Mindful Journeys: Connect with Family on a Trip to Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa
Family Vacation in Mexico
Soulful ballads being blasted on car radios buzzing by, stumbling upon a restaurant offering a dozen different Mole dishes in Oaxaca, cinnamon in my coffee and cotija on my huevos, walking across the Zocolo in Mexico City, in total amazement of one of the largest gathering spaces in the world, used as such since Aztec times! Mexico is so very rich with history, thought-provoking and vibrant art, and unbelievable food.
In 1999 my boyfriend(now hubby) and I spent 6 weeks traveling from the top of Mexico down to the bottom, popping out and into Guatemala and Belize and returning through the Yucatan. What a journey it was. Now we have returned with our two kiddos in tow…for a different kind of journey…one with more beach time and less chicken buses, but most definitely to show our children a little bit of the beauty and culture of this mysterious land. This trip takes us to the charming and festive beach town of Puerto Vallarta.
Travel with Kids
We planned this trip with some good friends who have similar aged kids. Traveling with friends who also have kids, is one of our big tips for travel with kids. Read more about traveling with kids, here. We met our friends at our hotel, Hotel Rio Malecon. It was a perfect fit for our group. When we travel we like to stay at a range of places from Hostels to luxury hotels. We like the experience of being at all kinds of accommodations and this also helps us budget, to splurge on higher end places here and there. Hotel Rio had an atrium centered around a pool with a restaurant and lounge right in the old town of Puerto Vallarta. We were within walking distance to all of the festivities this town had to offer. Evenings were filled with walks to dinner followed by a stroll along the beach side promenade to get the kiddos ice cream and watch the street performers. The next day we found an amazing breakfast café around the corner with chilaquiles to die for! Next up, a little geocaching before hitting the beach! If you are unfamiliar with Mobile app for Geocaching, check out this post about tips for traveling with kids. We love geocaching because it takes us off the beaten path to explore neighborhoods and areas in search of a hidden treasure!
Yelapa
The scene in Puerto Vallarta is pretty action packed, so after a few days we were ready to find a more tranquil environment. So we packed up, checked out of our hotel and caught a boat to the tiny car-free town of Yelapa, accessed only by a 40-minute boat ride. After a bumpy ride and a whale sighting, we arrived in Yelapa. We had arranged to stay at a vacation rental called Casa Flourish and the owners have care takers Yanet and Felipe to help you get settled. Felipe met us at the dock when we arrived and led us through the village, up a steep path and to our dreamy abode. The main living space was open air with views down to an infinity pool and beyond to the beautiful bay below. Gorgeous Mexican tiles framed the space and numerous balconies afforded views of the sparkling ocean.
While the Dads helped the kiddos find their rooms, the moms headed down the path to find the nearest grocery store to grab a few things to help us settle in. The village of Yelapa is a maze of pedestrian paths winding through houses, cafes and restaurants with gardens spilling onto walkways. It takes some getting used to but once there a couple days, you get the feel of the place and navigating becomes quite fun! Look out for neighborhood kids and wandering dogs, burros with loads of supplies and the occasional ATV!! Wandering around Yelapa gave such a fresh perspective for us all, a pedestrian lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of a big city or even just a town with cars for that matter.We found a tiny little market with most of everything we needed. Plenty of fresh produce as well as a special soap to soak said produce in, a good idea for visitors to Mexico whose digestive systems may be a little sensitive to the local water. Anyways, knowing that we would be coming into this little store often during our visit, I stumbled through my Spanish and introduced myself to the store owner, a lovely older woman with the sweetest smile who was extremely patient with me as I counted my pesos. We picked up queso, tortillas, avocado and some cervezas. On our amble back we a noted a nearby pharmacy (you never know when you might need one!) and a juice bar, practically right outside our rentals' front entrance. Throughout our stay, our pack of kiddos loved venturing out on their own to get a juice at this neighborhood stand.
