Travel tips for Jamaica

Happy Birthday to the King of Reggae — Bob Marley! The legendary singer-songwriter was born on Feb. 6, 1945, and this year he would have celebrated his 70th birthday. “In this bright future you can’t forget your past…” nor such a legendary musician’s past either. So what better way to celebrate the Reggae star than with a visit to his colorful country of Jamaica, mon! Bob Marley fans from across the world make the pilgrimage to the beautiful island nation to see where the music legend lived and where his iconic sound took root.

Start your tour at the Bob Marley Museum, the most popular sight in Kingston located on Hope Road, to see where the Reggae star lived until his death in 1981. Fans will relish getting an up-close look at Bob Marley’s beat-up Land Rover, medicinal herb garden, and recording studio that still remain here.

Next, traverse the bumpy mountain roads to the small village of Nine Mile tucked away in the parish of St. Ann, the birthplace and the final resting place of Bob Marley. Tour the musician’s former home, now a shrine filled with memorabilia from guitars to awards to photographs of his life. Rest your head on the rock pillow (mentioned in the song “Talking Blues”) where Bob Marley sought inspiration and don’t miss the chance to stand on “Mt. Zion Rock, ” the musician’s favorite mediation spot. Pay your final respects to the King of Reggae in the marble mausoleum where he is buried along with his heart and soul: his guitar.

If you’re lucky, you may even see his children, who are often seen visiting the grounds of Nine Mile, which is owned and operated by Bob Marley’s family.

More on Jamaica: