Seattle to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
December 13, 2025
Through the time share gauntlet and into a taxi we bounced
along the cobblestone streets to Zona Romantica and hotel Tropicana. Good
enough for the short night until we head to dreams. A king for mom and
dad, a queen for Say all to herself and Hudson on an air mattress on the floor.
On our walk to dinner Hudson gets ogled by the gay
contingent. He is Mostly unaware of the stares. Panchos Takos for dinner
doesn't disappoint. We dine amongst others on a table on the street. It seems
everyone is having great conversations with their parties. Us included! Such a
great boisterous vibe with copious amounts of guacamole and superb tacos Al
pastor. A treasured memory being here with adult children.
We follow up dinner with a quick apres dinner bite at Joe Jacks. A place we have been visiting forever. Just a bucket of peel and eat
shrimp which we didn't need but really enjoyed. Great chats of travel dreams,
music loves, burning man and what is on the agenda for tomorrow. Saylor has an
ambitious drink menu she intends to conquer.
An ice cream bar from the local quickie market and we
meander back to the hotel. The quaint streets of cheerful lights, people
enjoying their evenings and fun places to consider for a next meal make this a
special spot. Miss having the energy to hang out while things rev up.
December 14, 2025
Puerto Vallarta, MX
Our hotel Tropicana was fine for the quick overnight and
proximity to Zona Romantica. Check in is amusing as in addition to your key you
get the remote for the ac and tv. Guess these get swiped like towels? The only
downside the hated wrist band and mark of the tourist.
Up early we squeeze into an uber for the 5 minute ride to
Hyatt Ziva. On its own spectacular beach, it’s been a place we have enjoyed
since the kids were very little. For a while it was our go to spot sometimes
coming twice a year. It used to be a Dreams property with a great family vibe
and the same folks working there for years. Hyatt has tried to polish it up at
something of a loss over what it used to be. Even so all of us can’t help feeling
warm memories upon seeing as we drive up.
Our strategy is one night and two full days to soak up as
much of it as we can. The greeting is welcome home which feels just right. Bags
stowed we head to breakfast and our day at the beach.
Breakfast always includes our favorites, bagel and lox,
mimosas, Mexican hot cocoa and made to order omelets. Plenty else to choose
from of course.
To the beach where we settle in under a couple of palapas.
Hemmed at the ends by rock outcroppings, backed by the lush green jungle and
the perfect sand it might be the nicest beach we have ever been to. Worthy of
awards yet unadvertised and mostly unknown.
The day encompasses throwing the frisbee, getting beat by
the waves, multiple nibbles, snorkeling, pool dips and a progression of drinks.
Dad even managed a nap. We spend the full day enjoying all of it nearly making
it to the sunset. Love having kids with adventuress spirits. Mom makes it into
the waves and is well tended by the kids. Virtually no phones seen all day. So
satisfying to reconnect with old memories alongside grownup children.
The food here remains solid yet not quite memorable. Ceviche
and crepes are new and fun. We graze through the day and the kids level up at
the end with two dinners at separate steak and sushi restaurants. Saylor
manages to knock two drinks off her list a mojito which is a win and the uber
trendy espresso martini that none of us will ever order again.
A great first day we head to our room and veg on phones
ahead of bed.
December 15, 2025
Puerto Vallarta to San Pancho Mexico
Making our most of our time at Ziva, we check out of our room, drop bags and head to the beach. A full day in the waves and pool taking advantage of the unlimited drinks and food. For entertainment we kid around about the older gentleman and the inappropriately young girl he’s with. Before we know it’s evening. Quick showers and back to the overwater restaurant for another round of steaks. A beautiful setting to round out our stay. The only hiccup was the big party yacht that pulls out front and blares their music.
Into an uber for the ride to San Pancho. A vibey surf town and a new spot for
us. Other than some traffic the ride goes well and we appreciate our jovial
uber driver. The new place is a beachside condo and finally some room to spread
out. Hudson and Andy make their way out for some late night street food. We all
our grateful to be settled and eagerly look forward to sleep after another big
day.
December 16, 2025
San Pancho, MX
San Pancho, may be the most chill place ever. One Main
Street with great places to eat, super cute places to shop and not a chain
restaurant in site. A leisurely morning and breakfast at an outdoor table set
on the side of the road. The occasional car passes, the occasional dog wanders
by, people wander past and we are instantly relaxed. It is spotlessly clean,
places are generally nicely maintained although there is no mistake we are
still in Mexico teetering on the third world. Sunset cafe serves us excellent flap
jacks, huevos rancheros and an incredible smoothie.
Off to the beach the boys spend the morning catching waves.
The sets are small and enough to keep them entertained. The one trick is it’s
relatively shallow and rocky. So short of shore and before ripping the fins off
the board you hop off and do your best to avoid crashing into the rocks below
the surface. Mostly successful they escape with just a few scrapes. They share
the space with a few others looking for play time in the water. One guy on a
paddle board stands out. He paddles out with a home rolled cigarette in his
mouth and another tucked behind his ear. He paddles past the break and begins
doing handstands and yoga poses on his board. Very zen in his element. He then
proceeds to catch a few waves and calls it an afternoon. Not sure our mystic
ever got wet above the ankles.
Some leisure time and lunch completes our afternoon.
