MONTEGO BAY

Several great houses, which once oversaw huge sugar plantations, are today notable visitor attractions. Rose Hall is one of the best-known and is an easy afternoon visit for Montego Bay guests. This was once the home of the notorious Annie Palmer, better known as the White Witch. According to legend, Annie murdered several of her husbands and her slave lovers. Readers who would like to know more about the tales of Rose Hall can read the novel The White Witch of Rose Hall.

Eco-tourists will also find plenty of nature-related attractions that lie off the beaten path. Bird lovers should make a stop at the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary in the village of Anchovy. This is the home of octogenarian Lisa Salmon, Jamaica's best-known amateur ornithologist. Her home is a veritable bird sanctuary surrounded by grassquits, saffron finches, and, most especially, hummingbirds. Through the years, Salmon and her guides have hand-fed the birds, even the tiny hummers, and today visitors can come by during the afternoons, have a seat on the home's patio, and hand-feed the regular guests of this bird diner. A host will put birdseed in your palms and tiny finches will land your hands. You can even hold a bottle of sugar water and have the fast-as-lightning hummingbirds feed just inches from your face. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that any nature lover should plan to enjoy. Visitors are invited between 3:30 and 5 p.m.