Journeying to Jamaica
Jamaica is the ultimate getaway for relaxation in a paradise with lots of hidden treasures. For outdoor adventures and hideaways in Jamaica, visit YS Falls, Black River, the Blue Mountains, Hellshire Hills, Treasure Beach, the safari of Ocho Rios, and botanical gardens. Jamaica is also abound with history and culture. Visit the Appleton rum estate, the National Gallery, the Bob Marley Museum, the Devon House, William Grant Park, coffee plantations, and various performing arts events and festivals in Jamaica. Go to Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios, the finest cities that Jamaica offers, and indulge in the taste of Jamaica by feasting in fine local bars and restaurants. For good humor, good times, and an abundance of beauty, make Jamaica your Caribbean destination.
Lazing at YS Falls
One highlight in Jamaica that you don’t want to miss is YS Falls, home to the YS farm and the incredible YS Falls. The farm is one of the largest in Jamaica at 2300-acres, with pedigree red poll cattle and papaya. The YS Falls is a favorite play land in Jamaica, with an awesome series of ten waterfalls that offer a wonderland of water fun. Either climb the lower falls or use the stairway to reach a platform beside the highest and grandest waterfall in Jamaica. There you can swing from hanging ropes, bathe in pools under each fall, swim under the main falls, and explore the caves behind. This is one of most relaxing vacation highlights in Jamaica: absorb the soothing falls, laze in the grass, soak in nature’s waters.
Boating on Black River
Another favorite highlight in Jamaica is traveling to Black River for a boat safari. The Black River is 44 miles and Jamaica’s longest river, its name derived from the peat moss that lines the bottom of the river and makes the clear water look inky black. The river is the main source for the Great Morass of Jamaica, which is a 125-square-mile area of wetland. The wetland spreads north and west from Black River, providing a swampy abode for Jamaica’s surviving crocodiles, as well as diverse and spectacular bird life. The wetlands of Jamaica provide glimpses into magnificent mangrove swamps with roosting egrets, herons, ducks, and jacanas, all birds native to Jamaica. Relax, sit back, and ride the Black River of Jamaica for a day of quiet delight.
Tasting the Rum
This getaway wets your whistle with one of Jamaica’s finest products — rum from the Appleton rum estate. Close to the YS Falls, the Appleton’s Wray and Nephewrum estate in Jamaica occupies a grand setting in the Black River valley, amid sugarcane fields that spread for thousands of acres. This vacation highlight is one of Jamaica’s oldest, with the estate dating 250 years as the oldest producer of rum in the English-speaking Caribbean. Begin your tour with a drink on the house, tour the factory, and journey outside to an old press. Your tour ends in one of the best-known saloons in Jamaica, as it should, where you can kick back and taste seventeen types of Jamaican rum and different rum-based liquors.
Visiting the National Gallery
Into the arts? Then you definitely want to visit the National Gallery on the waterfront in Kingston, Jamaica. This is the main gallery of Jamaica, and its superb permanent collection ranges from delicate woodcarvings to royal religious paintings, showcasing the best contemporary art in Jamaica. Works that you can view at this renowned Jamaican vacation highlight include the abstract paintings of Carl Abrahams, Colin Garland’s Jamaican surrealism, and David Boxer’s ghostly images. Other displays acquaint you with other artists in Jamaica, such as the Larry Worth Collection, with African-style paintings and sculpture by Shepherd Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, and the A.D. Scott Collection, with selections of Edna Manley’s sculptures. This vacation highlight in Jamaica allows you to truly absorb yourself in the colors and history of the culture.
Hiking the Blue Mountains
If you enjoy immersing in nature’s beauty, then you will want to hike in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The Blue Mountains reach above 7,000 feet, the quiet country roads leading to misty forests and mountain trails. At this grand vacation highlight in Jamaica, you can experience the Rio Grande Valley’s lush beauty throughout the John Crow Mountains. Travel on paths that parallel some of the most beautiful streams and bamboo forests in Jamaica. You can climb Jamaica’s mountainsides, graze through fern-laden valley floors, explore hidden caves, and discover secret waterfalls. If you take a guided tour, you will learn to appreciate the incredible nature, culture, and heritage that Jamaica offers. Hikes include journeys to the gorgeous Cinchona gardens of Jamaica and a climb up the peak trail.
Counting Cacti in Hellshire Hills
Hellshire Hills is a getaway that is just southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. There you will find a desert-like expanse of makko thorn bushes, and beaches sheltered by towering Jamaican cacti. The primary beauty of this vacation highlight in Jamaica comes from its solitary peacefulness. The only inhabitants within this expanse are migrant birds, conies, and Jamaican iguanas, which once were near the brink of extinction. At Hellshire beach you can kick back and enjoy pristine waters protected by a barrier reef, then take a stroll and eat in some of the finest fish restaurants in Jamaica. The most delectable aspect of Hellshire Hills, Jamaica, is fried fish served with homemade vinegary pepper sauce — another island specialty. Ready your taste buds and order an extra big plate.
Musing at the Bob Marley Museum
You can’t miss the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, if you are a reggae fan. This was Marley’s home in Jamaica from 1975 until 1981, when he died from cancer. The hour-long guided tour gives you a chance to check out awards and concert memorabilia from one of the premier musicians in the history of Jamaica. You’ll also find a re-creation of Marley’s small shack-like Wail ‘n’ Soul record shop in Trench Town, Jamaica, Marley’s kitchen and bedroom, his stage outfits, and the room in which he was almost assassinated. This vacation highlight in Jamaica ends in the theatre that was the Tuff Gong recording studio. There you can view the 1980 “One Love” concert footage, interviews with Marley, and a superb photo gallery. This is Jamaica’s tribute to Marley.
