Charming Carmen Stephenson's smile is as bright as the hundreds of
award-winning colorful orchids she cultivates in her private garden. Tours can be arranged to Mrs.
Stephenson's garden and to local businesses to meet Manchester's finest in industry. Check at the
front desk of your hotel or organize through Countrystyle Community Tourism. Many historical
sites, caving and eco tours to undisturbed natural sights including a secluded beach, also await
discovery by visitors to Mandeville and areas within easy reach of town. (876) 962-2338.
BLOOMFIELD GREAT HOUSE. Originally a coffee
estate, now patrons sip wine and dine at this historic Georgian great house originally
built in 1838. It has been renovated in recent years, and features fine dining and an art
gallery. Visitors will discover one of the best vantage points to enjoy views of the town of
Mandeville. At dusk watch the egrets from surrounding hills descend upon Mandeville to roost.
962.7130.
Pamela Grant and Ralph Pearce
P O Box 150, Mandeville, Jamaica W.I.
Jamaica South Coast CAVING. Tour
several noteworthy caves in the Mandeville area. Gourie Caves, near Coleyville, tempts visitors to swim and/or walk
through water to get to the caves. Also available are a dry trip cave to Oxford Cave near Mile
Gully and tours to Quashi Caves, 12 miles of underground chambers in Christiana with a river
running through them. Caves once inhabited by Arawak Indians, the island's first settlers, dot the
region near Alligator Pond. Guide Tony Goffe, an expert at identifying precious stones, conducts
some of the tours.
(876 area code) 857.1009,481.3218,610.0818.
ECOTOURISM TOURS. An
awe-inspiring IS-mile stretch of undisturbed secluded beach between Milk River Bath and Alligator Pond awaits
discovery and makes the visitor think it was reserved just for him. God's Well is a five-minute
walk off South Coast Road and folklore has it if you go down into the well, you won't come up.
Miles of coastline hug Ward's Bay. Canoe Valley, a scenic river valley, zigzags through a swamp to
the sea. Gut River, flowing underground, spills into a sparkling blue hole great for a dip.
(876) 857.1009.
FACTORY TOURS. See two of
Mandeville's finest industries that have made their mark with their products worldwide. Delight your senses with visits to
Jamaica Standard Products (High Mountain Coffee Factory) in Williamsfield (963.4211) and the
Pickapeppa Factory in Shooter's Hill (603.3441/963.0407).
The redolent smells of coffee and spices and friendly family ownership at both industries, make tours
worth the effort.
Tours are by appointment only.
Jamaica South Coast HIKING.
Hiking exists throughout the parish and one of the best opportunities is hiking through ginger lilies down an 800 foot gorge to
Christiana Bottom to discover two spectacular swimming holes fed by the Rio Minho River. One of
the holes is said to have no bottom (876) 857-1009.
Jamaica South Coast HISTORICAL
TOURS. The historic core of Mandeville is easy to walk. The town revolves around Cecil Charlton Park, named
for a former mayor. Graced with columns, the Georgian style Mandeville Courthouse sits on the
northern tier of this plaza. Adjoining the courthouse is the rectory (1820), the oldest structure
in town.
On the south side is St. Mark's Church (1820). The church's graveyard has tombs of British soldiers who
perished in a yellow-fever epidemic. In nearby Christiana, 13 miles away, the police station (1896) and
two Moravian churches more than 150 years old, are of architectural and historical
significance.
MANCHESTER CLUB. Historic golf
course established in 1868 is the oldest course in the Western Hemisphere. Beautiful vistas unfold
from 2,200 feet above sea level.
Course is set on 55 acres and features a par35, 2,865-yard layout with nine greens and
18 tee boxes. The club is also an excellent venue for tennis. 962.2403.
MARSHALL'S PEN. Butterflies lead the way
to this 18th century Great House set on a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary. Owned by the Sutton family, the
house was once a farmhouse and coffee factory owned by a former Governor of Jamaica. Tours are by
appointment only. 904.5454.
MILK RIVER SPA. The road to St.
Jago leads to Milk River Spa where warm waters high in mineral content at this world-famous spa are reputed for
curing gout and other ailments. The radioactivity of the water, which stays a constant 92 degrees
F, is many times greater than many of the world's famous spas, including 54 times as active as
Baden, Switzerland. 902.6902.
Jamaica,s South Coast Attractions-St.
Elizabeth
ACCOMPONG MAROON TOUR. Meet villagers and tour historic sites in the home of western
Maroons, descendants of runaway slaves. Must be booked
in advance. Cockpit Country. (876) 952.4546.
APPLETON ESTATE RUM TOUR. Appleton
blends the finest Jamaican rums and has for hundreds of years. The rum tour explains the
fermentation and distillation process. More than 8,000 barrels age the rum, usually from three
to 30 years. Visitors are encouraged to squeeze cane juice and taste it with ginger at a
nearby juice bar and mini-museum. The guided tour includes a welcome rum punch; visit to the
distillery and aging house and sampling aged rums. Tour includes a complimentary bottle. Read
More.....