We quickly and easily settled into beach life in Yelapa. Just down the path from our house was an inconspicuous stairway leading straight down to the beach, lined with palapas and beach chairs. We ended up really enjoying Fanny’s Restaurant on the beach and got to know some of the staff there. Abel and Romero are two super sweet and helpful fellows to chat with for anything you need in Yelapa.
The next several days were spent exploring the village, renting a burro and trekking up to the waterfall, endless beach time and just hanging around Casa Flourish. The two oldest kiddos went parasailing around the bay one day. Us grown ups pretty much ate our way all over town, as the food here was really something special. We particularly loved Los Abuelos for emapanadas de camarones and Tamarindo margaritas!! Yes, please! Get there early as it gets very busy.
Another particularly memorable day was when we hired Felipe (Casa Flourish care taker) to take us out on his boat. We saw whales breaching and got to snorkel in a hidden bay. Amazing! later that day we made time for some Geocaching all around the village, which as always brought us to little corners of town we might not have otherwise stumbled upon. Lastly, another popular day trip in this area is to take a boat out to visit the Marietta's Islands, where you can see the rare Blue-footed Boobies! Yep, these pelican-like seabirds have blue feet! And of course the islands are simply beautiful.
If you are interested in helping out in the community, get in touch with Biblioteca Yelapa, a community project to increase literacy in the area. They are always looking for more helpers or extra supplies which you can donate.
Our time in Yelapa was a really special experience and an insight into a part of Mexican village life that is not always easy to come by. When it was time to head home we bid farewell and hopped on that bumpy boat ride back to Puerto Vallarta and later that afternoon caught our flight back to the states. We will most certainly return!
Be a Mindful Traveler
What does it mean to be a mindful traveler? The practice of mindfulness is all about being present, really living in the moment and soaking in what is in front of you. Perhaps listening deeply to another in a conversation, observing how a place or a life style is both different and/or the same as your own, connecting to people and places in a way that fills us with joy and illuminates the realization that we are all in this together. Truly at the core of all things is the pursuit of happiness. Check out this post about Daily Mindfulness Practice.
At My Peaceful Wild we strive to share our adventures in a way thatencourages others to go out into the world and participate in a style oftravel that is mindful and connects to a place with kindness andcompassion. Of course many have a “bucket list” of travel destinations,myself included. It is a big beautiful world after all! Along with goingplaces to see beautiful landscapes, cities, architecture, let’s worktogether to spread a message of hope, kindness, environmentalstewardship, supporting and celebrating local communities and cultures.Let’s get out there and experience a place as a citizen of the earth on amission to connect to a sense of place. What does it mean to be anOregonian, a Hawaiian, an Italian, a Mexican or a Kenyan? The world isso full of beauty, mystery, language, food, traditions, history, joy andsorrow. As you get out there and experience it, do it mindfully andwith compassion. Now go!
Be well, be kind and make time to get outside and explore!
Mindful Travel: 10 Tips for Making Travel with Kids Fun
Travel with Kids
Traveling with kids can be so much fun with a little planning and creativity. I have been so inspired by the folks out there wandering the globe with their kiddos in tow. My husband and I have done quite a bit of traveling together and we have so enjoyed taking our kids along to show them the world…well at least a few parts of it. We have many more adventures ahead. Our local adventures include all around the Northwest and West Coast including countless adventures hiking and camping. Below are a few things that we have learned along the way. These are tips that we feel make the adventure more fun and seamless for everyone involved.
1.Kids Travel Journal
This is a fun way for kids to get excited about traveling and recording their adventures. It is also a nice way to look back on the memories made. My kids’ journals have included train ticket stubs, museum pamphlets, photos and their own drawings, a list of vocabulary words, common greetings and numbers written out in the language spoken in whichever country we are in, or simply a journal entry, if they are old enough to do some writing. Setting a side time to do some journaling while you travel is a nice way to incorporate down time in the afternoons. This is a fun item for them to bring to show and tell at school when they return. This also shows the teacher that their adventure was a learning experience.
