By: Mike Manoske, Co-Founder of TimeshareValues

You've heard of it - and probably have no idea where it is located.

They have a wonderful history, with Columbus, Pirates, The British Empire, and International Banking. Add powder while beaches touched by bath temperature turquoise waters - and you have the Cayman Islands.

Columbus arrived in 1503 while going to Hispaniola. Noting all the turtles, he named the islands "Las Tortugas." Buccaneers such as Sir Henry Morgan and Blackbeard hid in the islands while preying on Spanish and French ships. They discovered the other major resident of the Cayman Swamps - crocodiles. The islands were renamed Caymans after these hungry locals.

Cayman and Jamaican ownership changed between Spain and Britain. Jamaica decided to seek independence less than 40 years ago, but the Caymans chose to remain a British Colony. They are tucked 150 miles south of Havana, Cuba, about 180 miles west northwest of Jamaica and 480 miles south of Miami. It was striking to leave Miami and fly over Cuba during the height of the Elian Gonzalez situation.

We stayed on Grand Cayman just outside Georgetown, the main city. Georgetown is an eclectic place that has a remarkable mix of architecture, from traditional British, to modern styling. Their banking and investment laws makes the Caymans the 5th largest financial center in the world. As a result, there are no taxes, very little crime and almost no poverty. You don't think of this - you are getting to used to being driven on the other side of the road to your hotel!

The Hyatt Resort has all the amenities you expect, from the Teak British Boardroom Lobby, to the lush tropical gardens just out the doors. The staff was incredibly polite, with many of the Caymaners speaking with a delightful Caribbean/British accent.

The CI Dollars trade 1 for every American $1.25. . Locals can translate prices in their heads in seconds. I never caught a mistake, it was impressive!

Seven Mile Beach was across the street, and was beautiful in it's simplicity. It is a long stretch of curved beach that has a moderate amount of building, but there is at least 50 feet of sand to the water. The offshore reefs protect the waters, making them calm and incredibly delightful. We found many people just talking and laughing in the water; some had been there for hours. We love to swim and found the daily swims invigorating.

They have also built a day resort at Rum Point at the Northeast tip of the North Sound, which is a short boat ride. Here you indulge in local food, such as Jerk Chicken, Conch Fritters and even the British favorite Fish and Chips. No newspapers were used to serve, however. The waters are very shallow, great for fishing or to just walk around. Water Shoes are highly recommended; there is a lot of loose coral. Though we didn't see it, the sunsets at Rum Point are said to be spectacular.

The high point of the trip: Stingray City. This is a shallow spot ( about 10-12 feet deep) at the edge of a reef. The other side of the reef plunges into open ocean. For years fishermen came here to feed a large group of Stingrays. They large but docile sea creatures literally fly through the water and achieve 4-6 foot wingspans. We decided to snorkel among them.

Their bottom side is soft with a velvet texture. They swim up to you seeking food, and invite petting. I have snorkeled for many years, and it took me awhile to get used to creatures this large, swimming by to be touched and fed. Their top skin was sandpaper rough to the touch. They do possess a stinger at the base of the tail, but it is only used when attacked.

A Stingray has no teeth, just a powerful sucking mechanism and some grinding plates. My finger went into a mouth, while feeding one; and it felt like a vacuum cleaner at home.

My wife and I thought about the animal Stingrays reminded us of; it was easy call, puppies. When the boat arrived the Stingrays acted like a dog who has missed her master, and is excited to see them come home. Stingray City is a place every visitor must see.

Our best meal was in Georgetown, on the water at the Smuggler's Cove. A small seafood restaurant, we entered as it opened. Following closely behind us was a fisherman carrying what was later the Catch of the Day: snapper.

The food reflected the cultural mix of the island, as did the staff. We were served by no less than 3 Nationalities all with unique accents, colors and ethnicities. The Caymans are particularly proud of the racial harmony, and it showed throughout our stay.

I had coconut prawns served fusion style, surrounded by small layers of dipping sauce. The prawns were delicately fried in a very light batter. There was very little sugar used, so the coconut taste was authentic and light.

My wife had salmon stuffed with goat cheese. Antonette is not a goat cheese fan, so she removed most of it. The salmon was very fresh, moist and was perfectly cooked. Though the servings appeared small, they were very filling.

Our trip to the Caymans was all a vacation should be, relaxing, fun, with many fond memories. If you are a lover of islands, and the Caribbean, the Caymans will be a place you never forget.

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Mike Manoske and his wife Antonette founded TimeshareValues.com, where properties are sold through Internet Auctions. TimeshareValues was recently featured in a Cover Story in USA Today. Their email address is us@timesharevalues.com