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Fisherman's Beach (free), adjacent to Island Village, is one of the best spots around to get fresh seafood--at Tropical Vibes restaurant or the other fish shacks set up there. This is not a beach for swimming, but rather for chilling out with some food and a beer.
Irie River (US$15) is a beautiful garden park on the banks of the White River southeast of Ochi that makes a great morning or afternoon day trip for a dip or to enjoy a picnic. The gardens host occasional events. To get there, head east out of town, taking a right off the highway opposite the entrance to Jamaica Inn just past the Texaco gas station.
Reggae Beach (contact Kavona, cell tel. 876/473-7077, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., 9 a.m.–midnight on Fri.–Sun., admission US$9.50) is a picturesque stretch of sand on an unspoiled cove a few minutes' drive east of Ocho Rios. The beach hosts excellent annual events like Luau and Frenchman's Parties, and an occasional stage show.
Laughing Waters is among the most stunning beaches in Jamaica for the gurgling falls spiling onto its fine, golden sand. The beach was made famous in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, where Ursula Andress emerges from the sea singing and echants 007, played by a young Sean Connery.
Blue Hole on the White River features a series of waterfalls and natural pools found along the White River in an area known locally as Breadfruit Walk.
Ocho Rios is known for its lush gardens, though some are far better maintained than others. One of the nicest free waterfalls in Ochi, known as Nature Falls, is frequented mostly by locals who come for picnics and to wash off their vehicles in the shade.
Shaw Park Botanical Garden and Waterfalls (DaCosta Dr., tel. 876/974-2723, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, US$10) is a nice river garden full of ginger lilies and little cascades. There is a rear entrance accessible from Shaw Park Road when the front entrance is closed. This is a great shady and scenic place to get some natural air conditioning when it's hot.
Turtle River Park (7am-8pm Mon.-Fri., 8am-9pm Sat.-Sun., free) is located near the center of town at the junction of Milford Road, Main Street, and DaCosta Drive. A pedestrian entrance is accessible from Main Street across from Sandcastles. Ponds in the park have koi, butterfly koi, tilapia and turtles.
Fern Gully is a former underground riverbed that was planted with ferns in the 1880s and later paved over to create the main highway (A1) between Spanish Town and the North Coast. Arts-and-crafts stands line a few of the less precarious curves along the steep, lush, and shady road.
Konoko Falls (8am-5pm daily, admission US$20 adults, US$10 children 12 and under) is a riverine botanical garden on the Milford River, which flows through the park before descending through town and out the storm gulley next to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande.
