Sonoran Southwest

Several years ago, I stumbled upon one of the greatest family vacation destinations that I could have hoped for. A friend of mine suggested the Paradise Village Resort located in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (just outside of Puerto Vallarta). She had traded in some of her timeshare points and taken her own kids there just the year before. At the time, my kids were still little -- about 6 and 7 years old -- and I needed a resort that would keep them occupied and happy to fulfill my hope of actually enjoying the vacation myself.

Wow! Was I ever bowled over once we arrived! The resort lobbies are decorated in a theme recalling the ancient Mayan civilizations, and gigantic, beautiful murals decorate the lobby walls. As you check in, you'll find a beautiful, clean, well-maintained hotel room with a generous use of local marble throughout. Best of all, the rooms are all timeshare suites with full kitchens. Personally, when traveling with kids, I am very grateful for the chance to simplify some of our meals by eating in. To stock that kitchen, you'll soon learn that one of the pleasures of your day will be a leisurely stroll down the resort's main street to reach a local supermarket run by the resort (about a 1 block walk).

This daily stroll also introduces you to one of the most unique marvels of this resort. A zoo with many exotic animals lines the main street across from the hotel buildings. You can see lions, tigers, jaguars, alligators, monkeys, deer, black panthers, and exotic parrots and other birds. But, don't worry, these animals are there on a rescue basis and not just to entertain the tourists. The resort actually sponsors a non-profit foundation that rescues these exotics from wealthy owners who have lost interest in maintaining a healthy situation for the animals. The foundation is overseen by the Government of Mexico and works to rehabilitate the animals and make long-term placements for them when appropriate. So you can enjoy these beauties and feel good about it at the same time!

Now, let's talk about the swimming pools. The second major blessing of this resort for parents is its wonderful set of pool slides. At the main "activities" pool, where group activities occur throughout the day, there are two waterslides that are about two stories high. They are curved and very fast! I have literally spent 6 hours at poolside without my kids ever once complaining that they're bored. They just ride the slides endlessly. There is also a second "quiet" pool which is very beautiful and relaxing, and which has a third, slightly more tame, waterslide for the kids.

Did I mention that the resort also offers a world-class spa? Or did I list the water-sports that are available? How about the proximity of the best Mexican shopping destination in Puerto Vallarta? Or the powdery white beaches right outside of the pool area? Or the great formal and poolside dining? As you can see, this really might be the greatest Mexico family vacation ever, but I'll write about the rest of these benefits in a future article.