Daydreaming at the Devon House
The Devon House is another highlight in Kingston, Jamaica. Built by the first black millionaire in Jamaica, building contractor George Stiebel, the Devon House is a sight to see. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1820, Stiebel accumulated his fortune by mining gold in Venezuela, and he then returned home in 1873 to buy properties throughout Jamaica. One of these properties was Devon Pen, where he built his house. The Jamaican government bought the house in 1967, decorating it with antiques, to include modern Jamaican reproductions. Take a leisurely stroll on the vast landscaped grounds during your stay in Jamaica, and partake in some of the goodies of Jamaica, such as heavenly homemade ice cream, gooey cakes, and Kingston’s best patties.
Touring the Safari
If you want to visit the wilds that range over Ocho Rios, Jamaica, then take a jeep tour. This region of Jamaica is known for its lush vegetation, mountainous slopes, clear streams, and breathtaking waterfalls. The tour delivers you to hidden waterfalls in the backlands of Jamaica in English Range Rovers. Take time to swim in some of the most secluded water holes in Jamaica, your only companions the hummingbirds and bougainvillea that are abundant in this part of Jamaica. Explore some of the history of Jamaica by visiting the ruins of an 18th century plantation that was destroyed in the slave rebellions of Jamaica. Your tour finishes with a smooth inner-tube ride in a calm but swift stream, allowing you to absorb Jamaica’s simple beauty.
Basking in Botanical Garden Beauty
While in Kingston, Jamaica, visit Castleton Gardens. The entrance of Castleton Gardens is surrounded by giant palm trees, some that tower more than 100 feet. This is probably the best garden in Jamaica and affords you the opportunity to linger amidst exquisite and unusual flower plants, such as Bemoua, Allemanda, and Shell Ginger. Explore the tapestry of vegetation in Jamaica — Pininga Palms, with colorful seeds that look like strings of hanging beads; the dainty pink flowers of Musianda trees; Poinsettia trees with bright red leaves; and Cannonball trees that boast flowers that look like perfect wax roses. This prize garden in Jamaica lets you absorb the distinct tropic beauty that you will witness throughout your journeys over Jamaica and to learn a bit about it.
Sipping at the Coffee Plantations and Estates
If you haven’t had a cup of Jamaica’s coffee, you have no idea what you are missing. For a taste of java history, visit the coffee plantations and estates of Jamaica. With over 1,000 acres, Sherwood Forest, Jamaica, is one of the largest original Blue Mountain coffee plantations still intact in Jamaica. This Jamaican plantation has been growing coffee since the late 1700’s. Sherwood’s coffee plantings are dispersed in tree-shaded valleys that benefit from the seasonal springs and cool night breezes of Jamaica. The jewel of Sherwood Forest is referred to as Big Level, a magnificent 100-acre sloping area at 4,400 feet. With its rich red volcanic soil and the cool mists that drift off Blue Mountain peak, Big Level produces the highest quality coffee in Jamaica. Take a tour and then have a cup of Jamaica’s best.
Meandering in Montego Bay
On the northwest coast of Jamaica, Montego Bay is a complete resort area with flowering trees, velvet meadows, and hills with palm trees that edge the turquoise sea and white beaches of Jamaica. Montego Bay, Jamaica, is the country’s premier tourist destination and the second largest city in Jamaica. The city offers a multitude of activities, including the top golf course in Jamaica and the world, scuba diving, fishing charters, sailing, and shopping. You can visit the historic plantation Great Houses of Jamaica at Rose Hall and Greenwood, or you can feed by hand the hummingbirds and grassquits at the Rocklands Bird Feeding Station in Anchovy, Jamaica. Montego Bay, Jamaica, harbors some of Jamaica’s most scenic, elegant, and romantic dining, so you can have a day of adventure and a night of good eating.
Nesting in Negril
In Negril, Jamaica, a startling white-sand beach stretches along the Caribbean for nearly seven miles. This is one of the most mellow and charming resort towns in Jamaica, with sleepy tropical charm, sun, and solitude. Spend your time taking peaceful walks over the white powder sand, swimming or snorkeling in aquamarine waters, and talking to the Jamaican locals at the craft markets and beach bars. For a day of leisurely activity, you can take a horseback ride to the ruins of Whitehall Great House or a boat ride to Booby Cay, Jamaica, the breeding place for the rare blue-footed booby bird. Because of its coral reefs and clear waters, this part of Jamaica is also a diver’s paradise with endless water sports. Visit Negril to nest with the most relaxed people on Jamaica!
Ogling in Ocho Rios
That’s exactly what you’ll be doing when you visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica, home to some of the most captivating landscape in Jamaica. On this north coast region of Jamaica, you can gaze upon fern-covered cliffs and magnificent waterfalls. Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is a tranquil area that combines popular ports-of-call with splendid scenery — a string of dazzling blue bays, tiny fishing villages, and sandy coves that attract swimmers and sunbathers. Dunn’s River Falls, one of the most popular natural attractions in Jamaica, is also in Ocho Rios. The falls is a dramatic 600-foot drop of cascading water, often called the Niagara Falls of Jamaica. Climb up its limestone tiers for one of the grandest views in Jamaica and witness why Ocho Rios is often a favorite among tourists to Jamaica. The eye candy it offers is sweeter than sweet.
