Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Sunset Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios Jamaica

Sprawling, Family-Friendly, All-Inclusive Resort on White-Sand Beach

During Sunset Jamaica Grande’s weekly Pirates & Wenches party, guests dress in their best swashbuckling attire and head toward the beach to enjoy a Jamaican buffet. It’s one of several themed parties that the family-friendly resort hosts for its guests. But the fun doesn’t stop here—the resort also has an onsite casino, water trampolines, and a late-night disco. These activities complement the all-inclusive resort’s stunning setting along a sprawling white-sand beach.
Five pools anchor the complex, featuring waterfalls, jacuzzis, swim-up bars, and two water slides that start at the top of a lighthouse and twist and turn for 330 feet before emptying into the pools below. All the while, the resort's musicians sing from a rope bridge, serenading swimmers as they paddle past. On the private 1,300-foot white-sand beach, you can rent kayaks and paddleboats, join a volleyball game, or criticize children’s sand castles. As the sun goes down, Sunset Jamaica Grande heats up with a variety of nightly entertainment that includes Caribbean floor shows and fashion shows.
There are four restaurants and two grills onsite, including an open-air buffet overlooking the resort’s pools. For a more romantic meal, head to the upscale Ginger Lily, where chefs fuse Asian favorites with Caribbean flavors.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica: Famed Waterfall and World-Class Shopping

When inaugural Bond girl Ursula Andress emerged from the waves off the shores of Ocho Rios, she helped capture the appeal of Jamaica’s north coast in just a few frames. That iconic scene from Dr. No showed off the region’s green landscapes, rolling hills, and palm-studded beaches. The picturesque scenery hasn’t changed much since the movie was shot here in the 1960s. Visitors today can even visit some of the film locations, including James Bond Beach and Dunn's River Falls—a famous waterfall made up of huge natural stairs. On a guided tour, you can scale the 600-foot falls and splash its spray of cool mountain water. There’s also a beach at the base of the falls where you can bask in the sun.
Other outdoor adventures can be found in the colorful world beneath the ocean. Dive sites such as Devil's Reef contain eels, corals, nurse sharks, and barracuda. For a look at Jamaica’s rainforest, drive south of Ocho Rios to Fern Gully, a scenic drive through a canyon shaded by a canopy of ferns, trees, and lianas. Ocho Rios is also known for its shopping centers, starting with Island Village, a theme-park-like entertainment complex with restaurants, duty-free shops, and retail stores brimming with souvenirs. Ocho Rios also has several local vendors with handcrafted goods—but expect to have to haggle a little bit.

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