MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
CREATE MEMORIES THAT LAST MANY LIFETIMES IN PUERTO VALLARTA
From Grandparents to Grandkids,
Puerto Vallarta has something for everyone
NEW YORK
– June 9, 2010 –When generations of a family come together for a
vacation, the right destination can set the stage for a host of bonding
opportunities and wonderful memories. Puerto
Vallarta, one of
Mexico’s most authentic destinations, offers
vacationers and their families the opportunity to enjoy time together
but also experience the destination in their own way. Ranging from
kid-friendly water sports and a wide range of eco-adventures in the Sierra Madre Mountains to pre-Hispanic spa treatments
there are plenty of activities that can be fine-tuned to the needs of
each member of the group or for the entire family to enjoy.
Puerto Vallarta
encompasses all of Banderas
Bay on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Located in the state of Jalisco, it features 40 miles of coastline and a
diverse topography, including tropical jungles, rocky river beds, steep mountain sides and arid
flatlands.
Rich in
culture and steeped in tradition that conserves all of the charm and
character of a small Mexican village,
Puerto Vallarta greatly reflectsthe best of what authetic
Mexican family life has to offer.
Bonding time
with grandpa and grandma
Vacations can offer grandparents and grandchildren the
opportunity to bond. Taking
a stroll down the Malecon to enjoy the arts and crafts markets and free
outdoor entertainment, that include concerts, mimes, and the flying
dancers of Papantla, can be a fun and educational experience. Visit the
newly opened Vallarta Theatre, and see a performance of Fandango,
a dance presentation of Mexico’s many cultures, or visit the Naval Museum,
the Pre-Hispanic Museum or the Botanical Gardens to explore more of
Mexico’s history.
Kids get a chance to
dance with grandma and grandpa on Thursday and Sunday nights at the main
town square, right across from the Malecon, when the Municipal Band
plays live and local families congregate for an open air, old-fashioned
town hall dance.
Quality time with the family
As a world class destination,
Puerto Vallarta has more than 10 international
airlines arriving on a daily basis, allowing family members to reunite,
no matter where they are coming from.
Families can practice their Spanish as they immerse themselves into
local customs and traditions. Depending on the season, visitors can
schedule a cooking class at El Arrayan Restaurant (www.elarrayan.com.mx)
to learn how to make their favorite tacos after shopping at the numerous
specialty shops along the malecon. Families can also take a day trip to
Las Caletas, a secluded beach hideaway that’s only accessible by sea,
where they can go snorkeling with sea lions, scuba diving or kayaking
and explore the area on a guided nature walk.
Kids and adults alike
can also enjoy a visit to the “El Quelele” lagoon, a wildlife preserve
where a special facility was created to protect the American Crocodile
and its habitat. Families can take a canal tour through the lagoon’s
mangroves and get close to the birds, crocodiles, and other native
species. At the University of Guadalajara’s Crocodile and Reptile Research Center visitors have the opportunity to
hold crocodile hatchlings as well as learn more about the American
crocodile species from expert biologists.
Kids and adults alike
can enjoy swimming with Pacific Bottlenose dolphins at Vallarta
Adventures’ saltwater lagoon. Often ranked as one of the highlights of a
family trip to
Puerto Vallarta,
there are numerous programs available for non-swimmers as well and for
those who’d like to spend half a day alongside with professional
trainers to learn about training marine mammals.
From December to April
is the time of year to take a boat ride in the Bay of Banderas to watch the Humpback whales play
in the calm waters of the bay as they migrate to the area to find a mate
and breed. As many as 300 whales have been sighted during one season.
The humpback is the species that breaches most frequently, up to once
every 40 seconds for several minutes making them easy to spot.
For those boys and
girls, and moms and dads, who are looking for an outdoor adventure,
exploring the back roads of Puerto Vallarta on an ATV (all terrain vehicle)
will prove a fun-filled experience. The tour takes riders to the rural
countryside and along dirt roads and through rivers. It is recommended
to bring old clothes and sneakers for this excursion as drivers end up
covered in dust and mud, which is part of the fun. The tours are only
open to children over 6 years old who have to ride with an adult holding
a valid driver’s license.
Families can also enjoy
adventure activities without going far from their hotel.
Ridley sea turtles make their way back to the shores of Puerto Vallarta every year, from July to
December, in their ancient annual cycle of reproduction.
This is a
unique educational opportunity where children are sure to have fun while
learning about this protected species. Numerous hotels in Puerto Vallarta run a marine turtle
conservation and protection program with the help of a professional
marine biologist where the eggs are incubated in their nests to best
preserve natural conditions. Once the hatchlings are born and ready to
be set free into their natural habitat, the various hotels invite their
guests to aid in the release of the newborn hatchlings on the beaches so
they find their way into the water.
Romantic moments
Traveling with multiple family members can provide
couples the opportunity to leave the kids with older relatives, and go
on a romantic escape. Take an afternoon stroll along the beautiful white
sand beaches and enjoy the view from El Faro Lighthouse Bar in Marina
Vallarta. Rekindle the romance over a sumptuous
dinner at one of
Puerto Vallarta’s
fine internationally acclaimed restaurants and dance the night away at
one of the many nightclubs along the Malecon. Numerous spas offer
romantic couples spa treatments.
I’m a big kid
now
All-inclusive resorts such as the Meliá Puerto Vallarta,
Dreams, or Velas Vallarta provide the entire family with ways to enjoy
all their amenities without grownups having to be around all the time.
Groups of younger kids can enjoy the kid pools, get a drink or let their
imagination go as there are able to be more independent in a safe
environment.
These resorts along with other popular
Puerto Vallarta hotels including, Dreams, Holiday
Inn, Crown Paradise Club, Fiesta Americana, Barcelo la Jolla de
Mismaloya, NH Krystal Vallarta, Westin Resort Spa Puerto Vallarta and
CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa make kids feel welcome
with themed Kids Clubs complete with kid friendly activities and staff.
Vallarta for
teens
Puerto Vallarta’s
double facet, as both a small town and an international destination,
provides teenagers with the perfect opportunity to explore the area on
their own. Rent a bike and ride through the streets of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Take a moment out at one of
the many restaurants on the beach, which are perfect for a refreshing
drink in coconut shells, people watching and getting Henna tattoos. More
adventurous teens may enjoy mountain biking, tropical rainforest hikes,
canopy tours, and several other adrenaline-filled ways
to see and
learn about the varied tropical flora and fauna of the Sierra Madre
Mountains as they zip from
tree to tree.
Teens staying for a longer period of time can also take
advantage of volunteer tourism opportunities in surrounding villages or
taking Spanish classes in one of the many schools.
Additional information
on
Puerto Vallarta
is available at
www.visitpuertovallarta.com
About
Dave's Pick