Mexico's Golden Beaches Beckon for Spring Break

The warm waters of the blue Pacific, palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze, golden sand beaches that stretch away forever -- Ah! Mexico! If you're looking for somewhere different to go for spring break, try Mazatlan. A gem perched on a peninsula north of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan's 16 gorgeous miles of golden beach beckon sun-starved northerners.

You'll have a wide choice of accommodations in Mazatlan which boasts 34 timeshare resorts (click the post title to preview all 34). The Marina El Cid Hotel & Yacht Club (above, left) features elegant Mediterranean-styled units and boasts both freshwater and saltwater swimming pools. Or stay at the magnificent Costa de Oro Beach Club (below, right) where you can walk outside your door right onto the beach.

Unlike many of Mexico's resort areas, Mazatlan was a Nahuati tribe settlement before the Spanish established a port there in 1531. The beautiful old city predates the days of tourism by centuries. The city is undergoing a renaissance, restoring the old colorful buildings to their former lustre. The narrow streets and wrought iron railed balconies will remind you of New Orleans' French Quarter.

You'll find sophisticated art and decor, intricate handmade jewelry and eerie leather tribal masks in the town's charming shops. Make sure you visit the architecturally exquisite 130-year old theater, now home to a resident dance company and a school of contemporary dance. You'll find wonderful bargains and a few offerings Americans will find bizzarre (pig's heads?) in El Mercado, the large open-air market. For tourist trinkets -- shell necklaces, striped blankets, braided friendship bracelets -- shop the mercado before you try the shops. Prices generally run 50% cheaper at the mercado.