2. Kids Help Plan
Encouraging kids to be a part of the travel planning process helps them take some ownership in the trip and gets them excited about travel. Of course, sometimes you have to do some planning without them involved but where appropriate include them. My son really loves doing the lodging and vacation rental searches, learning about the neighborhoods, reading reviews and setting the filters. It is also great fun to get maps of the places you are traveling to and help kids do some navigating and route planning. This teaches them about the lay of the land as well. Working in educational opportunities wherever possible is an awesome way to make your adventure more meaningful for your kiddos.
3. Assign a Photo Journalist
With their journals in mind, have kids take turns being the photo journalist. Help them think about what they might want to include in a photo. This is also a good opportunity to teach them about being respectful of people’s space and privacy as well.
4. Books, Books, Books
This falls in to the “down time” category. For older kids, investing in a Kindle is a great tool to bring along on any trip. While you want to make sure to balance out screen time each day, kindles also have games and the ability to watch movies. Especially helpful for long train rides or travel days. My son has the Kindle Fire and it works great! For younger kids I like a small stack of light weight, paperback books for down time and bed-time stories.
5. Easy Lightweight Games
Light, portable games important for down time and travel days. A deck of cards, a booklet of Sudoku, Spot It and memory cards are some of our favorites. My kids also like to pick out a Dot-to-dot book….(doing a dot-to-dot can be quite meditative! Check out this one). Other fun and easy games to remember are the old classics: Ro Sham Bo, Hot Hands, Eye Spy, Thumb wars, Tick Tack Toe and Hangman. Tap into your own childhood and try to remember the silly games you used to play.
6. Don’t Over Schedule!!
I can certainly be guilty of wanting to do it all!! Luckily my sweet husband gently reminds me that there is always another day or another trip. It is easy to fall into the trap of over scheduling your travel days but it is so important not to overload kids with too much. A good strategy is to get up earlier, beat the crowds and do some site seeing in the morning, enjoy a nice lunch and then have some down time in the afternoon. In many cultures, this is the norm.
In some countries, shops and restaurants close down in the afternoon for a few hours, opening back up in the late afternoon. If you are traveling to a more humid climate, this schedule also works well, as temps rise in the afternoon. It is a good time to do some journaling, read a book or have some cool down time in the pool. It is also a nice idea to have unscheduled days where you have leisurely mornings, perhaps stroll neighborhoods and let the day unfold more spontaneously.
7. Travel with Another Family
Let’s be honest, kids need other kids. It is important to set aside some time to take family trips that prioritize reconnecting with each other, taking a break from our routines and busy schedules. However, if you are planning a much longer excursion, it is great fun to meet up with extended family or good friends that have similar aged kids. You can break up longer trips into sections where you just travel as a family and then at one point meet up with some friends for a few days.
If you are planning any kind of expedition to get outside that may include some longer distance hiking, this plan works well. Some times adults can be boring and my son would correct me by saying, “Sometimes, grown-ups can be fun!”. Classic.
8. Geocaching
Do your kids like hunting for treasures? I know mine do! There is a mobile app for Geocaching that allows you to use your phone as a GPS to find hidden objects located all over the world. EVERY time we travel ANYWHERE we end up doing some geocaching at some point. We love how it takes you off the beaten path a bit, to explore neighborhoods and places you may not have otherwise checked out. No worries, as the clues give you plenty of insights as to what kind of location you are getting into. In Maui, it led us to a cliff side hidden capsule and later that same trip, into the Makawao Public Library (Makawao is like a little Hawaiian Western town in upcountry, pretty awesome). We have found geocaches located in the cobblestones walls of ancient churches in Italy and hidden neighborhoods of Puerto Vallarta. Check out the app here.
9. Getting Kids Outside and into Nature
Don’t forget to play the same games I talk about in this post. Getting outside and exploring the natural areas of the places you travel can teach you so much about the world. You often can see wildlife different from what you see in your home town. Of course plants look different in other places and then sometimes they look the same, reminding you of home and maybe even giving you a sense of connection to a new place.
