Things to do in Montego Bay
Montego Bay is renowned for its beaches, but this is not all there is to this fascinating city. The bay is one of the more popular tourist destinations due to its rich history and culture. This also includes evidence of the slave trade, pirates and buccaneers of days gone by.
Rose Hall Great House
The Great House was built in 1770, but the legend only begins in 1820, when John Rose Palmer married Annie, who possessed black magic powers. It is said that Annie used her black magic to dispose of John Rose Palmer, two more husbands and many lovers. She also treated the workers on the plantation with much cruelty. In 1831, Annie was found dead in her bedroom at the Great House and even today, there are those who claim that her ghost floats along the corridors of the Great House. The house has been renovated and can be visited on a guided tour.
Greenwood Great House
This was once the family home of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, the celebrated English poet. The house is more than 200 years old, but it has been painstakingly restored to its original splendour. It has a fine collection of antiques, first editions, rare books and paintings dating back to the 1800s.
AquaSol Theme Park
Located at Walter Fletcher Beach, the park offers many exciting activities including banana boat rides, pedal boats, jet-skiing, water trampolines, snorkelling, riding on a glass bottomed boat and many other activities.
Nine Miles
Nine Miles is a small mountain village in the parish of St Ann, Montego Bay. This was the birthplace and the final resting place of Bob Marley, reggae super-hero. The people of Nine Miles lead a simple life and one that is in alignment with nature. There is no running water in the area; instead, rain water is collected and used for all purposes. Nine Miles is owned by Bob Marleys family and it is not uncommon to find an uncle or a relative of Bob Marley welcoming visitors to this site.
Montego Bay Marine Park
Located at Pier 1, this was Jamaicas very first national park and it is completely underwater. There are lots of exciting and interesting opportunities for children and adults to learn about the tropical fish and coral reefs in this region. The marine park also has a resource centre and a gift shop.
Fort Montego
The fort was built in the 16th century, on a small bluff overlooking Meagre Bay and River Bay. However, both bays have now been filled in due to the expansion of the town and the construction of the highway. In 1779, the fort was renovated and a parapet wall, paving and buttresses were built to prevent invasion from pirates, the French and the Spanish. The fort is a lovely reminder of days gone by on this Caribbean island.
Sam Sharpe Square
The square was named after Montego Bays national hero, Sam Sharpe, who was hung for the Christmas Rebellion, in 1834. Sam Sharpe was a Baptist deacon who wanted to free slaves without any bloodshed. However, the plantation owners took offence to this, which resulted in Sam Sharpe being sent to the gallows. The cobblestone square, dating back to the English colonial period, has a huge statue that depicts slaves listening to a sermon being given by Deacon Sharpe.
Montego Bay Museum
Located on Sam Sharpe Square, the museum tells the history of Jamaica and its people, but it mostly concentrates on the history of Montego Bay. There are some very interesting displays and exhibits at the museum.