Puerto Vallarta Tips

Long a popular Mexican beach resort, and one of the nicest resort areas in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is a sophisticated and beautiful city with a relaxed atmosphere.

Tourists have been coming to Puerto Vallarta since the 1930's, but it really became an "in" place after John Huston's Night of the Iguana was filmed here in 1964. The film starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who later bought homes there. Now some two million visitors a year come to Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta has historic areas with cobblestone streets. Some say the shopping is the best of any resort town in Mexico, whether at the Mercado (market) downtown, or at any of the many little shops. There are numerous art galleries. On a vacation day, you can have a swim, work on your tan, do a little shopping and gallery-hopping, devote some time to doing nothing, try a fine restaurant, dance the night away -- and repeat the process the next day with a different set of beaches, stores, restaurants, and nightspots! Puerto Vallarta is an excellent destination for a beach vacation that also gives you the flavor of modern Mexico. It's very popular with Mexican tourists for that reason.
 

With a population somewhere above 300,000, Puerto Vallarta is a relatively intimate city. It's never very far from the ocean, as the city runs along along between the mountains and the sea. It's actually in a bay, Banderas Bay, which results in gorgeous views. Watching the sunset can become a daily ritual, perhaps at one of the many cafes near the beach, or perhaps from a hotel patio in the hills.
 

You can explore outside of the city with a boat ride across the bay to Yelapa, take an outing to Mismaloya, even doing a little kayaking along the coast. If you are traveling with children, there are many enjoyable and educational things to do and places to go: whale watching in season, for one. With over 20 miles of beaches, it's easy to find your own favorites.
 

The weather is delicious in winter -- you might want a light jacket or sweater in the evenings -- and can be very hot in summertime. It's on the humid side year round. A tropical haven!

Living History Museums Kids Like

A terriffic way to teach your kids about American heritage and history outside the traditional classroom is by spending time at a living history museum where old skills and traditions come alive in authentic historical settings.

Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan. Over 100 historic buildings filled with items from 1650 all the way up to modern days. Model T Ford, Edison's lab, Ford Museum, 1873 steam locomotive, Wright Brothers' bike shop.

Plymouth Plantation, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Where the Pilgrims first lived. John Alden's house, Mayflower 2.

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia. Revolutionary War relics, restored Virginia capitol, 500 historic buildings, historic taverns for the whole family, activities for kids.

Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. 1790-1840 schoolhouses, farms, Folk Art gallery, Clock Gallery.

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut. 1800's shipbuilding and whaling, Morgan an 1841 wooden whaling vessel, coal-fired steamboat, 100 vessels and 1800's exhibits and demonstrations.

Conner Prairie, Noblesville, Indiana. 1836 frontier life with stories, craft demonstrations, and 39 buildings.

Living History Farms, Urbanville, Iowa. 4 working farms filled with old tools throughout 300 years of agricultural history, windmills, solar-heated barns, Indian and pioneer life are all exhibited.

Amish/Menonite Farms, Lancaster, PA
C&O Canal, Washington, DC
Roanoke Island, Manteo, NC
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL
Hale Farm and Western Reserve, Bath, OH
Hensley Settlement, Cumberland Gap National Park, Middlesboro, KY
Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City, KS
Broken Boot Gold Mine, Deadwood, SD
Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO
Tsa-La Gi, Tahlequah, OK (Cherokee Indian village)
Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, TX

The Beach That's Best for You

If you like waterproof seats in a car, seals at the zoo, and flip flops at the stores, you're a swimmer.
If you like fast cars, lions and tigers, and hiking boots, you're a thrill-seeker.
If you like cars that are unusual for your neighborhood, snow leopards, and local buys at the stores, you're a culture lover.
If you like convertibles, chimpanzees, and the latest fashions, you're a social butterfly.
If you like Stingrays and Barracudas, the cars, glowing aquarium fish, and water shoes, you're a snorkeler.

Swimmers: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, and Runaway Bay, Antigua
Thrill Seekers: Magen's Bay, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands
Culture Lovers: St. Maarten, and Bamboo Beach Club, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Social Butterflies: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Irie Moon Beach Party, Jamaica
Snorkelers: Turtle and Carlisle Bays, Barbados, and Trunk Bay, St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands

Outlet Shopping Tips

When outlet shopping, it is important to remember that with the wide variety of merchandise and shops it is east to become confused and lose sight of for what you came. Make a list of the items you would like to find, preferably with the store/s where you expect to find them. Of course, make sure to write down all the sizes for all for whom you are shopping, too.

Planning is more important that outlet shoppers often realize. A little time on the phone or company/outlet website can save you hours in the store and help you plan your trip. You can find out about upcoming sales and promotions, the hours the stores are open, and the labels and sizes they carry. Keep in mind that an outlet excursion will take at least a few hours, potentially all day. Make it a point to take time to enjoy being there by not planning too many stops in too little time.

Take along a map or directory to help you find the stores, maybe even marking out a route to follow right on the map. You can also put approximate times for each location to keep things moving along, or slowing down as the case may be. And, since you're probably driving there, write down where your car is directly on the part of the map where the car is.

Remember to set up a time and meeting place for all the members of your party, too, especially if you get separated. You can even schedule a specific restaurant for lunch and/or supper.

Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and clothing which is easy to remove, or layer, and lightweight.