10. Connect with the Locals
Attempt to get to know some locals. This creates a much more meaningful experience for the kids and for you to get the local perspective on a place and make friends abroad! You just might get invited to a meal, a local sporting event or learn of a special insight into a place. If we find a cafe or certain spot we are fond of, we will return regularly. Show your face enough and a local may want to chat and learn about where you are from. Be friendly. Step out of your comfort zone and stumble through some basic greetings, testing out your language skills. Another beautiful thought is to do a little research and see if there might be some volunteer work you could participate in for an afternoon...or longer! You may check if any local schools are in need of supplies, as one example.
Be a Mindful Traveler
What does it mean to be a mindful traveler? The practice ofmindfulness is all about being present, really living in the moment andsoaking in what is in front of you. Perhaps listening deeply to anotherin a conversation, observing how a place or a life style is bothdifferent and/or the same as your own, connecting to people and placesin a way that fills us with joy and illuminates the realization that weare all in this together. Truly at the core of all things is the pursuitof happiness.
At My Peaceful Wild we strive to share our adventures in a way thatencourages others to go out into the world and participate in a style oftravel that is mindful and connects to a place with kindness andcompassion. Of course many have a “bucket list” of travel destinations,myself included. It is a big beautiful world after all! Along with goingplaces to see beautiful landscapes, cities, architecture, let’s worktogether to spread a message of hope, kindness, environmentalstewardship, supporting and celebrating local communities and cultures.Let’s get out there and experience a place as a citizen of the earth on amission to connect to a sense of place. What does it mean to be anOregonian, a Hawaiian, an Italian, a Mexican or a Kenyan? The world isso full of beauty, mystery, language, food, traditions, history, joy andsorrow. As you get out there and experience it, do it mindfully andwith compassion. Now go!
Be well, be kind and make time to get outside and explore!
Mindful Journeys: Walk the Ancient Roman Roads of Italy
Tuscan-Emilia, Liguria, Lombardia
For me Italy means lively streets full of passionate conversations, potted geraniums spilling out of balconies, a maze of cobblestone pathways and agrarian vistas punctuated by tall columnar cypress trees. The Italian saying "Il dolce far niente", which loosley translated to "The sweetness of doing nothing" reminds me of the message of mindfulness, maybe just add wine. But at the heart of both is the act of simply enjoying the moment. Check out this post about Daily Mindfulness Practice.
Last time we were in Italy it was just the two of us, my boyfriend and I. Now we are back, married and have brought along our two kids!! My husband studied Italian in college and the kids and I started practicing Italian using the free app. duolingo, which was very helpful. It is always a good idea to try and pick up a bit of the language spoken in the country you are traveling to. Making an effort to greet and offer some introductions to locals you meet can go a long way and helps you feel more connected to a place. There is nothing worse than a loud American in a foreign country, expecting everyone to speak English.
We arrived in Milan, Italy on a sweltering August afternoon. We flew Delta airlines and enjoyed an excellent flight. We rented a car at the airport and drove to a cute little rental run by the lovely Anna and Carlo in a great neighborhood of Casorate Sempione, just outside of Milan. After walking to a tasty little pizza restaurant a few blocks away, we stumbled back home to get some rest.
Tavernelle in the Lunigiana
The next morning, after a quick breakfast we hopped in our rental car and drove two and half hours out of the city and up into the Tuscan-Emilia Apennines region into an area called the Lunigiana. We were excited to explore this off-the-beaten-path part of Italy, just on the border of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna.
We arrived in the tiny town of Tavernelle to meet my family at a villa rental for the week. This is a TINY town, which we liked. We were able to get to know the locals more easily this way but if you are looking for a bit more action packed experience in Tuscany, I would recommend one of the bigger towns like Lucca or Sienna, two of my fave Tuscan towns. Our villa, called Palazzo del Duca, owned and managed by the sweet couple Mirella and Francesco, is a picturesque stone building with a pool in a beautiful garden setting . Mirella and Francesco are amazing cooks and you can arrange for them to create a feast to remember, for your group. Francesco is also an excellent vintner.
