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George Town, Grand Cayman

Introduction
For most vacationers, a visit to George Town marks the beginning and end of their stay. This capital city is home of both the international airport and the cruise terminal, so a majority of the 1.3 million visitors spend at least some time here.

The capital is the social and economic hub of the islands, home to over half the 30,000 residents of Grand Cayman and the base for most of the business and government activity. Don't look for a bustling city, however; George Town is still very much an island community where you'll feel at home strolling the streets, eating at a seaside diner, and enjoying watersports just as you would in the resort areas of Seven Mile Beach.

Once, this community was known as The Hogstyes. Today it's a major financial center that ranks right up there with Zurich and Tokyo. Modern, clean, and efficient, this capital city hasn't forgotten its historic roots, however. Just off Hog Sty Bay, historic homes, churches, and other structures are now part of a self-guided walking tour designed by the National Trust.

Much of the activity in George Town takes place along North and South Church Streets, which run parallel to the shoreline. These roads face out to George Town Harbour and are lined with duty-free shops, restaurants, and tourist-oriented businesses. The traffic light where South Church Street forks right onto Shedden Road or continues onto North Church Street (an intersection located by the cruise terminal), is the heart of town.

East of the shoreline, government buildings and banking centers carry on the work of the Cayman Islands, helping the nation hold its spot as one of the monetary centers in the world. Further east, the airport is located on the edge of North South, the shallow body of water that divides George Town, Seven Mile Beach, and the West End from the less developed East End of the island.

South of town, South Church Street winds it way through elegant residential districts, lined with beautiful seaside homes and a few quiet businesses.