Say ‘Ya Mon’ to family fun and adventure in Jamaica

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When travelling with the family to a destination as beautiful and diverse as Jamaica, staying at the resort for the entire trip simply mustn’t be an option – even if the kids refuse to get out of the pool.

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However, with so many different adventures to go on around the beautiful Caribbean island, it shouldn’t take much to get even the pickiest of kids motivated to get out and about.

One of the classics that is great for the whole family is the legendary Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios.

Anyone who has been to Jamaica will tell you about the beauty of the national treasure and that it’s worth the trip. While the thought of climbing a waterfall may seem daunting, with the skilled guides and some helping hands from your fellow adventurers, almost anyone can enjoy it.

And considering you will be spending the hike splashing around in the flowing spring water, it’s an excellent option for those looking to stay refreshed when the weather gets hot.

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With the falls flowing all the way down to the Caribbean Sea, you can even make a beach day out of it and grab some food or snacks in the park.

Not too far from Dunn’s River Falls is the stunning Mystic Mountain, which provides even more in the way of excitement. While hiking the falls is more of a laid-back outing, Mystic Mountain will get the adrenaline pumping for the whole family.

After taking in the beautiful scenery surrounding Ocho Rios during a relaxing gondola ride up to the top of the mountain, the real adventure begins.

Between the rock climbing, “Raggamuffin” roller-coaster and infinity pool, there’s enough to keep everyone busy for hours. As fans of reality TV competition shows, our family especially loved the suspended rope course. With three levels of obstacles, the whole family will have an amazing time hanging out – literally.

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The absolute highlight, however, is the bobsled run. Inspired by the Jamaican team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, guests can channel their love of Cool Runnings on this high-speed ride that will have everyone screaming with excitement.

Mystic Mountain is certainly a place where you can have hours of fun and get back to the hotel with plenty of time to hit the pool before dinner.

If you’re looking for a full day of adventure with a wide variety of outdoor activities, then Chukka Eco-Adventure Outpost at Good Hope is just the outing for you.

Located in Trelawny, the attraction takes full advantage of the region’s beautiful sights and terrain.

You can drift down a lovely spring-water river in a tube with their humorous and knowledgeable guides, take a journey on a bamboo raft while receiving a limestone massage, or embark on an e-bike ride through the picturesque countryside.

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But the absolute highlight is seeing some amazing sights while gliding down the thrilling course of ziplines through the trees and taking in all that Mother Nature has to offer. The kids will be shrieking with excitement while mom is screaming for her life, as it was for our family!

With the site having been established as one of the island’s oldest rum boiling houses, there’s also an Appleton Rum tasting experience (for those of age, of course) which helps deepen your understanding of the rum-making process and the country’s history.

There’s also a pool with a waterslide for the youngsters to splash around in between adventures.

But while there are a ton of exciting options for adventure-seeking families, it’s impossible to forget just how much culture Jamaica has to show off.

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The brand-new Artisan Village at Falmouth is the perfect destination for families seeking to enjoy that aspect of the island and learn about its history while perusing boutique shops.

With more than a dozen stores to check out, there is something for everyone to look at and learn about.

The Artisan Village has everything from incredible pieces of hand-carved wood, sculptures made from locally sourced stone, intricate leather works, pottery made onsite – with classes available, and Jamaican cigars. There’s also paintings, books from Jamaican authors, and toys for the kids.

What makes the village unique is that each shopkeeper is well-versed in local history and happy to share their intimate knowledge of their craft and the materials they use. It makes for more than just your average shopping outing.

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For refreshments, there are unique blends of delicious cane juice at one booth and a wide variety of homemade popsicles at another.

While the parents are busy browsing, the kids can escape in the village’s arcade, which features both VR and AR gaming, including four full high-end racing simulators. Good luck getting the young ones back to the hotel!

Plus, there’s more to open this fall, including restaurants for dining options.

And, best of all, it is located minutes away from one of Jamaica’s most popular ports for incoming cruise ships, making it easy to access.

Of course, you’ll have some days when you can have an adventure without even leaving the hotel grounds — in our case, the Moon Palace Jamaica all-inclusive resort in Ocho Rios.

With a water slide, multiple pools and beach activities like paddle boarding and kayaking, it’s easy to spend an entire day in the water.

Then when the sun starts to set, there is a bumping arcade for the kids and plenty of options for parents, including a nightclub, piano lounge and sports bar.

Jamaica’s national motto is “Out of Many, One People,” and it couldn’t apply more to this beautiful Caribbean nation.

And for families with many different types of personalities, there’s no doubt your group can come together as one and everyone will have an excellent time.

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