Puerto Vallarta Kids and Family

Mexican Collectibles: Harkening back to an era when no respectable soft drink would be sold in a can or plastic bottle, Lee and Nancy Chapman’s “Vintage Refresco Collection” of 198 unopened Mexican soda bottles makes a nostalgic statement in their Puerto Vallarta home.

Military Macaws: Military Macaws, or guacamayas as they are known locally, are a class of medium-sized parrots native to Mexico, Central and South America. Not quite as colorful as some of the larger members of the macaw family, the Military Macaws are equally impressive.

La Piñata: The Soul of a Mexican Fiesta: Piñatas are the very soul of children’s parties in Mexico. All youngsters wait impatiently for the moment they can try to break this model made of papier mache and metal, its belly a clay pot filled with candies. This folk art attracts not only children; adults also fall under its colorful spell when it appears at a Christmas party or even sometimes at a wedding.

Empowering the Youth of Banderas Bay: Today’s young people hold the future in their hands. Yet the Mexican educational system alone is not equipped to prepare them to benefit from and cope with the challenges and opportunities inherent in Vallarta, which is experiencing largescale tourism and development.

Marvel of the Sea: Long before jet skis and condominiums, ATVs and fishing trawlers, female sea turtles crawled from the oceans and bays along the Pacific coast of Mexico to fling away loose sand and construct their nests.

Best Cultural Ambassadors: Xiutla Folkloric Dance Troupe: It’s been 13 years since Puerto Vallarta’s Xiutla Folkloric Dance Troupe was founded. In that time, approximately one million people have enjoyed their performances locally, throughout Mexico and around the world; Xiutla de facto becoming Puerto Vallarta’s most important cultural ambassadors.

Best New Use for an Old Building: Maritime Museum: When in downtown Puerto Vallarta, you can visit Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, stroll the Malecon and enjoy a beautiful sunset. And now you also can visit the Maritime Museum, which is sponsored by the Mexican Navy and opened its doors to the public last year.

Best Reason to Explore the Bay: New Docks: Let’s face it: Getting on or off a small motorboat (or panga, as we call them) without the use of a dock is not for the faint hearted, particularly on a windy day. And yet, we’ve seen people using them regularly to explore Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore.

Best New Excuse to Walk Around Puerto Vallarta: Malecon Extension: Long a destination in itself, the Malecon meanders along the edge of Banderas Bay. And now it’s possible to stroll this “boardwalk” from the historic Hotel Rosita at the north end of town past the Los Muertos pier and farther south – all without having to shake sand out of shoes.

Best Storyteller: Lee “Lencho” Chapmpman: Oral and written storytelling traditions are well and good, but painting blueprints for the imagination in his folkloric “Lencho” style is the one that comes most naturally to this teller of tales.

Best New Canine Congregation: Daiquiri Dick’s Pet Picnic: Dogs ruled in December at PV’s first-ever charity picnic designed just for them, canines big and small and some 60 devoted owners sharing good times and delicious doggie bag lunches on the beach. The brainchild of videographer Laura Gelezunas and restaurant owners Peter and Tari Bowman, it shows that working out sparks great ideas.

Best Place to Develop a Green Thumb: Botanical Gardens: Historically, a garden was not only an escape from the enclosed interiors of impersonal construction, but also a way of creating an Eden by including Mother Nature in the embracing environment. Bob Price of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens focuses on “bringing native Mexican plants into safe contact with us so we can see them face to face.”

Birds of the Bay: These are two of more than 300 different bird species that can be spotted locally. Search for them on your own or visit www.birdinginmexico.com to learn about professionally guided birding tours.

Malecon Sculpture Tours an Even Better Deal: Galeria Pacifico owner Gary Thompson's Tuesday morning Public Sculpture Tours are a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours discovering one of our city's most cherished treasures.