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If Jamaica were compared to a painting it would be a masterpiece of tropical splendor. Framed by towering blue mountains, the landscape is filled with the multi-colored hues of exotic flowers and plants, and subdued by the various greens of dense jungles, woody meadows and misty valleys. Countless waterfalls tumble and cascade downward over boulders and gorges, feeding the rivers which spread out like hundreds of fingers across the island. The water gently flows by riverbanks lined with wildflowers, or past mangrove swamps and rustic fishing villages, white-washed towns, and the Colonial Great Houses which dot the countryside. Finally the rivers blend into the Caribbean Sea, only to wash up on the golden beaches that encircle this intriguing island.
Jamaica is a paradise for both the adventuresome traveller seeking the many unique outdoor treasures which the island offers in abundance, as well as for those wanting to be pampered at the island's many spas, or lavished upon at one of the all-inclusive fun and sun resorts which line the legendary Northern Gold Coast.
Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica and is the gateway to tourist activity on the north coast. The city sits in a bay with mountains rising in the background. It is a hub of shopping and dining and the beaches are lined with all-inclusive resorts. The Rose Hall Greathouse is the legendary home of the infamous Annie Palmer. The "White Witch" of Jamaica. She is reported to have killed several unlucky husbands and brutalized her slaves until she herself was murdered. People swear they see her suffering ghost roaming the property. Beautifully restored and worth the visit.The Greenwood Greathouse, Considered one of the finest and best restored of the former plantation homes. The house belonged to the Barrett family of which Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a descendent. The house is filled with antiques, paintings, rare books, and furniture from the 1800s.
Heading East of Montego Bay you can find other attractions, such as the Falmouth an 18th century port town, this is worth a quick walking tour to see the historical buildings. The Good Hope Great House is located nearby,Discovery Bay. Site of Columbus' landing in 1494, this is where you will find Columbus Park which is an open-air museum containing a wide range of historical artifacts and information on the area, and Runaway Bay Is now a growing tourist area. This is the spot that the Spanish "ran away" to Cuba when the British invaded the island.
