If Kingston is all business, St. James is where the fun is. The north-coast jewel is home to Jamaica’s second city — Montego Bay and a host of historical attractions. The parish is a tourist’s delight — fantastic stores, renowned restaurants, luxury hotels, and storied historical sites make the parish one of the premier tourist hot spots on the island.
Here are a few places to visit in St James:
Rose Hall Greathouse
This massive old plantation is perhaps St. James’s most popular attraction. Tied to the White Witch of Rose Hall, Annie Palmer, who some think still haunts the old plantation house to this day.
As the story goes, she was born in 1802 in Haiti, to an English mother and an Irish father. Soon after, her parents died of yellow fever. Adopted by a Haitian voodoo priestess, Annie became skilled in the practice of witchcraft. She moved to Jamaica, and married John Palmer, owner of Rose Hall Plantation. The Palmers were said to have owned over 200 slaves and were notoriously cruel even for the standards of the day.
John’s cruelty was not solely aimed at his slaves but also his wife and it would ultimately be his undoing. It’s believed that Annie Palmer poisoned her husband and buried him under a palm tree at the estate. Inheriting his fortune she continued abusing the slaves until one of them retaliated, and murdered the cruel mistress.
The mansion was passed down to members of Palmer’s family until it was bought by former Miss USA Michele Rollins and her entrepreneur husband John Rollins in 1977. Rose Hall is now a museum that highlights Rose Hall’s slave history, antique splendor, and original fittings. Rose Hall also offers night tours that focus on the Annie Palmer legend: supposed locations of tunnels, bloodstains, hauntings, and murders.
Bellefield Great House
Bellefield Great House is one of the oldest sugar plantations in Jamaica and has been passed down through 12 generations of the Kerr-Jarrett family. The property has gone through several renovations to replicate a piece of Jamaican history.
Sugar tours are the main attraction. Visitors are treated to a tour exploring the complete manufacturing cycle from cane to crystal. Rum tasting and lunch are available and there’s also a restaurant on site. It is also a very popular wedding destination.
Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club
Located on the ‘Hip Strip’ Gloucester Avenue, Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club is one of the parish’s most famous beaches. The waters at Doctor’s Cave Beach were once said to have healing powers. While it might not be outright good for the body, it’s good for the soul. Perfectly clear waters flow towards immaculately kept shores — it’s the platonic ideal of a Caribbean beach. Doctor’s Cave is complete with a gift shop, and restaurant. Its location within the Montego Bay Marine Park makes it an excellent snorkeling spot and you should make an effort to take a glass-bottom boat ride to see the local marine life.
Greenwood Great House
The former sugar plantation was once owned by English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose family once owned all the land from Rose Hall to Falmouth. Highlights of Greenwood include oil paintings of the Barretts, china made for the family by Wedgwood, a library filled with rare books from as early as 1697, fine antique furniture, and a collection of exotic musical instruments. There’s a pub on site as well.
Rocklands Bird Sanctuary
Rocklands is a bird lovers’ paradise. Established in 1962, which makes it as old as the country itself, this sanctuary located in the hills overlooking Montego Bay was founded by the late Lisa Salmon, one of Jamaica’s first and finest amateur ornithologists.
At Rocklands you can hand feed a variety of birds—including the Jamaica’s National bird, the Doctor Bird, the Caribbean Dove, the Jamaican Oriole and the Jamaica Owl.
Rocklands is a 20-minute drive from downtown Montego Bay and a 30-minute drive from Sangster’s International Airport.
Harmony Beach Park
Harmony Beach Park was renovated and reopened in 2021 as one of the main attractions in Montego Bay. The newly opened park features a massive beach, an activity center, a jogging trail, a promenade, and shops along the beach, as well as a multipurpose court. It is also now one of the locations for major events like the Jamaica Rum Festival.