The villa is made up of several apartments that can be rented separately or you can rent the entire villa for a large group. A block a way is a little cafe, great for morning espresso and pastries and in the back is a low key but amazing restaurant featuring regional specialties. One thing we loved about Tavernelle was access to a enchanting creek, replete with crumbling ancient stone walls and swimming holes. We went each day to go swimming and look for frogs, butterflies and tiny lizards. We also saw a hedgehog in the garden at the village! As always, getting kids outside and into nature is a great activity no matter where you are! Check out this post.
A Mindful Moment
One afternoon, I had a moment to myself in Tavernelle and decided to wander the trails nearby. I wandered the trail down passed the Mill House, across the crumbling Roman bridge, over the River Taverone and hiked up through a woodland of Chestnut, Oak and Fig. I emerged from the trail on to a narrow road, passing an olive orchard and ending at a stone tunnel that lead into a tiny village. These are the ancient Salt trails, where 2000 years ago salt was mined and carried down to the sea. The word Salary originates from a Roman soldier's allowance to buy salt. Such an amazing place, so rich with history, I can feel it in the stone walls everywhere.
These are the ancient Salt trails, where 2000 years ago salt was mined and carried down to the sea. The word Salary originates from a Roman soldier's allowance to buy salt.
Day Trip to Ligurian coast and the Cinque Terre
One of our favorite day trips while in Tavernelle was an adventure to the sea, to find our old friend Ivo in the Cinque Terre. We drove about 45 minutes to the seaside town of Lerici, a vibrant place with a festive beach side promenade, outdoor market and plenty of cafes and gelaterias.
The marina is packed with little boats floating on turquoise water and a 12th century castle looming above town. At the marina we bought our boat tickets to Riomaggiore, in the Cinque Terre to visit an old friend.
These waters are considered the Italian Riviera and the ride was not short on gorgeous views. Last my husband and I were in Italy we befriended a local cafe owner in Riomaggiore, the first of the famous Cinque Terre villages from the south. When we visited previously, we arrived by train, our home base being Riomaggiore and then we explored all of the villages via the hiking trail, as well as the easy train rides stopping at all villages throughout the day.
This beautiful area is an Unesco World Heritage Site, and definitely worth exploring if you have more time, each town having their own unique charm and identity. Be sure to get off the main paths and wander the maze of stairways and stone walkways tucked away from the crowds. Hiking the trails between the towns is an extraordinary experience, seeing all of the cliff side dwellings, gardens and paths linking all 5 towns, not to mention the staggering views.
Riomaggiore has the feel of an old-world fishing village with a steep main street flanked by brightly colored apartment buildings and cafes. Head to Bar Centrale where Ivo serves up tasty meals and delicious beverages. The beach here is lovely, albeit rocky. My family enjoyed jumping off of the rocks and snorkeling in the bay. After a very eventful day, we headed back to Tavernelle.
We arrived home late to a festive affair! Another delightful thing about Tavernelle is how lively it gets in the evening. Come 9pm, music is playing, the community is hanging around the cafe and the local kids are playing soccer (futbol) in the field, beside the restaurant. My son had great fun joining in the local soccer scene and we enjoyed chatting with community members.
Lake Como
After a magical adventure in and around Tavernelle, we bid farewell to Francesco and Mirella and drove our rental car back to Milan. From the rental drop off at the airport in Milan, it was easy to catch a train to our next destination, Lake Como. We chose the town of Varenna, for it's easy accessibility (did not have to rent a car) and proximity to other towns, not to mention its charm. It was a 5 minute walk from the train station in Varenna to our dreamy little airbnb flat, overlooking the lake. Our apartment was small but worked just fine for us, with a stunning view over the lake from our balcony. We were able to walk to everything, including the ferry for fun rides around the lake to visit other towns.
