What to do near by.
Jamaican's Hidden Gem Rentals is the perfect place to stay for anyone looking to explore the nearby area. Our properties are just a short 20-minute drive from Kingston, which is home to a variety of exciting attractions such as the Bob Marley Museum, the National Gallery of Jamaica, and the Emancipation park. Take a day trip to the nearby Blue Mountains or Port Royal for even more adventure and exploration.
Emancipation park.
The park is in New Kingston, and opened on 31 July 2002, the day before Emancipation Day. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's address to open the park he acknowledged that the park is a commemoration of the end of Slavery in the British and French Caribbean slavery.
​
The six-acre park includes fountains and public art. The park is known for the large sculpture Redemption Song at the park's main entrance. Redemption Song, which takes its name from Bob Marley's song of the same name, is an 11 ft. (approximately 3m) high bronze sculpture by Jamaican artist Laura Facey. The sculpture features a male and female figure gazing to the skies – symbolic of their triumphant rise from the horrors of slavery. The statue was unveiled in July 2003, in time for the park's first anniversary.
Bob Marley Museum.
The Bob Marley Museum is a museum and tourist attraction in Kingston, Jamaica, dedicated to the reggae musician Bob Marley. The museum is located at 56 Hope Road, Kingston, and is Bob Marley's former place of residence. It was home to the Tuff Gong reggae record label which was founded by The Wailers in 1970. In 1976, it was the site of a failed assassination attempt on Bob Marley. It was converted into a museum in 1986 by his wife, Rita Marley after his death.
National Heroes Park.
National Heroes Park (formerly King George VI Memorial Park) is a botanical garden in Kingston, Jamaica. The largest open space in Kingston at 50 acres in size, National Heroes Park features numerous monuments; it is the burial site of many of Jamaica's National Heroes, Prime Ministers, and cultural leaders. The neighborhood around the park is also known as National Heroes Park.
Hope Botanical Gardens.
Hope Botanical Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanical Gardens, is a 200-acre (81 ha) park and gardens located in St Andrew, Jamaica.
​
Major Richard Hope's estate was established after 1655 when the British took over Jamaica from the Spanish. Richard Hope was a commander in the British Army and received his estate due to his assistance in gaining control of Jamaica. It was developed as a sugar plantation with a watermill.
In the 19th century the property was inherited by Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. According to the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership research centre at University College London, Buckingham was the beneficiary of payment as a slave owner in the aftermath of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 with the Slave Compensation Act 1837.
​
The gardens were established in 1873 from a section of the estate. They were initially used as a site for experimental cultivation, particularly of sugarcane, but also developed into public pleasure garden. The gardens were closely connected with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, through regular correspondence and sharing of plants, research, and staff. Hope became the headquarters of the Department of Botanical Gardens and Plantations in 1898, and of the Department of Agriculture in 1908.
Hope Zoo.
Hope Zoo was opened to the public in 1961, established in the Royal Botanical Gardens nestled in the shadow of the lowest foothills of the Blue Mountain range. Hope Zoo was conceived as a Caribbean Zoo aimed to display a wide variety of animals from around the world while promoting awareness and conservation of our local Jamaican wildlife.
Today, Hope Zoo exhibits a diversity of exotic animals but has also established a reputable name as the primary entity for wildlife rescue & conservation in Jamaica. As a sanctuary for native wildlife, Hope Zoo works closely with our government colleagues at NEPA to rescue & rehabilitate native birds and reptiles.
​
Since 1991, Hope Zoo has also been home to the world-famous conservation program for the Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei). We have been one of the essential components ensuring the survival and recovery of this Critically Endangered species, with over 500 iguanas released back into the wild to date. We are proud.