Now that we have facilities in our condo it’s off to the
mega soriana for some groceries. Kicking ourselves we didn’t do this on the way
In last night. We load up with plans to make breakfasts some lunches and eat
out for dinners. Shopping is always a positive brush up against the locals
experience.
Dinner is at a lovely Italian restaurant, Toscana.
Everything is excellent and we leave very happy. Town comes alive at night.
There are drummers on the beach and fire dancers waving good bye to the sunset.
The heavy air makes everything soft around the edges. Music comes from all
angles. Often live and hard to place genre-wise. Restaurants and boutiques are
lit up to attract patrons and nothing seems overwhelmed. It’s a nice balance of
locals and visitors. Definitely a bohemian vibe anchoring it all.
December 17, 2025
San Pancho MX
More than halfway through our trip.
Breakfast in with steak and eggs. Chuck steak that is and
tough as shoe leather. We save a little money but honestly prefer the dine out
option. Maybe again once we run out of eggs.
The beach here is the highlight. It must be a mile long of
golden sand. The boys head out for a surfing session. The girls watch. Say
takes a walk the entire length. Two hours vanish. We share the space with a mix
of tourist lounging under umbrellas and locals doing much the same. Enough
people wise to watch but it never feels crowded. Everyone having a good time,
drinking here and there, no one is bothersome.
Hudson and Andy round out the day with another surf session.
After plenty of waves have been caught and their tired out bodies they call it
a day.
We make a point of watching the sunset. Spectacular lasting
nearly 30 minutes and finishing off with sky a deep orangey red. People play in
the ocean to the very end. We opt for a beachside table for fries and an order
of guacamole at Olivas. Both are hungrily devoured.
Dinner is at barracuda at an in the street table. Cars,
motorbikes and what not vehicles passes just a few feet away. Amazingly we
quickly assimilate and barely pay the traffic any attention. Lots of
interesting people walk by to watch. One hearing the music from our restaurants
gets off her bike and begins to rave dance for the duration of our dinner.
People resonate with her clapping and giving her encouragement. Everyone
smiles.
December, 2025
San Pancho
Wed, Thur, Fri
The memories blur of these days as we don’t make entries
with fresh memories. Lots of beach time, surf sessions and playing in the
waves. Waves are mostly shore break with a good enough shape for some barrels
and rides.
The town is so cute. Great places to eat in and explore.
Flags fly across the one way cobble stone streets. The various business are
colorful and covered in festive lights.
Saylor gets hit by a jelly fish. Possibly the only person
during our stay. We mostly treat it wrong with fresh water rinse and ice before
reading up that hot as you can stand water provides the quickest relief. She’s
feeling better even though there are raised welts and is not super excited to
get in the ocean again.
Everyone sits on the beach and takes in the sunset. A couple 20 something women walk the beach selling cookie sandwiches (two cookies with frosting in between) or brownies. The brownies are the best! Just as the sun says goodbye everyone claps each time.
Fri
Sat
Settling into vacation mode and all of our stomachs more
settled. The mornings have become lazy and loungy. Breakfast at 11ish after
which we head for the beach.
Our beachside camp consists of the requisite chairs and
umbrella from where we watch the day go by till another beautiful sunset. The
sunsets here dwindle here over the course of 30minutes and more often then not
finish a deep red. In between there our trips to the ocean to cool off and
short trips to our place for what not.
Hudson has become a casual beer drinker and dad likes a
daily margarita from the beachside stand. Mom preferring not to encourage
Hudson’s drinking, which is so far short of a college freshman.
The paddle board has been a nice option to fill in for
surfing when we are not motivated to rent a board. It is the odd craft amongst
the real surfers and no one seems to mind. The waves have been smaller than we
would have liked but we managed to get good rides and scratch the itch. The
trick of this place are the shallow field of rocks the waves break over.
Executing a safe exit of the board to avoid getting scraped up is our main
concern. It consists of shallow flops on our bellies sides and backs. Much more
preferable then other. Despite our efforts we still head home with a number of
minor scrapes. In some ways we were saved further hard ship from the beach
local who rented us a board the first day!
Our last dinner it was just mom dad and Hudson. We chose a
place run by a frenetic French fisherman. He caught fish in the morning and
served it in the evening. Our tuna was superb. In addition to our meal he hit
on mom like a Frenchman in front of her husband and shared his life long dream
of catching salmon. We would be happy to host if he ever stops by. To tip the
waitress Andy had to track down some cash, which was an adventure to multiple
non working ATMs and repeatedly asking for directions. Fortunately successful
before the Frenchman could get to far with mom.
After dinner we caught some music from the street at an open
air bar. A great and grooving something between jazz and Samba. An eclectic set
of musicians playing sax, flute, bongos and timbale. Anchored by bass, electric
guitar and keys. The music had couples dancing in the streets. What a great
ending to our visit.
Day 9, heading home
Up a bit early and out for a
beach walk, just Cindy and Andy. A nice way to start the day and ogle the
big houses and wonder what it would be like. The beach must be over 1.5 miles
and we walk a good bit of it. At this time of the morning it’s mostly folks
walking dogs and the occasional jogger.
Back to the room we finish what we can of our food and
quickly pack. In the time ahead of our flight we sit in beach chairs enjoying
the last of the warm sunshine. A quick dip and shower off of sand we head to
the airport.
Of course Cindy gets pulled at security. Arms up for the pat
down and luggage search. The family grinning and snapping pics.
