Puerto Vallarta Attractions: Festival Gourmet International

Though it’s a little early to be thinking about this event, it’s never too early to plan a vacation. And personally, food is always on my mind!  What I’m referring to is the Festival Gourmet International in Puerto Vallarta! 

Every November visitors get to dive into a night of delicious dishes with cuisine from around the world. In Banderas Bay, food and drink lovers get to experience the cookery of local chefs, chefs from all over Mexico, and chefs from across the ocean! Food tastings are held throughout the duration of the 10-day festival; along with cooking classes, education in wine pairings and tequila tastings. Participating chefs and restaurants will have you begging for more than just a sampling of the savory flavors that they have to offer.  

The festival ends with a bang as a firework show dazzles the crowd. Spaces for this event go quickly so make your reservation today! If you’re planning a Vallarta visit in November 2010, this event is one you won’t want to miss.

Puerto Vallarta Vacations: Spring Break 2010

For some students, spring break is in as little as 2 weeks away. Scrambling trying to find plans? Consider Puerto Vallarta, you’ve still got some time to book! Puerto Vallarta offers an exciting nightlife, fun excursions and perfect tanning conditions for college students looking to get away with friends. 

Many of the resorts will offer spring break packages or student rates that sweeten the deal. And, as much as Puerto Vallarta is a very family friendly destination; students know when it shows up on sites like StudentCity.com and Gradcity.com that they’ve got the party aspect of spring break covered. 

Hot spots include places like your standard, Senor Frogs to local dance clubs like El Zoo downtown. For those wondering, the legal drinking age is 18; making Puerto Vallarta that much more appealing to thirsty spring-breakers. The nightlife here will definitely give students more than one or two facebook albums to fill up. 

For daytime activities, most students love water sports like jet skiing and many indulge in the booze cruises that can be booked by the hotel concierge. College students looking for a spring break party on the beach should consider making their memories this year in Puerto Vallarta!

Puerto Vallarta Attractions: Botanical Gardens ATV tour

When it comes to vacationing, there are those who feel the best way to escape is to lounge by the pool, thoughtless, with the most physical activity being a reach for their daiquiri. But where is the real escape for the get up and go crowd? If you’re someone looking for an adventure, the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden 5-hour ATV tour could satisfy your “call of the wild”. You start off your journey in the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Enjoy the view of the lush rain forest and the garden’s colorful orchids. While riding your very own ATV or sharing one with a relative, try to keep your eyes on the road, the gorgeous, natural waterfalls could be distracting!

The first stop on your tour will be to the village of Las Juntas y Veranos where the Don Chendo Tequila Distillery is. You’ll get to learn how tequila is made and taste some local varieties. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila…Hey, get back on your ATV!

Next, the tour stops at the Los Veranos petting zoo. You’ll have the opportunity to hold monkeys, a python, and tropical birds. Some other critters include tarantulas and scorpions; but we promise, petting every animal is completely optional!

Finally, you’ll ride to Chico’s Paradise. Hope you remembered your bathing suit! Here, cliff divers will impress you with their best tricks before you take a dip in the river yourself. Enjoy some playtime in the water and take a ride down the waterfall slide.

Although you’ll be wishing this day would never end, your expedition returns to the Botanical Gardens for either lunch or dinner (depending on your tour time) at the Plantation Restaurant.

You can book a tour for either 9:45am or 2:00pm and it’ll run for 5 hours. The price of the tour includes your one or two-person ATV, all of your equipment, entrance to the gardens, petting zoo and the tequila tasting. All you need to bring is a bathing suit, your driver’s license (to be eligible to drive your own ATV), extra money for meals, and of course, a craving for some adventure!

By: Brittany Mignanelli

Puerto Vallarta Attractions: Aquaventuras Water Park

Not enough water at the beach and the pool? Well, that’s hard to believe; but if you’re looking for some extra excitement and even more water, there’s a place you’ve got to visit on your Puerto Vallarta vacation. Aquaventuras Park is a 15-acre water park that has fun for the whole family.

However, this won’t be your typical water park experience. Along with several pool areas, ten toboggan water slides and a relaxing lazy river, Aquaventuras has some pretty talented creatures that you may want to meet. That’s right, you can get both an adventurous day at the park as well as the ever-popular dolphin encounter that so many vacationers enjoy. But, if you’ve already gotten kisses from dolphins, how about giving sea lions a try? At Aquaventuras, you have the opportunity to swim with both of these amazing animals.

So, when you’re done speeding down water slides and swimming with dolphins and sea lions, head on over to the sea lion show at 12:30 pm and the dolphin show at 1:00. These adorable, aquatic performers live to make you laugh with their outrageous stunts.

My biggest tip for your Aquaventuras day? Don’t forget your camera. This is one Puerta Vallarta experience that you’ll want to remember forever!

By: Brittany Mignanelli