We arrived around lunch time and decided to check out the Lido. Lido is the Italian word for beach or a place to swim. In Varenna there was a small fee to get in to this fenced in gravelly area with lakeside lounge chairs. Snacks and beverages were ordered at the counter inside and then brought out to us. There was a fun dock for plunging into the water and a nice swimming area we all enjoyed. That evening we found a festive outdoor cafe on the main piazza where plenty of kids were running about. Naturally, our kids jumped at the chance to runabout with other kids....giving the grown ups a chance to sit back and watched the sun go down over the sparkling water. Before our meal arrived the kids were able to find a geocache on the far side of the piazza. Check out this post for traveling with kids and you will learn more about what geocaching is and how we love to do it when we travel. It is a fun way to help us explore new places, while getting the kids involved. We finished the evening off with a gelato of course, and a stroll along Varenna's waterfront promenade.
As you may have guessed, the food was unbelievable, pasta carbonara, any and all of the pizza, and bruschetta were some of our favorites. If it is not indicated on the menu, inquire with your server about any regional dishes. It is really amazing to learn about the differences in pasta shapes, how each region takes great pride in their specialty and how each different kind of pasta serves as a vessel for a particular kind of sauce.
The next few days were full of exploration around town and nearby. One warm afternoon we enjoyed yet another waterfront meal and then wandered down to a little stone beach, where we were all able to wade out into the lake for a swim.
Another day we decided to trek up the steep cobblestone path to the castle on the hill. Castillo di Vezio is a smaller castle, great for kids to explore.
The hike up is quite steep, took us about 20 minutes but you are rewarded with 11th century castle ruins, complete with a falconry show and a draw bridge. The castle also has these ghostly plaster sculptures perched all around which can be pretty foreboding.
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Falconry at the Castle. Yes, I took this photo! -
Castillo di Vezio -
View from our flat
Later that day after a rest back at our apartment, we took the ferry over to Bellagio and Mennagio for lunch and some more geocaching. Both towns were quite busy, full of beautiful art galleries, cafes, churches, gardens and vividly painted buildings. Perfect for meandering around, looking for hidden treasures.
We ended our time in Italy with an early rise, an espresso and pastries at the train station in Varenna. From there, we hopped on and off trains, making our way to our next adventure: Switzerland, which you can read more about here.
Italy stole our hearts long ago and we will surely return. For family travel, Italy is full of beautiful and historic places to explore, easy and comfortable train rides with spectacular views and mouth watering food and..of course...gelato!! Mille Grazie Italia!!!
If interested in more tips on travel in Italy, we are big fans of Rick Steve's travel guides, as well as the Lonely Planet. Check out this book and this book.
Be a Mindful Traveler
What does it mean to be a mindful traveler? The practice ofmindfulness is all about being present, really living in the moment andsoaking in what is in front of you. Perhaps listening deeply to anotherin a conversation, observing how a place or a life style is bothdifferent and/or the same as your own, connecting to people and placesin a way that fills us with joy and illuminates the realization that weare all in this together. Truly at the core of all things is the pursuitof happiness.
At My Peaceful Wild we strive to share our adventures in a way thatencourages others to go out into the world and participate in a style oftravel that is mindful and connects to a place with kindness andcompassion. Of course many have a “bucket list” of travel destinations,myself included. It is a big beautiful world after all! Along with goingplaces to see beautiful landscapes, cities, architecture, let’s worktogether to spread a message of hope, kindness, environmentalstewardship, supporting and celebrating local communities and cultures.Let’s get out there and experience a place as a citizen of the earth on amission to connect to a sense of place. What does it mean to be anOregonian, a Hawaiian, an Italian, a Mexican or a Kenyan? The world isso full of beauty, mystery, language, food, traditions, history, joy andsorrow. As you get out there and experience it, do it mindfully andwith compassion. Now go!
Be well, be kind and make time to get outside and explore!
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