Feeling a little stir crazy and need to "get away" for a little while, even if just in your imagination? I have the answer for you - let's spend a virtual day on vacation! Join me for a day on the beautiful island of Jamaica.
First of all, let's get ready for our virtual vacation to Jamaica! Here's a playlist to set the tone for the day.
8:00AM
Start your day with a good cup of coffee! Let's start our day in Jamaica with a steaming cup of Blue Mountain coffee. Considered one of the most expensive coffees in the world, Jamaican coffee is grown on the mist capped Blue Mountain, Jamaica’s highest mountain standing at 7,402 feet. Blue Mountain coffee has been grown in Jamaica since 1728 when coffee was first introduced to the island.
9:00AM
Once you're awake and ready for some adventure, it's time to explore some of Jamaica's beautiful landscape! Let's venture out this morning and visit Dunn's River Falls. Located in Ocho Rios, this attraction is by far the most famous in Jamaica. Your 600 foot climb starts at the base of the picturesque falls. The not-so-daring can walk alongside the falls while observing from many entry points and taking those memorable photographs. There are many great tours that visit the falls. This is one of my favorites.
1:00PM
Time for lunch! When you think of Jamaica, you think of jerk chicken. While the exact seasoning combination for jerk chicken can vary from kitchen to kitchen, you'll almost always taste ginger, Scotch Bonnet peppers, thyme, and allspice all at once, culminating in that complex and delicious flavor. The history of jerk is also fascinating, with the pit-barbecue method generally used for jerk, as well as the seasoning itself ,coming from Africa along with slaves brought by the Spanish and British to Jamaica and other areas of the Caribbean. Click here for an amazing jerk chicken recipe plus a few extra ideas for how to serve this Jamaican treat!
2:00PM
It's time for a little relaxation at our resort. Jamaica is known for it's abundance of all-inclusive resorts serving fabulous food and delicious drinks all with a side of "No problem!" attitude. I've stayed at a LOT of these and my favorite -- hands down -- is Sandals South Coast. Just look at these photos I took from my trip there in February. There's no editing and no filters. If you want more pics, check out this digital photo album.
Or, if you're ready for even more to do in Jamaica, there's so much to see that it's easy to miss some spectacular things -- like bobsledding in the Caribbean! Check out these 10 hidden gems in Jamaica.
5:00PM
It's Happy Hour! On my last trip to Jamaica, my husband discovered the Jamaican Smile. It's SO good. Fruity, but not overly sweet. Whip one up and join us in Jamaica! Here's the recipe.
6:30PM
Dinnertime! If you want something truly traditional, why not try oxtail? It's a Jamaican favorite! You can check out a traditional recipe here.
8:00PM
Enjoy a beautiful sunset across the lovely Caribbean waters. After dark, it's time to enjoy some entertainment at our resort. Check out this fire dancer at Sandals South Coast!
And so our virtual vacation to Jamaica has come to an end. Here's wishing you cold drinks, warm smiles and beautiful sunsets. Ya mon! Plus, stay tuned here for more virtual days at fabulous destinations!
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