Get Hip to MoBay

Once the playground for the wealthy, Montego Bay is now one of the top tourist destinations in Jamaica with its "Hip Strip" entertainment area. People who typically avoid tourist traps will cringe at a name like the Hip Strip, but islands like Jamaica are all about the beach parties and festive times, and "MoBay" and the Strip are magnets for people looking to have fun. It is no wonder Jimmy Buffet built a Margaritaville here.

You have plenty of party place choices on the main drag, but there are certain spots on the water that shouldn't be missed. For starters, there's the Doctor's Cave Beach that was discovered over a century ago — Sir Herbert Baker famously claimed it had healing powers in the '20s. There's also the historic Cornwall Beach, an artisan village that recently reopened, and the Aquasol Theme Park at Walter Fletcher Beach.

Since water-based activities are their bread and butter, MoBay has focused heavily on its natural resources for the past two decades. This includes managing their coral reefs, mangroves and even their, um, sharks. With the exception of the latter, these conservation policies help make the area perfect for scuba and snorkeling.

For mellower spots, try MoBay's luxurious East Side or the chill West Side, but for the real party spot, check out the Hip Strip and its surrounding beaches for a rowdy Jamaican experience.

Photos courtesy of CadyLy and Slack13 via Flickr.