Kingston is the capital city of the island nation of Jamaica, the largest of the Windward Island chain in the Caribbean Sea. The bustling metropolis is located in the southeastern section of the island and has a population of 750,000. Tourism is Jamaica’s main industry and source of income, and while most of the island’s visitors are concentrated on the white-sand beaches of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril on the island’s north coast, Kingston can provide a unique and wonderfully wide variety of activities and attractions for vacationers.
Here are three really cool things to do when you visit Kingston-town:
1. Buy gallon bottles of fresh coconut water and coconut cakes and candies at the Coconut Industry Board store on Waterloo Avenue. They have a soda fountain of the sweet, clear, refreshing and potassium-rich content of the coconut and serve a variety of container sizes. You can even bring your own container. While you’re there, you should visit the Junta museum located just behind the store, which has really interesting exhibits on coconut.
2. Eat fish fry and festival (a long fried cornmeal and flour-based dumpling) at Jollies Restaurant in Port Henderson or Glorias in Port Royal. To do this right on the beach, visit Hellshire Beach, where vendors cook fresh seafood to order in large pans over charcoal stoves. Our favorite ‘fish and feast’ creators in Hellshire are ‘Aunty’ and ‘Prendy’. On Sundays there is DJ music.
3. Shop for groceries at Superplus Supermarket in New Kingston or Megamart on Upper Waterloo Road. The best places to buy items like 100% Blue Mountain Coffee, rum, spices and seasonings at “non-tourist” prices.
Just a few of the many things you can do when you want to get a real taste of Kingston. Enjoy!