Punta Mita

A golf resort in Mexico wouldn't have been my first idea for the perfect family vacation, and I would have been wrong.  A recent trip with my husband and the family of one of his daughters took us to Punta Mita, a Four Seasons resort about 45 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. My husband and I took a trip there a few years ago, giving us the impression that it catered to couples, at least adults. Turns out, they cater to families and kids, with a plethora of activities for all ages.

1.    The resort is beautiful. It's located in a 1,500 acre nature reserve on the northern tip of Bahia de Banderas, one of the worlds largest natural bays. The 9 miles of beaches made of pristine white sand are interspersed with rugged lava rock formations. In the distance, you can see the jungle peaks of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

2.    The rooms are spacious and bright, with great views and outside showers.

3.    They provide great shuttle service.  The resort will send a shuttle to pick you up at the airport.  On other days, there are shuttles to and from Vallarta for sightseeing and shopping.

4.    Children are well-taken care of. The kids in the group were welcomed with a t-shirt, sponges spelling out their names and a stuffed turtle.  It went uphill from here.

5.    For the really young kids, there is a kid's activity lodge with play-doh and coloring and painting projects. Outside the lodge is an amazing swing and climbing contraption.

6.    There is a game room closer to the beach for older kids that houses the largest array of video systems I've seen since the last time I was at Best Buy. An X-Box, Guitar Hero, Air Hockey, Billiards, a Wii and some dance video game that I tried and failed at miserably can be found in the game room off the pool area.

7.    One of the kids' favorite water activities was the lazy river, a current propelled circular stream that families can inner tube around at their leisure.

8.    The beach is open to everyone, with pristine white sand and lovely lounging chairs for both kids and adults. Lunch and drinks are served beachside.  From December to March, whales can be spotted playing in the ocean as part of their migratory path.

9.    There are two pool options, one for adults only and one for kids and adults that over look the ocean.  Of course, the 5 year old in our group labeled the adult pool "Boring."

10. Punta Mita is considered one of the area's best spots for snorkeling. In the summer and fall, the diving conditions are excellent, and If the water is right, kayaks can be rented.

11. To keep your beach-worthy shape while there, there are several land exercise options.  Exercise enthusiasts can head over to the over 3,000 square foot fitness center with new Technogym equipment with built-in televisions and a full array of weight machines. Tennis players can serve up their skills on the courts.

12. For the ultimate relaxing afternoon, the large, serene spa offers services to please any palette, from facials, scrubs and wraps to several types of massages.

13. The golf is spectacular, and there are free smoothies at the turn. The two golf courses are Jack Nicklaus signature designed courses, the newer one, the Bahia course, with interesting greens and the older one, the Pacifico course, has an alternative hole for the first par three, 3B. During the low tide, the golfer hits his or her ball across the water to an island, and then drives over to the finish the hole.

14. Meals were a treat, from dinners with beach and ocean views to the free smoothies by the pool or at the turn on the golf course. Restaurant service was impeccable and very accommodating to picky eaters or allergies.  Kids under three ate for free.  Each served its own cuisine, centering around fresh fish, and each had a special menu for the kids in the shape of a crab or other sea creature.  One morning, some of us watched as the catch of the day was being unloaded from the fisherman's boats!

15. After 5 days at the resort, we all felt relaxed and well entertained.