Sure, lots do. I have many friends that have. I haven't, mainly because i am from a big city and not very interested in city things, but i intend to do Kingston/Port Royal/Blue Mountains on my next trip.

Here's a nice trip report:

worldstogethertravel.com/notes-afrobaby.htm

...and a general guide to things to do:

www3.oag.com/Cities/Guide…

I know quite a few people in their late 20's that go to Kingston regularly.

They go for the night life.. Passa passa, Dutty fridaze etc... They dancehall scene is crazy in Kingston.

I have been once, but I love the beach so I prefer to be in negril ever since I discovered it! :)

I visited Bob Marley Kingston home and our driver had things to do around Spanishtown so we drove around there too. Can't say I ever felt unsafe ,very intresting sights actually.

Hello Mocha-Marlita,

Kingston is the nation’s capital and its population is about one-third of the total 2.5 million.

Kingston does get a lot of tourists but most of these are Jamaicans who live abroad and return at various times throughout the year.

These returning guests far outnumber all foreign visitors to the island.

Kingston has a lot to see, do and experiences to be had. It is the heartbeat of Jamaica.

Please take the time to read the comments from this thread. Scroll down to the third one by “haki” and follow all his other comments. Everybody has posted very valid points of view but haki is within my way of thinking.

www.jamaicans.com/forums/ubbthreads.php…

ENJOY!

Thanks for your replies. I will check out those links you all gave me. I am not usually scared or concerned about safety when I travel, but for some reason, I started hearing stories that werent too comforting from people who live in Kingston, so I got a little worried. I'm told that by my "look" i won't be able to blend in as much and that could make me look like a target, so I was just wondering what other tourists, who obviously don't blend in, thought about their experience in Kingston.

Its been a dream to visit Kingston, and I just don't want to go there having anxiety.

Thanks for your replies. I will check out those links you all gave me. I am not usually scared or concerned about safety when I travel, but for some reason, I started hearing stories that werent too comforting from people who live in Kingston, so I got a little worried. I'm told that by my "look" i won't be able to blend in as much and that could make me look like a target, so I was just wondering what other tourists, who obviously don't blend in, thought about their experience in Kingston.

Its been a dream to visit Kingston, and I just don't want to go there having anxiety.

I spent two weeks in Kingston in 2003 and never felt unsafe. In fact, I experienced much less hassle than I did in Montego Bay. There are some parts of Kingston which you shouldn't enter on your own, but you probably wouldn't be interested in these areas anyway.

Most of the better hotels are situated in New Kingston - the safest part of the city.

There are plenty of things to see and do. Devon House is well worth a visit - a nineteenth century wooden mansion surrounded by gardens. Also, Sabina Park, Jewish Synagogue, University of West Indies Mona campus (good bookshop).

Kingston is also a good base for exploring the eastern part of the island. You can do a half-day trip to Port Royal, or a whole-day trip over the Blue Mountains to Port Antonio on the north-eastern coast - if you do go up into the Blue Mountains, make a stop at Strawberry Hill Hotel which has the best rum punch in Jamaica and breathtaking views of Kingston 3,000 feet below. Another site worth visiting is Firefly, Noel Coward's home from 1956 to 1973 - amazing view (again) and some very decent rum punch.

KIngston has lots of excellent restaurants. My favourite was "The Fish Place" in Constant Spring Road - fantastic sweet and sour prawns.

To finish, just use common sense (as you would anywhere else in the world) and you are very unlikely to come to any harm.

Hello Berbican,

Thank you for bringing back all these nice memories once again. Glad to learn that you enjoyed your visit to the capital.

Mocha,

I have opened the link to show you that my suggestions are similar to those made by Berbican. You cannot go wrong.

Wed- Sunday...catch a roots play or National Dance theatre production or pantomime

Sun brunch at the Pegasus by the pool or sometimes Jazz by the Pegasus

Downstairs at the Pegasus always has an Art show of some kind.

The National Museum for art.

* Lunch at the vegetarian restaurant in the Botanical Gardens on Hope Rd.

* Lunch or dinner at "Up On the Roof" on Knutsford Blvd. ( A little pricey, but well worth it.)

* Devon House is nice for a walk-about and the famous Devon House I- Scream .

* Spend half or all day on Lime Cay, an island just outside the Kng. harbour. Take the boat from the Y-Knot Marina just before the Morgan's Harbour Hotel (They also have a boat but it costs more.) You can catch any of the marina's return boats when you're ready to return. In the middle of the week they will pick you up at the time you request. On the weekend there is food and drink to purchase but during the week be sure to carry your own picnic.

Eat Fish and Bammy at Glorias over by Port Royal.

The Quad Nightclub in New Kgn

Red Bones Cafe for Jazz.

The FISH HOUSE on Constant Spring Road for lunch.

A day trip up to IRISH TOWN. All the way up to *STRAWBERRY HILL**

islandoutpost.com/strawberry_hill/the_garden/

Hello Mocha-Marlita

Quote: I'm told that by my "look" I won't be able to blend in as much and that could make me look like a target.

I urge you read the contents in the link provided by ohliz.

worldstogethertravel.com/notes-afrobaby.htm

It is very well written and most informative. Not only about Kingston but also about Jamaica.

Here is just one part of the report.

I am an Asian female w/ an afro, and was travelling solo. I had a very secure and stylish little bag that was difficult (even for me) to open which strung across my shoulder that has steel cable in the handle. I tried hard to not look like a frumpy tourist in tech fabrics and hiking gear and dressed in what I assumed girls in Jamaica would wear. (I was right on about the clothing, but mine were either not chintzy enough OR not expensive enough) That and some rock star sunglasses and I walked the streets like I owned the place. I truly believe being confident makes all the difference in the world. Also, unfortunately, light skin is given preference over dark skin, and Asians are exotic, so I really was given the red carpet treatment being all of the above.

Kingston is a relatively large city so it really depends on where you go. If you go to the inner-city areas you may encounter some crime. Having said that crime against tourists-whether in Kingston or elsewhere on the island is extremely extremely minimal-almost non-exist. If you stick to certain areas I can almost guarantee that you wont find any problems. The city does not get a lot of North American visitors like the resort areas, but many tourists from Japan, Europe and other Caribbean islands flock the city to experience the vibrant night life and atmosphere. They say Kingston is the heartbeat of Jamaica but I beg to say that it is the heartbeat of the Caribbean because it is the mecca for music, food, culture, art, fashion and night life for the entire region.