“I’m an idiot,” is the thought hovering in my mind as I relax on a Blue Line trolley headed to Tijuana. This news flash isn’t about safety concerns, as I’ve spent some time in Mexico …
August 7, 2012
Baja travel stories
Tijuana Revisited, Part 1
Tijuana: Montana de Basura
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City." Tijuana is often thought of as one of the world's most dangerous destinations. What do you think happens when the walls come down? I've spent a lot …
April 15, 2012
Rosarito Beach Sportfishing, Alive and Well
From the standpoint of “petro-tourism,” it very well could be that nearby Baja California peninsula, with its Mediterranean-like coastal climate and uncrowded beaches, is one of the best draws for Southern Californians looking for a …
March 30, 2012
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Punta Banda is a narrow, mostly barren finger of land that pokes out into the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Bahía Todos Santos near Ensenada. Near the very tip, busloads of bug-eyed tourists …
February 7, 2012
The Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride
The next Rosarito-Ensenada bike ride will take place May 5th. (2012) The 50-mile Rosarito-to-Ensenada bike ride started in 1979 and has achieved cult status among local connoisseurs. Although attendance and participation have declined in recent …
August 16, 2011
Baja Revisited
Recently a close friend and I embarked on a two-week road trip that took us from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, the tip of Baja California, Mexico. We’d been discussing such a trip for …
June 2, 2011
Sailing Newport to Ensenada
Every thirty seconds, a twenty-second countdown excites the crew, patiently waiting for our class’s race to start. We hear on the radio, “10-9-8…” At 1, “Time!” We synchronize our watches and the race has started. …
April 30, 2011
Montana to Tecate: Adventures by Motorcycle
This story is dedicated to the memory of K.P. Ward, who died unexpectedly and tragically on December 22, 2010. Finally, here it is: the start of my summer vacation of 1987, and I just finished …
April 12, 2011
Mellow Tecate, Mexico
I heard the word “Tecate.” My buddy wasn’t speaking of the next beer, but rather a border town located only 45 minutes away from downtown San Diego. Follow the 94-east freeway signs until it becomes …
August 15, 2010
Tranquility in Ensenada, Mexico
I’m dreaming of a place where I can get fish tacos with homemade corn tortillas and a refreshing margarita on the rocks for lunch, then dine on wood-fired pizza and a yummy glass of locally …
July 6, 2010
Whales up Close in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja
Every winter, gray whales migrate from Alaska and Siberia to the rich waters of Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California to breed and give birth to their 14-foot, 2-ton babies. Unlike whale-watching tours in the …
May 13, 2010
Carnaval in Ensenada, Mexico
I had two days off, three friends, and the urge to find a Carnaval celebration close by. I could have looked in my city of San Diego, but Mexico continually draws me in. Enter Ensenada. …
February 20, 2010
An Enchanting Visit to Casa de Paz orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico
We were a small volunteer group visiting Casa de Paz (House of Peace). The director of the orphanage, Jonatán Lopez Sánchez, eagerly welcomed us and began a tour of the property. Surrounding a mini soccer …
December 3, 2009
Puerto Nuevo, Mexico: Lobster Camp
“Hay langosta aqui! Tres por quince dolares!” Ten legs jut out from a slender form. It’s dark red in parts and golden in other sections. Your salivary glands are jolted. Yes, Puerto Nuevo lobster times …
October 7, 2009
Off the Tourist Track in Cabo, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas is only 2 hours from San Diego?... Yes! There are nonstop flights from San Diego to Cabo and they're just 2 hours long. Once in Cabo, the range of hotel options is …
August 6, 2009