Sara And I Can’t Wait For Our Trip To Ocho Rios, Jamaica

I hope you've been listening every weekday for your chance to win Jamaican Me Crazy For Cash. Bob & Sheri give you a keyword each morning at 8:25. Mel and I ask for it back in the afternoon at 4:25. If you're the first caller with the correct keyword, you win $250 and qualify for an all-inclusive 4-day/3-night vacation for 2 to the Sandals Dunn's River resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

My wife, Sara, and I will be in Ocho Rios this week for a two-day broadcast. Mel was kind enough to let Sara come with me on this trip since we're celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year. On Thursday and Friday (1/18-1/19), Sara and I will be telling you about everything there is to see and do at Sandals Dunn's River Resort. With 12 restaurants, 9 bars (including a swim-up bar, Dunn's Rum Club, and Sandals' first rooftop bar in Jamaica), unlimited land and water sports, golf, and luxury catamaran cruises to Dunn's River Falls, we're going to have a lot to cover!

Talking on the radio is nothing new for my wife. She spent about 20 years working for radio stations in Virginia Beach, Austin, Pittsburgh, and here in Charlotte. We actually met at a radio station in Austin. Sara took a break from broadcasting when our sons cam along. She later went back to school to get her master's degree in mental health counseling and currently sees clients in Charlotte. I'm happy she agreed to come out of "radio retirement" for this exciting experience.

I've been doing a little reading about Ocho Rios. The area was originally settled by the Taíno tribe, who had settled in Jamaica around 1,000 BCE. After Christopher Columbus landed in 1494 and claimed the island for Spain, Ocho Rios was named Las Chorreras, meaning rapid rivers. In 1655, British forces seized the island from the Spanish. The English mangled the Spanish name Chorreras and called the town Ocho Rios, which means eight rivers. There aren't eight rivers.

What began as a sleepy fishing village has grown dramatically in recent decades to become a popular tourist destination. Ocho Rios boasts beautiful beaches, a cruise-ship terminal, world-renowned tourist attractions, duty-free shopping, and acclaimed resorts...like Sandals Dunn's River.

Sara and I will be flying direct from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Montego Bay. From there, it's a scenic 90-minute drive east along Jamaica's northern coast to Ocho Rios. Along the way, we'll pass the childhood homes of Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt and the late singer/actor Harry Belafonte.

Beginning February 24th, visitors will be able to save some time when American Airlines begins service to Ian Fleming International Airport. It's just 30 minutes east of Sandals Dunn's River. Ian Fleming had a vacation home near there called Goldeneye. That's where the novelist created his iconic character, James Bond.  The first 007 movie, Dr. No (1962), and 1973's Live and Let Die were both filmed in Ocho Rios. There's even a beach named after James Bond. More to come later this week when K104.7 broadcasts from Jamaica!

Winter Blues got you down? I spent New Years in Florida and I'm already ready to jet set somewhere warm again. I think I often take for granted just how lucky we are here in Charlotte to have an American Airlines hub and have direct flights to so many destinations not only domestically but world wide. Especially if you are on a tight schedule that direct flight can make a world of difference! So in my quest to get out of this miserable cold and rain I decided to just see what some of my options are. Obviously there are way more than what I've included but here are 8 of what I consider the best direct domestic flights from Charlotte to warm weather destinations.

Some places on this list make for an easy weekend getaway. I love to sneak out of work around noon on a Friday, head to the airport where I can be somewhere before dinner, spend all day Saturday, and head home late afternoon Sunday. I also had to include some destinations that most likely call for a slightly longer stay (aka a longer flight). Because those vacation days won't use themselves and you deserve a reward for making it through the holiday season.

Most of these are places I have been so they come personally recommended. I've also tried to provide you at least somewhat of an idea of things to do on your trip. If you're craving even more warm weather and have a passport stay tuned for the international version of this list. But go ahead and give this one a browse, daydreaming never hurt anyone. Several of these places had direct domestic flights from Charlotte for under $100. Which how can you say no to that? Especially when I remind you the forecast is cold and rain here.

American offers a direct flight from Charlotte to Key West multiple times a day. And it's only a little over 2 hours making this tropical island paradise a quick getaway! Visitors love the bars, gorgeous beaches, and of course that Key Lime Pie! There are also numerous museums (I've been to the Hemmingway House) and everything is walkable on this small island. Expect weather in the upper 60s and lower 70s.

For a slightly longer than a weekend getaway consider the desert and Phoenix. American offers a round trip flight or several other airlines offer connecting options. Phoenix itself has a lot to offer and so do neighboring towns like Scottsdale. Perhaps you'd like to make the short drive to the red rocks of Sedona (though be advised it's colder!) or even to the Grand Canyon!

Spirit and American both offer direct flights to Miami. And some a pretty reasonable! At just a two hour flight you can easily jet down after work Friday and head home Sunday night. Because admit it being on the beach instead of in brisk temperatures and rain is extremely enticing.

American will get you to Jacksonville in less than an hour and a half. Enjoy the city or venue to one of the nearby beaches- Jacksonville Beach or Ponte Vedra are two I'd personally recommend. Or rent a car and make the short drive to Amelia Island to the north or south to Historic St. Augustine. When I was in Jacksonville over New Years a few years ago the temperatures were in the 80s which is exactly what I'd love right now!

Vegas is calling! American and Spirit will both get you there nonstop. Enjoy some gambling, incredible restaurants, world class shows, or a pool day in the sun. Heck you may even come out ahead on this vacation!

It's sunny and 75 pretty much year round in southern California. You'll need some time as it is a 4 hour flight but downtown San Diego is an incredible city. Enjoying restaurants, bars, and shopping the Gaslamp Quarter, visit SeaWorld, Coronado Island, or one of my favorite beaches La Jolla. I've also flown into San Diego and made the drive to Disneyland if you're feeling adventurous and not afraid of traffic!

You can choose to take the hour and a half flight to Tampa from Charlotte on Spirit, Frontier, or American with the first two offering flights for less than $100. The Tampa Bay area offers fun city amenities, I'd personally recommend The Vinoy Hotel in downtown St. Pete. You're also a close drive to so incredible Florida Gulf Coast beaches like St. Pete Beach, Clearwater, and Treasure Island.

Yes San Juan is a domestic destination as Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US territory. The Caribbean island features a landscape of mountains, waterfalls and the El Yunque tropical rainforest. San Juan is home to old San Juan and the picturesque Spanish colonial architecture.  American has your ticket to San Juan and it's about a 3.5 hour flight from Charlotte.