Vallarta Lifestyles

Dim the Lights: There’s something special about going to the movies – and now there are myriad options in Vallarta, so plan to settle down in the dark and enjoy the show!

Cravings: A Jicama: The crunchy, colorless flesh of this indigenous root vegetable isn’t exactly exciting to the tongue. But it is certainly chameleonic, surprisingly adept at absorbing and relaying surrounding flavors.

South Side Hot Spot: We dare you, double dare you, to say the name Basilio Badillo to the person next to you without hesitating — or peeking at its syllabic pronunciation below. Because this happening north-south street, also coined “Restaurant Row” and “Calle de los Cafés,” is one you will definitely want to discover again and again.

Smoothies: Blenders are whirring all over Vallarta, so don’t bother digging out yours when you want a refreshing fruit drink. Instead, head for any of the myriad juice bars, cafes or restaurants serving up cool, luscious “smoothies.”

Cold Soup: My first experience with it made me feel much more sophisticated, somehow. And while decades have passed, I still vividly recall my shocked delight upon tipping that creamy cold spoonful of vichyssoise onto my tongue.

Discover Banderas Bay’s South Shore: You could spend weeks, if not months, discovering all the wonders that Vallarta has to offer; however, with more than 40 miles of coastline, it is quite tempting to see what lies beyond the city. From snorkeling and kayaking to peaceful sunbathing in secluded beaches, Vallarta’s South Shore features a number of destinations reachable by boat, suitable for day trips or overnight stays.

Not Just for Kids: Little fingers all wrinkled from the water? Teenagers getting restless? It’s time to pull the kids out of the pool and explore the fabulous activities that make Vallarta such a terrific family scene. From snorkeling to surfing, storytelling to Spanish classes, there’s something cool going on for anyone young – or young at heart!

Expanding Our Maritime Terminal: If you think Puerto Vallarta’s increasing parking problems have been limited to our city streets, you’ve been missing the bigger picture. All around the world, business is booming for the cruise industry.

The Viva Girls: A Dash of Class and a Lot of Marketing Savvy: Surprises happen in Vallarta when you least expect them, like when having dinner at a nice restaurant, say. And suddenly, four gorgeous women in capes glide in, appearing before you smiling broadly ...

Lew Jennings: A Life of Service and Adventure: Sailing around the world a decade ago with his wife, Anneke, on their 41-foot Unicorn, the couple instantly fell under the spell of Banderas Bay. “It was so beautiful — the whales, the dolphins, the mountains, the clean water, everything about it.”

Chiles: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: Like Johnny Carson, Hank Muffett and Conrad Kostelecky understand the wisdom of leaving when you’re at the top of your game. After 11 years of growing a local three-table eatery into a wildly popular business, begun more or less as a hobby, the two recently sold Chiles in the hope of having more time to smell the salt air.

Professor Enrique Barrios Limón: Fostering Mexican Culture: If to dance is to move among angels, then to choreograph and lead a dance troupe is to orchestrate heaven on earth.