| "This is the land of my birth, this is | | | | the practicalities let's get to the fun part. |
| Jamaica my Jamaica, the land of my birth" - | | | | I can guarantee that this will be an |
| Eric Donaldson | | | | experience you will never forget. The power |
| | | | and beauty of the fall is like no other, |
| Now I know a lot of persons consider this | | | | along your climb there are little pools where |
| little island a vacationer's paradise but for | | | | you can relax. Cool, clear water, beautiful |
| me Jamaica is simply my home. This beautiful | | | | foliage and when you get to the top of the |
| little island has a treasure trove of unique | | | | fall where it is a little quieter you can |
| offerings and experiences that a lot of | | | | actually hear the birds chirp. You cannot |
| persons who come on an 'all inclusive' | | | | leave Jamaica without visiting Dunn's River |
| package miss out on. So to help you out, I've | | | | Falls. |
| compiled a list of places that you must visit | | | | |
| on your next stop in Jamaica. | | | | MARTHA BRAE - Trelawny |
| | | | |
| DEVON HOUSE - Kingston | | | | You are now ready for a relaxing, romantic |
| | | | and scenic experience and bamboo rafting |
| The story of this historic Mansion is an | | | | along the Martha Brae River will satisfy all |
| intriguing one. The house was built in 1881 | | | | of the above. The Martha Brae is a 20 mile |
| by George Steibel the son of a housekeeper | | | | (32 km) long river located on the northwest |
| and Jamaica's first black millionaire. Now | | | | coast of Jamaica and like a lot of things in |
| imagine its 1881 and Jamaica is still under | | | | Jamaica it has its own legend. |
| British Colonial rule and racial equality was | | | | |
| a dirty phrase. Mr. Steibel goes abroad, | | | | The story goes that Spanish Treasure hunters, |
| makes his fortune, returns and builds his | | | | lured by tales of Arawak gold captured an |
| house smack in the middle of "Millionaires | | | | Arawak Indian witch hoping to have her lead |
| Corner" as it was called then, due to the | | | | them to the treasure (the Arawaks were the |
| elaborately designed houses. He basically | | | | first inhabitants of the Island). Pretending |
| spat in the face of the establishment and as | | | | to be complacent, the witch led them into a |
| the story goes, one particular Lady was so | | | | cave and then suddenly disappeared. |
| upset about having to see the house on her | | | | Frightened, the Spaniards ran out of the cave |
| morning ride that she had another road cut | | | | but then the river engulfed them and the |
| for her - which is now known as Lady Musgrave | | | | river is said to be named after this Arawak |
| Road. | | | | witch. |
| | | | |
| The history and beauty of Devon house is one | | | | Now centuries later, visitors have the |
| of the main reasons to visit. It is located | | | | opportunity to glide along this beautiful and |
| in the heart of Kingston a few minutes away | | | | picturesque river atop a bamboo raft. The |
| from the Business District and from the | | | | journey covers over 3 miles and will have you |
| bustling city centre - Half-Way Tree. There | | | | reminiscing of times past when sugar was king |
| are also a number of shopping and dining | | | | and the rafts were used to transport this |
| options available at the location. | | | | cargo to merchants in the harbor. |
| | | | |
| FAITH'S PEN - St. Ann | | | | ACCOMPONG - St. Elizabeth |
| | | | |
| This little spot is located on the main road | | | | If you want to truly connect with Jamaica you |
| from Spanish Town to Ocho Rios (called Ochi | | | | must visit Accompong. The settlement was |
| by locals). After a circuitous and sometimes | | | | founded in 1739 after the Maroons signed a |
| long drive (don't get stuck behind a truck!) | | | | peace treaty with the British and is perched |
| through Mount Rosser, Faith's Pen is like a | | | | high in the mountains of St. Elizabeth in |
| Mecca. It is a perfectly positioned lay-by | | | | western Jamaica. Accompong is actually an |
| for travelers to stretch their legs, chill | | | | independent nation state within the nation of |
| and enjoy a meal on their way to or from | | | | Jamaica. |
| Ochi. There are approximately 30 vendor | | | | |
| stalls organized in numbered huts offering a | | | | The history of the Maroons and the |
| wide array of Jamaican dishes. You can get | | | | establishment of the settlement of Accompong |
| jerk pork and chicken, roast or fried fish, | | | | cannot be summarized in a few lines. There |
| ackee and saltfish, roast or friend | | | | are several good websites that would help you |
| breadfruit, festival, bammy, boiled or | | | | to better understand the daring acts of |
| roasted corn on the cob, soup and so on. I'm | | | | defiance and bravery that helped the Maroons |
| hungry after writing that. | | | | defeat the English and gain freedom from |
| | | | slavery. A visit to Accompong will give you a |
| Be prepared to spend at least half an hour | | | | first hand view of Jamaican history and |
| trying to make a decision and another half | | | | culture. |
| hour licking your fingers. You can get | | | | |
| everything to go, so you get your on and | | | | NEGRIL'S SEVEN MILE BEACH - Westmoreland |
