Kingston Jamaica
Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica and is located on the southern part of the island. A perfect place to visit for a winter getaway, especially in December and January. Most visitors usually head to the tourist towns of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril but few bother to explore the capital city. This is a shame because I feel Kingston has its own unique charm and should be on every visitor’s itinerary. If you are traveling with children, here are a few of my favourite places and things to do in Jamaica with kids, particularly around Kingston with some day trips included too!
Explore Port Royal
How many chances do kids get to explore an old pirate city? This sleepy fishing village was once known as the pirate capital of the world. I remember visiting the town on school trips; my fondest memory was visiting the giddy house.
Visit Emancipation Park
This park is one of the few green spaces in Kingston. You can have a picnic with the kids on the lawn, play games, or go to one of the local events that are usually held there.
Hope Zoo
Well which kid doesn’t like visiting the zoo? There is also a Chinese garden and a local botanical garden nearby.
Go to Hellshire or Fort Clarence Beach
Grab a picnic basket and head out to the beach for the day. You can try local Jamaican food such as fried fish and bammy (a traditional flatbread) while you are there.
Visit Newcastle and Hollywell
New Castle and Hollywell are located in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, which is around 40 minutes from Kingston. An interesting stop-off on the way to Hollywell is the army barracks at Newcastle. You can then spend the rest of the day at Hollywell Park. There are a number of hiking trails and play areas that are suitable for kids.
Visit Devon House for ice Cream
Devon House offers mansion tours of the great house where you can learn a bit about the history of Jamaica. However, I am pretty sure you are going to have to bribe your kids with the opportunity to get some of our famous Jamaican ice cream from the Devon House ice cream shop. They can enjoy exotic flavours such as sour sop or guava. There is a reason National Geographic rated Devon House as one of the best places in the world to get ice cream.
Bob Marley Museum
This attraction is more suited for older kids. It is a great opportunity to learn about a new genre of music and the reggae artist that helped to make this genre famous.
Day trip to Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios is around 50 minutes from Kingston. You can visit a number of kid friendly attractions such as Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain, Dunns River Falls (official site looks it has been hacked so look at Trip Advisor instead) or Yaaman Adventure Park.
Surfing
Surfing is not something usually associated with Jamaica. However, kids would definitely get a kick out of this. You can sign them up for surfing lessons at the Jamnesia surf school.
Visit the National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery is one of the oldest and largest public art museums in the Caribbean. Every last Sunday of the month the entry is free and they usually have children’s activities and other cultural entertainment programs.
Guest post by Charmaine – Jamaica Travel Saver.com
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