Marvelous Jamaica!

The Best of Jamaica!

by Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel

We have visited Jamaica twice now, there's just so much to see and do!

Jamaica has rich colorful history, a smooth reggae soundtrack and picturesque tropical Caribbean beaches. It's one of the reasons I rank Jamaica among my favorite destinations!! If you want more out of your Jamaican vacation, we've got a cool “must-do list” that will have you making your plans right now!

Every Caribbean vacation must include a beach, and the Jamaican beaches are so very awesome! We so love Negril, Discovery Bay and Seven Mile beaches, but if you get out and about, you'll discover this island has many more terrific stretches of sand than most. It's so very hard to pick our favorite Jamaica beaches since there's almost 200 miles of sandy shores! So....take your pick!

Jamaica's colorful history offers plenty of interesting sightseeing. Port Royal, Jamaica was once known as the 17th century's wickedest city in the world, thanks to the then resident pirates and other bloodthirsty outlaws. You may want to simply drop by St. Peter's Church to see its interior, and stop by the churchyard for Lewis Galdy's tombstone, with its tale of his survival of the 1692 earthquake that destroyed much of the town. Continue on to Fort Charles and then Giddy House if your senses can handle the mere 35 degree tilt. The historic buildings help bring the legends of Port Royal and Jamaica to life even today.

On the other side of the island, Dunn's River Falls is Jamaica's top attraction, and with reason. Best of all, the 600 feet of cascading waterfalls are highly interactive, as guides are on hand to help you climb all the way up to the tippy top. Be sure to bring a waterproof camera (and your waterproof shoes) to capture the sensuous beauty of the falls and the warm pools. And don't miss the Green Grotto Caves when you're on the way up the coast to stunning Discovery Bay, which also happens to be where Columbus first went ashore when he visited the island many, many years ago.

If climbing waterfalls isn't really your idea of funa, then check out the historic homes that dot the quaint island. There's the 200-year-old Greenwood Great House, once owned by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's family.

But no matter what you do while you're in Jamaica, reggae- the island's infectious musical beat, and laid back atmosphere will have you in a vacation state of mind in no time!! From the beaches to Port Royal and Dunn's River Falls, Jamaica is the quintessential vacation playground, and maybe best of all, it comes with its own fabulous coffee, the peerless and delicious Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. So pour a cup, and make your plans now to check out Jamaica Mon!