wind down. Story Time in Camana Bay, a retail and apartment development a free shuttle ride away from various points on Seven Mile Beach, is a great option. There’s a cinema, and the inviting and spacious Books & Booksholds story time on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. (at the Regal Cinemas due to high demand) and story & craft time on Saturdays, also at 10:30 (free).

WHERE TO STAY

Lodging along Seven Mile Beach — where runners and walkers should rise early to enjoy the uninterrupted expanse of sand, and sunsets are spectacular — tends toward the luxury category, but most are family-friendly. At the higher end, the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman (from $440/night), Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, (from $284/night) and the Westin Grand Cayman (from $319/night) are popular.

Some less expensive resorts and hotels include Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach and Resort (from $158/night). In the East End, locals recommend Morritt’s Grand Resort, where rooms feature kitchens with refrigerators and microwaves (from $230/night or $1,450 per week).

WHERE TO EAT

For kids who miss their pizza, Camana Bay offers up The Brooklyn Pizza + Pasta. It’ll cut back on complaints that there’s nothing to eat, and satisfy their longing for the familiar.

Of course, you’ll want to have a taste of the Caribbean. Calypso Grill, a more upscale option near Seven Mile Beach, is great for lunch or a special dinner. It’s right on the water, and kids will go for the pasta, sandwiches, and fish and chips. In George Town, try the casual seaside open-air Paradise Seaside Grill, which features Calypso music. It serves locally caught seafood and Caribbean dishes for the adults, and cheeseburgers for the kids. Or, go to Cayman Cabana Oceanside Restobar, where creative spins are put on local dishes, and where people write their names on the wood ceiling.

WHAT’S NEW

There are two great additions to the island: one an attraction, one a hotel.

For the family, the Cayman Crystal Caves in the North Side opened in 2016 to rave reviews. The caves formed over millions of years, and the entire family will be dazzled by the stalactite and stalagmite crystal structures and otherworldly formations. The caves sit in a tropical forest, where you’ll find strangler balsam trees, air plants, parrots and more.

For luxe resort lovers, perhaps the most exciting addition is on Seven Mile Beach, where the Kimpton Seafire + Spa opened this past November — the first resort to open on the beach in 10 years. It spans 500 feet of sand, and it has four dining destinations, a spa, pools and winding gardens (from $600/night).

HOW TO GET AROUND

For those comfortable driving on the left side of the road, renting a car is the easiest way to see the island. The major rental companies all serve Grand Cayman and are located at the Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town (from approximately $30 a day). You could also take taxis, which take you anywhere on the islands; a sign should be posted to notify visitors of the current rates, as they have a tendency to fluctuate. If cabs prove too pricey, there are public minibuses carrying up to 12 passengers, with the main bus depot located in George Town ($2.50 to $5).

HOW TO GET THERE

Another one of the island’s lures? It’s neither difficult nor expensive to reach. JetBlue, Cayman Airways and United fly direct from New York to George Town, and January round-trip fares start from around $350. Be warned: prices skyrocket around public holidays and school vacations.

IMAGES:

Stingray City lets you get up close o the 150-pound creatures. Jo Ann Snover/Alamy

Scope colorful iguanas on Grand Cayman. Shutterstock

Inside the lush Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park John Lawrus

Tuck into this lobster dish at Cayman Cabana Oceanside Restobar. Christina Pantelidis

Spot the stalagmites at Cayman Crystal Caves.Mr Courtney Platt Crystal Caves, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

For more on this story go to: http://nypost.com/2017/01/03/the-caribbean-getaway-perfect-for-both-kids-and-parents/