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Ocho Rios - Jamaican Jewel |
By:
Rae Goodman |
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Jamaica conjures up images of blue ocean and golden beaches. The northern coastal resort of Ocho Rios is the most popular destination, along with Montego Bay. It used to be a quiet fishing village before it grew with the arrival of tourism. It's also a very busy port for cruise ships and a number of high class hotels and spas are to be found in the area. It's a ninety-minute ride by car from the airport at Montego Bay. The town has a good reputation for the safety of its visitors. The agricultural exports also contribute to the economy, namely bananas, citrus fruits and coconuts. The town has one sister city at Oakland, California.
There are very good restaurants and nightclubs in addition to the scenery and sporting opportunities. One of the highlights for many people is the chance to swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Fern Gully is a valley with paths to walk through and admire the different species of fern and hardwood trees. Dunn's River Falls are a popular landmark. The hillside springs feed into the falls that have a 600 foot drop into the sea. Visitors can use the stepping stones to approach the falls. The Dunn's River Feast takes place every week with music and dancing.
Cranbook Flower Forest is terrific for a relaxing day out. There are lovely gardens, nature trails and visitors can ride on horses or donkeys, go bird watching, swim or fish in the ponds. Safari tours take visitors to the White River where they can go on an exhilarating river tube ride or walk on the hillside paths.
The area has many buildings in the colonial style, which are of interest to those visitors keen to learn about the history and the architecture of Ocho Rios. The buildings have been well looked after and include the Geddes Memorial Church and the Anglican Church. Other fine examples of these can be found in nearby Port Maria.
Sport is given priority with a number of amenities that Ocho Rios can be proud of. Deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and all sorts of water sports are popular here. Other activities include horseback riding, tennis and polo. Golfers will appreciate some of the finest courses in the area.
Shopping is well catered for and there are six shopping plazas and a crafts market in Ocho Rios. There are plenty of souvenirs to choose from and duty free items are sold at in-bond stores.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article51514.html |
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