Experience Culture, Relaxation & Family Bonding In Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is an ideal vacation spot for families: It’s affordable, exotic, and offers an abundance of activities both you and your kids will love. It doesn’t hurt that the average year-round temperature is 80 degrees and the food is phenomenal everywhere you go. The most important thing to note about this warm and multicultural city—and the one thing you’ll be sure to notice—is the friendliness of the people. PV is known for its inviting and hospitable vibe.

Stay

Located between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay, less than 10 minutes from the airport, is the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. From the dozens of palm trees lining the streets leading to the hotel to the breathtaking open-concept lobby with oceanfront views, you’ll feel relaxed before you even check in. Once your family settles into one of the resort’s newly renovated rooms, you can take a nap, enjoy the stunning view from the balcony, or head downstairs for a bite to eat.

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Often, resorts cater to tourists, and you don’t get an authentic glimpse into the local culinary scene. That is not the case here. The resort has six exceptional restaurants led under the direction of culinary celebrity and Executive Chef Fred Ruiz. One of the most unique culinary experiences at the resort is La Estancia’s “Dine Around Mexico 6 Course Menu” that allows you to taste the flavors and culture of Mexico in a gastronomic tour. Each item on the menu, from crab enchiladas to avocado sorbet, gives you a glimpse inside the culinary scene of the state that item is from.

The Ceviche & Tequila Bar located in the lobby is also a great spot to grab a bite to eat before heading to the beach or pool. The restaurant offers a large variety of delicious ceviche, exclusive house-created recipe cocktails (that are darn good) for mom and dad to treat themselves, as well as over 180 different tequilas.

In theory, you’ll want to pack as much action into your trip as possible, but once you lie out on the bay or set up shop at a poolside cabana, you’re not going to want to leave. If that’s the case, Las Casitas, the resort’s beachfront restaurant, also has poolside and beachside service.

Enjoy

The Marriott is not short on family-friendly activities. The resort offers an abundance of things to do on-site, including kayaking, snorkeling, volleyball, table tennis, swimming, and more. The most popular feature of the resort, the huge infinity pool, is steps from the ocean and has something for the whole family including a swim-up bar. If you need a break from the sun but are still looking to relax, you can drop the kids off at Marriott Kids Club while you head to the full service Ohtli Spa for a rejuvenating deep tissue massage, aromatic facial, or a coffee body wrap.

The Kids Club offers many interesting activities, including releasing baby turtles into the ocean during the nesting/summer season, mask-making, and origami. There’s also a kiddie pool, a swing set, and some lounge chairs if you want to lay out while the kids swim.

Explore

There is so much to explore in Puerto Vallarta. From the vibrant streets of downtown to swimming with dolphins on Majahuitas Beach, there is plenty to do beyond the resort. Luckily, Marriott makes it super-easy by allowing you to reserve and pay for any Vallarta Adventures tour at concierge.

If you’re looking to take a day trip away from the resort, Vallarta Adventures Las Caletas Beach Hideaway, one of the top four private beaches in the world, is highly recommended. Nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, this paradise hideaway is a short 35-40 minute boat ride from the Vallarta Adventures dock near the resort. Once you arrive at Las Caletas, you have about six hours to kayak, hike, paddle board, chill in one of the many beachside hammocks, take a cooking class, or go down a huge slide into the ocean.

If you’re looking to do some sightseeing near the Marriott, Marina Vallarta is within walking distance of the resort and features a beautiful boardwalk with views of the mountains, yachts, and sailboats. Every Thursday the Marina hosts a market with hundreds of vendors all along the Marina Malecón. The market is a great place to find souvenirs, interact with locals, and really get a taste of the culture of Puerto Vallarta.

Treehouse Shakers

<div>Treehouse Shakers&rsquo; Branching OUT After-School program is for ages 12-14. This awarded program is for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or are seeking to become better allies. Branching OUT centers on discovering and exploring one&rsquo;s story and identity through an intentionally artist-led format. During our community-based program, young people will explore and reflect on their own story to create a larger, more meaningful experience, while gaining self-empowerment and gathering with like-minded peers. Through the guidance of our awarded teaching artists, young people will create narratives that will be turned into podcasts, dances, songs or poetry.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Young people have the opportunity to learn new art forms, work with professional artists, while building a meaningful community.</div>

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

The Music Institute of Long Island

Established in 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. Long Island&rsquo;s foremost musical academies, its instrumental programs include violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice classes. MILI has been voted # 1 BEST MUSIC SCHOOL Consistently.&nbsp; They teach the Traditional, Suzuki, and ABRSM methods. Students participate in All-National, All-Eastern, All-State, youth orchestras, and score highly in NYSSMA and Royal Academy Music Festivals. First prize winners of competitions earn solos at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras. MILI offers Fall/Spring semesters plus Summer Sessions. Semesters include 15-17 weeks of private lessons, solo recitals with a final GALA Concert featuring chamber music. About the Directors: Carol &amp; Geri Kushner: The sisters are violinists, violists, chamber coaches &amp; performers. They believe in instilling the love of music, &nbsp;fostering proficiency, success, confidence &amp; believe all MILI students achieve success. Degrees BM, MM (+), K-12 certifications, attended Manhattan School of Music, Queens College &amp; Stonybrook University.They have been adjunct professors at Syracuse University, Aaron Copland School of Music Pre-College &amp; Five Towns Colleges, Stonybrook University &amp; have taught in L.I. public schools.