| With the beautiful Gulf Coast on one site and the | | | | untamed and beautiful. But Baja is alien in many ways. |
| Pacific Ocean on the other, with both ancient Aztec | | | | It has beautiful expanses of desert walled in by harsh |
| temples and gleaming modern buildings, Mexico is | | | | mountain. Lush semi-tropical areas dot the coast, and |
| much more than just the United States' neighbor to | | | | between them are hundreds of miles of untouched, |
| the south. | | | | undeveloped beach and coastline. In Laguna San |
| Today's Mexico is still a land of deserts and | | | | Ignacio, tourists can view rare California Gray Whales |
| mountainous plateaus; the smoking volcano of | | | | when they migrate here to give birth and start raising |
| Teotihuacàn near Mexico City is echoed by | | | | their young. |
| nearby pyramids all the way down to the tropical | | | | For those uninterested in ecotourism, many of Baja's |
| wonderland of the Yucatàn Peninsula. But it's | | | | populated and more secluded beaches are perfect |
| also one of the most modern cities in the world. The | | | | for baking one's body to the perfect shade of |
| poverty level in Mexico has been slashed by over a | | | | brown, or to enjoy some of the excellent hotels in |
| third during the last few years, and their burgeoning | | | | this area. Alternately, beach houses and vacation |
| trades with other countries are quickly modernizing | | | | rentals are a great way to spend a quiet, secluded |
| the country. It may not be long before its equal in | | | | vacation in an undeniable tropical paradise. |
| stature with the United States. | | | | Cancun: The Night Life |
| If you choose to go on a Mexico vacation, you're | | | | But your perfect Mexico vacation might be more |
| certain to find all the comforts you're used to at | | | | along the lines of finding the perfect cantina to sit |
| home. You don't have to worry about "drinking the | | | | and listen to music while looking at the other beauties |
| water" today. Though the cities are crowded and | | | | Mexico offers. Cancun is the perfect place. With its |
| traffic can not just foreign, but alien, culture has been | | | | blue waters and white beaches during the day, it |
| exchanged between the U.S. and Mexico for so many | | | | seems tame; but at night, it lights up with the energy |
| years that you will find the people just different | | | | and the vibrancy of a very new city; Cancun is only |
| enough to be interesting. And while in some ways | | | | 25 years old, in contrast with the Mayan ruins just a |
| the U.S. seems tired of itself, Mexico is just the | | | | little further inland on the Yucatan Peninsula. Whether |
| opposite: alive, young, vibrant, and filled with color. | | | | you like looking at old stones or tanned bodies, |
| Besides, Mexico has some of the most beautiful | | | | Cancun has much to offer its visitors. |
| beaches in the world. | | | | There's much more to Mexico than its far northwest |
| Baja California: The Land's End | | | | and far southeast. Thousands of miles lie between |
| With Cabo San Lucas and Tijuana, one would think | | | | Cancun and Cabo, miles filled with adventure and |
| that Baja California was developed out. But it is, | | | | fascination and glorious sights. But you'll never see it if |
| surprisingly, viewed by most Mexicans in the same | | | | you don't go. |
| way Americans view Alaska: as a remote frontier, | | | | |