San Diego
If you want the most fabulous and extensive collection of beaches in the United States, be certain to visit San Diego. Featuring seventy miles of glorious coastline, and pleasant temperatures all year, San Diego is a great place for tourists. Among many other activities, San Diego is a prime spot for swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, bicycling, and skating. Balboa Park and three world-famous animal parks round out this magnificent city. The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, and Sea World are all wildlife extravaganzas.
Over the past two decades, San Diego has exploded into a cultural mecca, filled with activities and tremendous diversity. Prior to that, this region had a reputation for being a quiet little Navy town. A huge naval base can be found in San Diego, and a lot of the military have their permanent homes in the city. But the influence of three major universities in the area has transformed San Diego into a lively town. The shopping, dining, and entertainment options expand exponentially annually, and there is no reason to think that this expansion will cease any time soon. In addition, San Diego is right near the Mexican border, and visitors often take a short side trip and venture south into Tijuana.
San Diego was the first city established in all of California, making it a rich center for state and national heritage. It is a significant region that should be recognized as such, and whenever tourists pass through, they appreciate its beauty and importance. In addition to the great beaches and pleasant dining establishments, a number of state-of-the-art facilities are springing up all over San Diego. Qualcomm Stadium is the home of the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres. If you plan your trip to include a sporting event, you won't be disappointed.
Cabo San Lucas
At the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula,
where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, lies the tropical paradise
known as Cabo San Lucas. Excellent weather, miles of magnificent public beaches
with crystal clear water, and championship golf courses set the mood for a
vacation that entices you to unwind and refresh.
Once sought after by migrating pirates for its safe harbors,
the Los Cabos (The Capes) area, and Cabo San Lucas in particular, is one of the
most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. It has grown in recent decades to a
city of over 25,000, with many of its residents drawn to its rugged and
beautiful coastline, water-sports galore, and world-class golf resorts. Cabo is
particularly famous among the sport fishing crowd because of its year round
status as the Mecca of big game trophy fish.
No matter what the season, in Cabo San Lucas you can partake
in the thrill of hooking a blue or black marlin, sailfish, dorado or tuna. There
are also many great surfing opportunities in Cabo San Lucas. To add some
underwater excitement to your stay in this beautiful city, go on a deep-sea
diving adventure, where you can see spectacular gardens of black coral reefs,
gorgeous sea turtles, and sand waterfalls.
The legendary spirited nightlife of Cabo San Lucas, as well
as the wonderful fresh seafood served in its charming restaurants, also
highlights this wonderful city. Shopping for creative Mexican arts and crafts,
or spending the day out on a glittering white sand beach, are other ways that
you can enjoy your peaceful stay here. It is no wonder that visitors return
again and again!
Mazatlan
Exquisite Mazatlan, the "Pearl of the Pacific," is located 674 miles north west of Mexico City, and is truly a tourists dreamland. A city housing nearly 500,000 people, Mazatlan is the single largest port in between the Panama Canal and Los Angeles. Mazatlan is packed with a
myriad of engaging features and activities that make it a fabulous place to
visit.
The tremendous sportfishing, some of the best in the
world, and the spacious, glorious beaches continue to be two of the most
enticing features of Mazatlan. The golf scene is evolving and luring many
tourists, as well. There aren't too many other places where you can tee off on
a lush, sparsely populated course on a seventy-degree December morning. Mazatlan's
elegant yacht harbor is becoming quite the destination for the rich and
powerful. The best news of all is that the tremendous selection of
accommodations and activities have not yet reached the masses, so the majority
of resorts are less expensive in comparison to other Mexican destinations.
Old Mazatlán is known as the "Historic
Zone" because of its culture and fantastic heritage. This region is an
exciting place to do a little exploring. Recent restoration has truly enhanced
the atmosphere of the area, and guided tours highlight the most fascinating
aspects of Old Mazatlan. Sidewalk cafes and shopping make this a quite
pleasurable experience.
Zona Dorada is the hustle and bustle of Mazatlan, and is
fondly translated as "The Golden Zone". This is the location
where you can find the majority of the tourist hotels, most of the upper echelon
restaurants, and a tremendously active nightlife. The Golden Zone is any place
north of Punta Sabalo, and this is where one of Mazatlan's most well known
city attractions is located. This party haven is called Fiesta Land, and it is
certainly "party central" of Mazatlan. Fortunately, almost all of the
attractions, nightlife, hotels, and clubs are within walking distance of one
another.
The first settlers of Mazatlan were the Totorames. Hunters,
gatherers, and fisherman, the Totorames inhabited Mazatlan until 1531, when the
Spaniards settled. During that time, the area was rich in gold and silver, and
the settlers, pirates, and everyone else who passed through tried desperately to
get their hands on some of the precious metal. In 1806, the city was
incorporated, and then, in the 1830?s, a municipal government was established.
It was at that time that Mazatlan started to emerge as an ever-growing seaport.
Since then, the port has grown into one of the largest fishing fleets for shrimp
and tuna in the world. Also a fabulous tourist resort, Mazatlan is opening first
class hotels and premier restaurants all the time.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a land of gorgeous sandy beaches, majestic
mountains, and small-town allure. Located in the heart of the Mexican Riviera, a
beautiful stretch of coastline running from Mazatlan to Manzanillo, Puerto
Vallarta is second only to Cancun in its popularity with tourists.
The city of Puerto Vallarta traces its history back to the
1500's, when it was first visited by Spanish explorers. Later, migrating
Mexicans and even pirates added their individuality to this unique city. Today
Puerto Vallarta remains a place enriched with history and culture, welcoming all
people to join in its beauty. Puerto Vallarta offers its visitors a wide range
of lovely hotels, inns, resorts and restaurants, which are sure to fit any
budget. Tours are offered year round to sites such as Los Arcos and Huichol
Indian villages. Kids will find places to explore and learn about around every
corner of this Mexican paradise. Puerto Vallarta is alive with the feeling of
"old Mexico". It is not rare to see donkeys roaming the streets and
artfully designed homes reminiscent of days long past.
While areas of Puerto Vallarta can make you feel as if you
have entered early 20th century Mexico, only walking distance away,
the same city offers the feeling of a modern world-class resort with all the
amenities of home. The city's 26 miles of coastline offer some of the most
beautiful beaches in the world, with plenty of boardwalk on which to stroll or
browse the wares of the street vendors, who always offer something unique as a
reminder of this beautiful and historic city.
In recent years, Puerto Vallarta has also gained a reputation
as being a prime area to take part in many adventurous "ecotourism"
activities. Outfitters are springing up all over town, providing the necessary
equipment and expertise to enjoy a day of mountain biking, sea kayaking, and
deep-sea diving.
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