For splendid beaches, time on the water and a bit of golf, look no further than Montego Bay on the northwest coast. Manicured resorts line the shores of this urban area, while exotic jungle pads interior mountains, scored by the swirling waters of the Great River, setting the scene for beautiful Caribbean sunsets.

Explore the cobbled streets of downtown Montego Bay for architecture and a dose of culture before losing yourself in the great outdoors. Make the trip to Bellfield or Rose Hall Great House, depending on whether you want historic or haunted, just out of the city center. Spend an afternoon absorbing the Jamaican vibe in the nineteenth-century airs of Falmouth.

Tee off at a championship golf course or satisfy your shopping urges at a selection of duty-free stores before sinking into the sands and a good book.

Snorkel up for a trip to Montego Bay Marine Park and kick slowly past busy coral reefs and bright tropical fish, or take a bird break with a guide and watch for leggy herons and egrets. Try offshore dive sites for colorful walls, but for closer sea-creature encounters, game fish in the dark waters of "Marlin Alley" or fly-fish on the Great River.

Penetrate the tangled tropical foliage on a bamboo raft ride on the Martha Brae River, or cool down while tubing the white water of Great River. Just don't come to Montego Bay and expect to stay dry.

Montego Bay is 119 miles northwest of Kingston.