More Great Road Trips to Ponder.
May I be so bold as to suggest some road trip tunes to get you in a good mood for the trip? I have to say my current fave is Celia Cruz and her CD called "Siempre Vivere" which kicks off with a happening version of "Oye Como Va" that just begs to be cranked every time! It will definitely put you in a tropical mood.
Anyway, back to the business at hand: Project Puente.
Another spectacular and interesting destination North of Vallarta is a spot called Santa Maria del Oro. Quite a few years ago, Lisa, her kids and our family went camping there and discovered an incredible scenario. It turns out that the town sits above an extinct volcanic crater which is now a lake surrounded by beautiful "cottages" and a campground. What made it all the more magical was the fact we were told the lake is so deep, no one has managed to calculate its depth and we found the swimming amazing! The lake is also famous for being ultra calm therefore the water skiers have discovered it's benefits. You get there by taking the same highway to Guadalara but after Compostella, my memory is foggy so consult a map or ask at the Cuota (where you pay.) Thumbs Up: While camping, we saw a bazillion fireflies, the kids caught them in jars and we used them as candles during our late night feast. Poetic but true.
Another big fave of ours is Ajijic (ah-hee-heek) which sits on the northern shore of Lake Chapala. (You are talking about a 5 hour drive from P.V. on the highway towards Guadalajara) This is a town we have visited MANY times because it has a unique flavor and lots to see and do. It's more expensive but we just love the atmosphere and food at the Real de Chapala hotel. Obviously there are more economical options but at least check it out for lunch or dinner. The Hotel sits smack on the shore of the lake, has all the amenities one could want including a roaring REAL fireplace in the diningroom and features one of my favourite bars which is decorated in honor of a very famous Mexican movie star by the name of Maria Felix. I have fond, fond memories of sitting in that bar at night, the kidlettes asleep in the spacious bedroom while hubby and I wax poetic overlooking the expansive blackness of Mexico's largest lake. Heaven! Can't say enough good things about the place but again, not for the super budget concious. Thumbs Up: Inexpensive horseback rides along the shore of the Lake and some great dining and shopping options.
I will now end with a quote from one of my fave writers, Mr. Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Anyway, back to the business at hand: Project Puente.
Another spectacular and interesting destination North of Vallarta is a spot called Santa Maria del Oro. Quite a few years ago, Lisa, her kids and our family went camping there and discovered an incredible scenario. It turns out that the town sits above an extinct volcanic crater which is now a lake surrounded by beautiful "cottages" and a campground. What made it all the more magical was the fact we were told the lake is so deep, no one has managed to calculate its depth and we found the swimming amazing! The lake is also famous for being ultra calm therefore the water skiers have discovered it's benefits. You get there by taking the same highway to Guadalara but after Compostella, my memory is foggy so consult a map or ask at the Cuota (where you pay.) Thumbs Up: While camping, we saw a bazillion fireflies, the kids caught them in jars and we used them as candles during our late night feast. Poetic but true.
Another big fave of ours is Ajijic (ah-hee-heek) which sits on the northern shore of Lake Chapala. (You are talking about a 5 hour drive from P.V. on the highway towards Guadalajara) This is a town we have visited MANY times because it has a unique flavor and lots to see and do. It's more expensive but we just love the atmosphere and food at the Real de Chapala hotel. Obviously there are more economical options but at least check it out for lunch or dinner. The Hotel sits smack on the shore of the lake, has all the amenities one could want including a roaring REAL fireplace in the diningroom and features one of my favourite bars which is decorated in honor of a very famous Mexican movie star by the name of Maria Felix. I have fond, fond memories of sitting in that bar at night, the kidlettes asleep in the spacious bedroom while hubby and I wax poetic overlooking the expansive blackness of Mexico's largest lake. Heaven! Can't say enough good things about the place but again, not for the super budget concious. Thumbs Up: Inexpensive horseback rides along the shore of the Lake and some great dining and shopping options.
I will now end with a quote from one of my fave writers, Mr. Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
posted by Andrea J. Carman @ 7:22 PM
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