| still arrive at your destination in time. | | | | |
| | | | Seven miles of white sand beach with the most |
| LITTLE OCHI- St Elizabeth | | | | incredible, heart stopping sunsets |
| | | | imaginable. Negril offers a wide array of |
| Here I go again, waxing poetic about food, | | | | entertainment options; if you want a disco, a |
| but for those that have had the fortune to | | | | great restaurant, fire eaters or some quiet |
| visit this little gem, they will understand. | | | | time on the beach you will be accommodated. |
| Little Ochi is nowhere near Ocho Rios (check | | | | The area offers prime snorkeling and diving |
| out a map of Jamaica), I should probably | | | | opportunities and for those who are |
| label the destination to visit as Alligator | | | | adrenaline junkies how about jumping off a 40 |
| Pond, on the south coast of the Island but | | | | foot cliff into the ocean? It will certainly |
| most people that visit that area, go with one | | | | wake you up. |
| place in mind, Little Ochi. This little | | | | |
| restaurant offers one of the best, most | | | | For a relaxing time on white sand beaches, |
| rustic dining experiences with diners being | | | | Negril is the place to be. |
| able to have all of their seafood cravings | | | | |
| indulged right on the beach. I should say for | | | | ROSE HALL GREAT HOUSE - St James |
| those that have seafood allergies you should | | | | |
| probably quickly scroll to the next | | | | The story of Rose Hall is one filled with |
| destination. | | | | mystery, intrigue, deaths, ghosts and black |
| | | | magic. The house was built in 1770 and for |
| I'm about to pull out my best Bubba from | | | | fifty years the house and its estates seemed |
| Forest Gump impression - you can get your | | | | to exist as normal until its owner John Rose |
| shrimp boiled, fried, jerked, roasted, | | | | Palmer brought home his beautiful English |
| sautéed and so on. Fish, lobster, conch, | | | | bride named Annie Palmer. During her time as |
| oysters and most other seafood fare you may | | | | mistress of Rose Hall Annie or "The White |
| want they can accommodate you. There are no | | | | Witch of Rose Hall" as she was better known, |
| fine dining rules of etiquette so you'll be | | | | actively practiced voodoo and developed a |
| excused if you lick your plate after eating a | | | | reputation far and wide for her ruthlessness. |
| five star fare. | | | | She is said to have killed her first husband |
| | | | John Palmer, two other husbands and countless |
| DUNN'S RIVER FALLS - St Ann | | | | slave lovers. Annie was found dead in her |
| | | | bedroom at The Great House in 1831 with |
| So after eating all of that food, the Dunn's | | | | speculation as to the circumstances of her |
| River Fall is the perfect spot to have fun | | | | death. |
| working off the excess or lazing around | | | | |
| baking yourself in the sun with a Rum. Dunn's | | | | Rose Hall like any great house worth its salt |
| river is on the island's north coast just | | | | is said to be haunted the spirit of Annie |
| outside of Ocho Rios and is a natural | | | | Palmer and many a visitor have claimed to see |
| phenomenon. The first time you hear the | | | | her ghost roaming the corridors. For an |
| rushing of the falls you get a rush of | | | | interesting and scary experience Rose Hall is |
| adrenaline like no other. The website of the | | | | a must visit. |
| Jamaica Tourist Board describes the | | | | |
| attraction as follows: | | | | BLUE MOUNTAIN PEAK- St Andrew |
| | | | |
| Dunn's River Falls is unique. Described as a | | | | Do you want a bird's eye view of Jamaica? |
| living and growing phenomenon, it | | | | Then the Blue Mountain peak is the perfect |
| continuously regenerates itself from deposits | | | | spot. Rising above an elevation of 7,000ft, |
| of travertine rock, the result of | | | | both the North and South coasts of the island |
| precipitation of calcium carbonate from the | | | | can be seen at the summit. Visitors can |
| river, as it flows over the falls. The small | | | | arrange for a hike or bicycle tour which |
| dome-shaped cataracts are usually associated | | | | passes through tropical rainforests and |
| with thermal spring activity found in | | | | coffee plantations with dramatic mountain |
| limestone caves. This, combined with its | | | | views. Your muscles may protest the next day |
| location near to the sea, gives Dunn's River | | | | but the experience is worth it, experience |
| the distinction of being the only one of its | | | | the beauty of Jamaica firsthand. |
| kind in the Caribbean, if not the world. | | | | |
| | | | Now this list is by no means exhausted. |
| Visitors are able to climb the fall with a | | | | Writing this has me reminiscing on a few of |
| guide or on their own. If it is your first | | | | those experiences and has me antsy, longing |
| time I suggest you go with a guide as they | | | | for a road trip. I'm going to organize that |
| would be able to show you the footholds. | | | | and give you part two of my top places to |
| Also, ensure you rent a rubber shoe; your | | | | visit in Jamaica later. Have fun. |
| feet will thank you. Since we're done with | | | | |