Kingston vibrates with the reggae vibe of urban Jamaica, an intense kaleidoscope of color, sound and history. Rain-watered greenery wraps the flanks of the Blue Mountains to the northeast, while water vessels creak, glide and sputter in Kingston's natural harbor, a bustling port. Spend a day in the city, a night enjoying live jazz on the town and get background for the rest of your island tour.

Take a guided tour of the Bob Marley Museum for a look at the old recording studio and a reggae education. Admire the graceful lines of historic Devon House before moving on to the National Gallery or the Institute of Jamaica for fine art, finishing with a stroll along the waterfront.

Catch a cricket match if Sabina Park has reopened or spend a day at the horse races in Caymans Park and get a feel for the Kingston rhythm. For an encounter of the natural kind, stop in at the Royal Botanic Gardens in New Kingston or cruise out of town with a good pair of shoes to climb Blue Mountain Peak for lush views out over the land and sea.

No pirate ships flit across the horizon these days, but for a glimpse of an old pirate haunt, head to historic Port Royal. Walk the city, stopping for a look at Fort Charles before moving on to other points of call.

Kingston is 61 miles southwest of Port Antonio.