I am traveling with some folks to the caribbean in early Janurary. I like the idea of Port Antonio because I think we would mainly be
hanging out at the beach and pool but we would probably like to do
something scenic,outdoorsy stuff for an afternoon or two and we would probably like access to some local food and bars(dive bars and tiki huts sound good to me).

Port Antonio is pretty ideal other than its not terribly close to any airport
and it might be difficult to get around. It has nice, small, scenic resorts
that aren't too cookie-cutter with local food (plenty of jerk and red
stripe), beaches, and some eco-tourism type options.

Does anyone know of a more accessible place that is comparable?

Port Antonio is nice, however very laid back,there are not many options for persons seeking night life/entertainment, plus it quite some distance away from the airport. I would suggest Ocho Rios as it has more options (beaches, waterfalls, restaurants, etc) and it much closer to the Airport (I'm assuming that you are coming through MBJ). Ocho Rios is always buzzing with activities as it is one of the major towns outside of Kingston and would cater to all the requirements you highlighted in your post. I would strongly suggest Ocho Rios ^

http://www.visitjamaica.com/resorts/ocho/default.aspx
http://www.deltavacations.com/destination.aspx?code=OCHORIOS
http://www.mobay.com/town3.htm

Driving-wise, Ocho Rios is about as far from the airport in Montego Bay as Port Antonio is from Kingston. You didn't indicate which airport you plan to fly into. In Jamaica, I don't think there's any better place than Port Antonio to relax and unwind. If you want to shop or dance the night away, I wouldn't go to Portie; however, if you want to see beautiful beaches and be surrounded by locals that don't accost you to buy their wares, there is no better place. Don't miss Frenchman's Cove -- bring a cooler full of ice and Red Stripe with you, buy a plate lunch on the beach and enjoy the day!

In my opinion, the next best location in Jamaica is Negril -- it's not as crowded or crazy as Ocho Rios and the beach is a whole lot better. Yet, you still have some nightlife options and some OK shopping too.