Port Antonio

The first Port Antonio tourists arrived in the early 20th century seeking a respite from New York winters. In time, the area became fashionable among a fast-moving crowd that included everyone from Rudyard Kipling to Bette Davis; today celebs such as Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, Brooke Shields, and Denzel Washington dodge the limelight with a getaway in this quiet haven. Although the action has moved elsewhere, the area can still weave a spell. Robin Moore wrote The French Connection here, and Broadway's tall and talented Tommy Tune found inspiration for the musical Nine while being pampered at Trident. Today Port Antonio is one of Jamaica's quietest getaways, primarily preferred by long-staying Europeans. Even with the recent improvement of the North Coast Highway from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio, tourism remains slow here, and several attractions have shuttered their doors because of low tourism numbers. Port Antonio has also long been a center for some of the Caribbean's finest deep-sea fishing. Dolphin (the delectable fish, not the lovable mammal) is the likely catch here, along with tuna, kingfish, and wahoo. In October the weeklong Blue Marlin Tournament attracts anglers from around the world. By the time they've all had their fill of beer, it's the fish stories—rather than the fish—that carry the day.