Credit: Kanopi House

EXPLORING JAMAICA: TRAVEL WITH BAUGHAUS

Dana Baughaus, founder of Baughaus Design Studios, gives us a dash of the creative and beautiful vibes of exploring Jamaica! We take a spiritual journey to the Caribbean Island where she shares the Island’s best kept secrets like what to explore, where to eat, where to stay - and most importantly, what design hubs to visit! Join us on this exciting trip and let’s start exploring Jamaica.

Credit: Jamaica National Art Gallery

EXPLORING JAMAICA: THE DESIGN SCENE

Kingston Creative Downtown Artwalk is a community of culture, history, and art that is a haven for any designer. You can also visit the National Art Gallery, Trench Town Culture Yard, Nanny Town, Dub Club, Denizen at Swiss Stores Down Town, and Sumfest or Rebel Salute to enjoy some Jamaican music!

The Kingston Creative Downtown Artwalk hosts free tours of the island’s design spots on the first Sunday of every month. This tour is a great way to see the sites and experience the artistic vibe of Jamaica. The music genre of Reggae first came to the scene in the ‘60s and remains a large part of the culture of the island. Sumfest takes place in July over the course of three days. Or consider Rebel Salute, a one-day music event held in January that features roots reggae and dancehall.

EXPLORING JAMAICA: WHERE TO STAY

DB: I love Villas and boutique hotels, especially those that integrate local designs in their space like Kanopi House in Portland. It’s romantic, idyllic, and in the middle of a rainforest on the Blue Lagoon! I also love R Hotel/ AC Hotel for a cultural exchange, it even has its own art gallery. Other great places are Rockhouse Hotel, Goldeneye Resort, Idle Awhile, Skylark Negril, and Tensing Pen.
Goldeneye is a lovely place to relax in a beautiful collection of private villas, cottages and beach huts. Located in the North in a town called Oracabessa, Goldeneye was founded in the 1940s by Ian Fleming. Fleming went on to create the James Bond series, and The Ian Fleming House is still located on the Goldeneye property today. Enjoy a beachside pool, bar, and stunning scenery.

Credit: Golden Eye Lobby

EXPLORING JAMAICA: WHERE TO EAT

DB: I have so many favorites! Stush in the Bush, Free Hill, at St. Ann is a farm-to-table dining experience, Whitehouse Westmoreland has the best conch, Miss Lily’s at Skylark has mouth-watering corn on the cob, Border Jerk is where you get festive with jerk pork or chicken, Far Out Fish Hut has great seafood, Pudding Stop in St. Ann has some of the best puddings (my personal favorites are pumpkin, sweet potato, and cornmeal), and the In Thing Restaurant serves delicious fried chicken!

There are so many foods that you should try like the jerk pork, sausage, conch, steam roast fish, curried goat, and fried chicken. And don’t forget to have the Jamaican blue mountain coffee at Café Blue.

Credit: Miss Lily’s Restaurant at Skylark

Explore the Baughaus ceramics to bring a piece of the Caribbean into your home. From plates to coasters and other kitchen staples, each piece delivers the relaxing vibes and unique colors of Jamaica.