Meet Ariel McDonald

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariel McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from the beautiful island of Jamaica, a place rich in culture, natural beauty, and vibrant energy. My upbringing played a key role in shaping the person I am today. From a young age, my parents would take me on trips, both within Jamaica and overseas. These experiences sparked a deep passion and appreciation for travel and exploring different cultures. They taught me the importance of embracing new experiences, which has fueled my love for traveling to new places. Now, I document my journeys to inspire others who share the same passion and to help them feel connected to the world through my experiences.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
By profession, I’m a medical doctor working at a hospital in Jamaica. The journey to becoming a doctor was far from easy—it was filled with countless highs and lows that pushed me beyond what I thought I could endure. Along the way, I’ve mastered the art of resilience. Medical school presented challenges that tested my limits, but it taught me that we’re often stronger than we believe. I’ve learned to acknowledge my worth, trust my abilities, and give myself the credit I’ve earned. Despite the obstacles, it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and it fills me with happiness to be in a position where I can help others and make a positive impact on their lives. As you can imagine, being a doctor doesn’t leave much free time for travel and adventure. However, I’m very deliberate about making time to explore different locations, both locally and internationally, and sharing those experiences with my growing number of followers across my social media platforms.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Jamaica is a beautiful destination with so much to offer, so fitting it all into just one week would be tough. But if I had to narrow it down, here’s how I’d show my friend the best time.

We’d start our adventure in Montego Bay, where we’d explore the Hip Strip and indulge in a delicious seafood boil at Pier 1, followed by an authentic Jamaican experience at Peppa’s Cool Spot. After a day of eating, we’d relax and overnight in one of the iconic hotels in the area.

We’d then head to Ocho Rios for a few days. Where we’d visit the following places : Dunn’s River Falls, where we’d climb the falls and enjoy the cool, refreshing water. Chukka Cove where we’d go ATV riding and horseback riding through lush trails. We’d swim with dolphins and stingrays at Dolphin Cove and cap it off with a boat ride and snorkeling at Margaritaville.

For a change of pace, we’d make our way to the Kingston Metropolitan Area. Our first stop would be Hellshire, known for its amazing escoveitch fish, followed by a visit to Devon House for world-class ice cream. We’d round off the trip with a cultural experience at the Bob Marley Museum, to view the home of the reggae legend and the vibrant Kingston Night Market for a taste of the local scene.

One week is never enough to see everything Jamaica has to offer, so I’d definitely invite my friend to come back for more of the island’s beauty and excitement.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I had to shoutout someone, it would definitely be my parents. Their support laid the foundation for my passion for documenting my adventures. By giving me the freedom to explore and see the world through my own eyes, they sparked my curiosity early on and nurtured my love for experiencing new places and cultures.

Instagram: __ohariel

Other: TikTok : __ohariel