J. CHARLES SWABY'S BLACK RIVER SAFARI.
Expert captains present an interesting commentary on this exotic trip on the
Black River. The Great Morass, a 125square- mile wetland and habitat for 300 crocodiles,
exotic birds and fish, extends inland along the river. Crocodile sights are very frequent on
this one-hour boat tour through what is Jamaica's largest wetland area.
LOVERS LEAP. There's a lot to see
and a lot to think about at this attraction. A sheer 1,700-foot diff overhangs the sea, where two slave lovers
ostensibly leapt to their deaths rather than face separation. Enjoy panoramic
views.
YS FALLS
. Take a ride on a tractor-drawn jitney through the estate passing
l00-yearold guango trees to reach a spectacular
seven-tiered waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. Swim in a natural pool fed by
underground and above-ground springs.
The cascading water is a joy for the senses. http://www.traversejamaica.com/ys-falls-black-river.html
Stephenson's smile is as bright as the hundreds of
award-winning colorful orchids she cultivates in her private garden. Tours can be arranged to Mrs.
Stephenson's garden and to local businesses to meet Manchester's finest in industry. Check at the
front desk of your hotel or organize through Countrystyle Community Tourism. Many historical
sites, caving and eco tours to undisturbed natural sights including a secluded beach, also await
discovery by visitors to Mandeville and areas within easy reach of town. (876) 962-2338.
this historic Georgian great house originally
built in 1838. It has been renovated in recent years, and features fine dining and an art
gallery. Visitors will discover one of the best vantage points to enjoy views of the town of
Mandeville. At dusk watch the egrets from surrounding hills descend upon Mandeville to roost.
962.7130.
Caves, near Coleyville, tempts visitors to swim and/or walk
through water to get to the caves. Also available are a dry trip cave to Oxford Cave near Mile
Gully and tours to Quashi Caves, 12 miles of underground chambers in Christiana with a river
running through them. Caves once inhabited by Arawak Indians, the island's first settlers, dot the
region near Alligator Pond. Guide Tony Goffe, an expert at identifying precious stones, conducts
some of the tours.
beach between Milk River Bath and Alligator Pond awaits
discovery and makes the visitor think it was reserved just for him. God's Well is a five-minute
walk off South Coast Road and folklore has it if you go down into the well, you won't come up.
Miles of coastline hug Ward's Bay. Canoe Valley, a scenic river valley, zigzags through a swamp to
the sea. Gut River, flowing underground, spills into a sparkling blue hole great for a dip.
(876) 857.1009.
their products worldwide. Delight your senses with visits to
Jamaica Standard Products (High Mountain Coffee Factory) in Williamsfield (963.4211) and the
Pickapeppa Factory in Shooter's Hill (603.3441/963.0407).
opportunities is hiking through ginger lilies down an 800 foot gorge to
Christiana Bottom to discover two spectacular swimming holes fed by the Rio Minho River. One of
the holes is said to have no bottom (876) 857-1009. 
The town revolves around Cecil Charlton Park, named
for a former mayor. Graced with columns, the Georgian style Mandeville Courthouse sits on the
northern tier of this plaza. Adjoining the courthouse is the rectory (1820), the oldest structure
in town.
300-acre wildlife sanctuary. Owned by the Sutton family, the
house was once a farmhouse and coffee factory owned by a former Governor of Jamaica. Tours are by
appointment only. 904.5454.
in mineral content at this world-famous spa are reputed for
curing gout and other ailments. The radioactivity of the water, which stays a constant 92 degrees
F, is many times greater than many of the world's famous spas, including 54 times as active as
Baden, Switzerland. 902.6902. 
Maroons, descendants of runaway slaves. Must be booked
in advance. Cockpit Country. (876) 952.4546. 
hundreds of years. The rum tour explains the
fermentation and distillation process. More than 8,000 barrels age the rum, usually from three
to 30 years. Visitors are encouraged to squeeze cane juice and taste it with ginger at a
nearby juice bar and mini-museum. The guided tour includes a welcome rum punch; visit to the
distillery and aging house and sampling aged rums. Tour includes a complimentary bottle. Read
More.....
on this exotic trip on the
Black River. The Great Morass, a 125square- mile wetland and habitat for 300 crocodiles,
exotic birds and fish, extends inland along the river. Crocodile sights are very frequent on
this one-hour boat tour through what is Jamaica's largest wetland area.
1,700-foot diff overhangs the sea, where two slave lovers
ostensibly leapt to their deaths rather than face separation. Enjoy panoramic
views. 
guango trees to reach a spectacular
seven-tiered waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. Swim in a natural pool fed by
underground and above-ground springs.
