George Town, Grand Cayman's largest town, pulls off the awkward combination of modern financial center and Caribbean tourist mecca rather well. Though it boasts more than 500 banks and thousands of registered companies, this miniature Switzerland operates mostly out of sight, in the air-conditioned offices of the height-restricted, seven-story buildings. More apparent are the modern and historical tourist attractions that vie for the attention of visitors, especially the thousands of cruise-ship passengers that go ashore daily. The ships are in port usually every day of the week, with the exception of some Sundays. When two or more ships are in harbor, expect congestion in central George Town.
You can walk around most of this town of 14,000 in two hours, even with time out for a little shopping. History buffs will enjoy the Cayman Islands National Museum, housed in the picturesque Old Courts Building on Harbour Drive. Built in 1830, the white clapboard structure was restored in 1990 and is now the center for research and preservation of Caymanian heritage. (The restoration won an American Express Preservation Award.) Exhibits focus on the islands' history as well as underwater treasures and other natural features, and the museum has a gift shop and a cafe.
Pedro St. James National Historic Site is located on scenic Pedro Bluff, about 5 mi/8 km east of George Town, in Savannah. Built in 1780 as a private residence (the views are spectacular), it's the oldest existing structure in the Cayman Islands. In its day, it served a number of purposes: In 1832, the island's first elected parliament met in the dining room. Later, it was a courthouse, with its ground-floor storage rooms serving as jail cells. A large renovation project added a multimedia theater, gift shop and restaurant.