Family holidays with children in Jamaica - attractions and entertainment

In the opinion of many travelers, a vacation in Jamaica is not very family friendly and suitable for children. Some think that there are almost no entertainments for families with children and ways of having fun on the island. However, this is a mistake. The most popular resorts of Jamaica are ready to offer many interesting activities to its guests, including different aqua parks, exciting excursions in local museums, zoos, and exploration of the island’s natural landmarks. These entertainments will keep both adults and children pleased and will surely leave many warm and unforgettable memories.

For many, a vacation in Jamaica is a synonym to swimming in the ocean and beach recreation. The northern coast of Jamaica is an excellent destination for vacationers with children. Beaches in this part of the island are protected from high waves by coral reefs. So no wonder why the most suitable beaches for vacationers with children are located in this part of the island. These are Doctor's Cave and Fletcher Beach famous for clear water and white sand. They have everything needed for a comfortable stay. These beaches also have various entertaining activities and water sports. Doctor's Cave and Fletcher have many cafes with various menus, including special menus for kids. A visit to a beautiful cave located nearby will be a pleasant bonus of relaxing here. An excursion to the cave will excite both adults and children.

In 2007, Kool Runnings Waterpark opened in Norman Manley Blvd., in the resort part of Negril on the north of Jamaica. Here, travelers can explore seven different water slides, each of which is named after some Jamaican landmark, try karting or water shooting. Kids will be happy to explore trampoline and a whole playground for children. There is also a special slow river around the waterpark, and kids can have a safe and relaxing ride in it. Don’t forget to check out the park’s souvenir shop, as well as several different cafes and restaurants. Kool Runnings Waterpark is a fantastic place to make any vacation in Jamaica even more pleasant and mesmerizing. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Ocho Rios Nature Park, which is located not far from the city with the same name, travelers can see some of the most picturesque waterfalls in the world. Dunn’s River Falls is a unique natural landmark. These falls are among the few that flow directly into the ocean. Nowadays, the waterfalls are reminiscent of a thematic park. Water streams flow on limestone to meet the ocean. This way, cascades formed something like a ladder. Water streams have also created small lagoons in limestone, forming swimming pools suitable for both children and adults. Water is cool in Dunn’s River Falls, which is particularly pleasant in the hot climate. The beauty of the falls simply cannot leave tourists indifferent.

Almost in the heart of Ocho Rios, vacationers can attend Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures. This park’s attractions are located right in a tropical forest. Having reached the top of the mountain by cable road, the park’s visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Dunn’s River Falls, the Caribbean Sea, and the city of Ocho Rios. There are three exciting ways of getting down from the mountain top. Vacationers can choose a bobsleigh ride. The track starts from a station that looks like a 20th-century railway station. There are bobsleighs for one or two passengers. Fans of extreme activities can choose to use ropeway and “fly” down right above the jungles. The third option is the funniest one, so children usually like it the most. There is a water slide that ends right in a swimming pool.

Dolphin Cove surrounded by lush tropical forest is widely recognized as #1 attraction on all the Caribbean Islands. When visiting this park, visitors are allowed to feed, touch, and play with dolphins that live in their natural habitat. It is even possible to swim with dolphins and try to train them. Consider trying the most famous amusement of Dolphin Cove – Dolphin Track. Using a special helm, visitors dive 3.5 meters deep and walk on the sea bottom accompanied by dolphins. Besides that, visitors can learn a lot of interesting information about not only dolphins but also sharks and other marine creatures. In Dolphin Cove, visitors can also make a boat ride along the coast, visit a shark show, make an interesting excursion in a boat with the transparent bottom, and sunbathe in a charming beach.

Young and curious tourists will find it interesting to visit the Museum of Zoology in the capital of Jamaica, Kingston. The collection exhibited here is recognized as the best among all countries of the Caribbean. The exhibition of the museum includes more than 200,000 different species of animals, plants, and marine creatures. In Kingston, tourists can also visit the oldest museum in Jamaica – the Museum of Natural History. Besides more than 120,000 exhibited animals and plants of Jamaica, the museum stores different books and documents dedicated to the history of the island and “shark documents”. These are logs thrown overboard by captains because they were not needed anymore. Later, many of these documents were found in bellies of sharks.