Has anyone recently driven the road from Alligator Pond (stopping for a dip on isolated dune-y beaches)...past Guts River...A-Pond River...God's Hole...into Milk River Spa, with a "normal" vehicle and survived the pot holes and macca switches scratching car paint?
Rebecca, the custodian down deh at the Guts always sends a Big Up HALO to yuh for all you do to promote these beautiful, beckoning South Coast features.

From the Gleaner:

The fountain of youth has not yet been found, but the bubbling mineral spa at the renowned Milk River Hotel and Spa, perched between the banks of the unassuming water source from which it takes its name and the foot of Carpenter's Mountain on the southwestern tip of Clarendon, might be very close to it.

Many have professed its healing powers. They have journeyed from near and far to soak up the curative wonders of the mineral spa.

No, there is no milk in the Milk River, but milk lovers would be fascinated by the fact that scientific analysis shows that the radioactive waters of this unique spa serve up a most intriguing offering that has far more minerals than the white liquid contains.
The Milk River mineral spa has 54 times the strength of the minerals of Switzerland's renowned ultra-luxurious Baden spa and 50 times that of the well-known Vichy spa in the south of France.

The history of Milk River Bath predates slavery. In fact, legend has it that it was discovered by a slave belonging to one Jonathan Ludford, Esquire in the 18th century. The slave pounced upon the unusual spring after he had been severely punished and ran away. All his wounds were healed by the waters flowing from this usual spring. Ludford, equally amazed, forgave the slave, fenced the spring and put him to watch it. He eventually willed the land to the Crown in 1791 and, in 1794, the first baths were constructed and opened to the public.

Today Milk River Bath Hotel and Spa is a national monument as the Jamaica National Heritage Trust has included it on its list of national heritage sites.

www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101022/lead/lead3.html

www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091020/news/news3.html

Yes Zed, that is one of my top 5 spots in JA. However, unfortunately I haven't been back there in too long. Maybe this is incentive to go again soon.

Bucket List: South Coasters

What we are really & truly talking about here on this trip to Milk River Spa is the Canoe Valley Wetland, a wildlife reserve under government custody.(NEPA)
In these craggy limestone cliffs to the north, many Taino caves have been discovered with evidence of their encampments, potshards, and carvings (zemis...)

Every South Coast light-adventurer should have it on their Bucket List to slip themselves into the jade-blue pools of the Alligator Hole River to snorkel through the dense, lengthy, golden, wavy reeds all the way to the sea shore.
Some of the bubbles along the way may be the manatees digesting pharts (a lovely-smiley term from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.)
Crocs ("gators") & turtles scurry away to the river banks as you approach them.

This, as Rebecca mentions, is a "Top Spot" excursion, with an opportunity in the Canoe Valley and along Alligator Hole, to observe waterfowl along its banks...herons, gallinules, jacanas, grebes...
If you are lucky enough to share some of this wanderlust, with a wide-eyed, silky adventuress, never fail to thank her. (TYJ)

Click here to see the Milk River Bath and Manatee Tour offered by Treasure Tours.

One of the many birds you will see at Canoe Valley.

I've been to Alligator Hole and snorkeled in that river, and seen manatees there too. I've also been to Alligator Pond (lunch at Little Ochi)

But my bucket list definitely includes Guts River, Farquars and perhaps Milk River for an overnight....