Salem Beach near Runaway Bay is perhaps not much of a swimming beach but is worth a visit if you’re dining at the restaurant which has made it popular– Sharkies Seafood. Sharkies is located on Salem Beach and what they lack in speed, they make up in deliciousness by producing seafood that’s comparable to all the great seafood eateries in and around the corporate area with which I’m familiar. Besides, if you time your visit near to sunset, the setting is glorious. With that, let’s talk about:
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How to Find Salem Beach & Sharkies
The Salem Public Beach sign isn’t visible from the A1 main road so instead look out for the Sharkies Seafood Restaurant sign. You’ll see the sign on the right of the road about 3 minutes after passing the landmark signs for Laughlands Great and Little Rivers, coming from the direction of St. Ann’s Bay. The beach has decent free restrooms but that’s about it in way of facilities. Also, like my previous public beach entries on this blog, Salem Beach is free in that there’s no admission cost.
P.S. Dining at Sharkies is not compulsory for free access to this beach.
Salem Beach & Sharkies Restaurant
I have no idea how this beach looks during the daytime as my two visits to it thus far were just around sunset. Therefore, I may be a bit biased in saying Salem Beach is absolutely stunning. The water was warm and soothing with sand as soft as velvet. The deep blue of the Caribbean Sea gently lapped against the pink and violet sky, kissed by dying rays of sunlight as day made way for night.
Gorgeous view aside, there was an overlying fishy odour which slightly detracted from the scenery. I know, I know. I’m visiting the habitat of fish, shrimp and other sea creatures but usually I don’t get an olfactory reminder of their presence when I visit the beach. There were quite a few boats along the shore too, perhaps owned by fishermen capitalizing on the restaurant’s need for fresh seafood daily and enticed by the fishy smell which promises a good catch. Nonetheless, that smell was what stopped me getting anything more than my feet wet. Fish is not exactly the scent any female wants emanating from her. . . Nor should the average human being for that matter.
Wrap Up
Salem Beach is rather mesmerizing at sunset but that’s all for which I can give it credit– except perhaps for having decent restrooms too. Our Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) needs to do better since a bathroom shouldn’t be the highlight of a public beach. Anyway, if you’re looking to pass time while waiting on your meal or takeout from Sharkies or driving through Salem at sunset, consider making a stop at this beach. It serves as a decent rest stop too so while you may not trust the beach for swimming, there’s still plenty of reason to visit Salem Beach. I rate it three stars ☆☆☆ and this post concludes my St. Ann saga, at least for 2017. There are tonnes more to do in Jamaica’s garden parish so hopefully adventure takes Elle here again sooner than later.
‘Til next time. ✌
Read Next: Cardiff Hall (Flavours) Beach in Runaway Bay
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