Ride a Jamaican Bobsled

This sounds like a fun place to visit: Ocho Rios, Jamaica is the home of a major new tourist attraction. Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain celebrated its grand opening last month and is predicted to draw at least 100,000 visitors each year.

The multimillion-dollar, eco-friendly attraction features a ride through the tropical forest in custom-designed bobsleds inspired by the famous Jamaican Olympic bobsled teams of the '80s and '90s. Passengers on the 3,280-foot, gravity-driven ride travel on winding, stainless steel rails through Jamaica's lush rainforest, controlling their descent with individual handbrakes. The bobsled track was designed and laid so as not to disturb the natural landscape.

Other highlights include a state-of-the-art chairlift ride that takes visitors above the treetops to the 700-foot peak of Mystic Mountain, a zip-line canopy tour and the Jamaican Railway Station & Mystic Pavilion. The Jamaican Railway Station is a replica of an early 20th-century Jamaican railway station, and features a lookout tower with spectacular views of Jamaica's north coast, a bar and restaurant, retail outlets, and a photo shop. The Mystic Pavilion is home to an island culture and heritage center.

Rainforest Bobsled at Mystic Mountain promises to be a high-demand shore excursion for travelers visiting Jamaica. Carnival Corp. was a partner in developing the project, and several cruise lines (including Carnival, Princess, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) have signed contracts to offer excursions here for the 2008/2009 season during their port calls in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port Antonio.