#loreto

#loreto

For decades, whale watching has been a seasonal ritual along the Sonoma Coast, drawing locals to wind-swept bluffs, binoculars in hand. Now the pastime has earned national notice: Travel + Leisure has declared Sonoma County the best place in the country to see whales. In a story published Feb. 3, the magazine said there is no better place in the United States for whale watching than the stretch of coastline from Bodega Bay to Gualala and no better time than now.

For decades, whale watching has been a seasonal ritual along the Sonoma Coast, drawing locals to wind-swept bluffs, binoculars in hand. Now the pastime has earned national notice: Travel + Leisure has declared Sonoma County the best place in the country to see whales. In a story published Feb. 3, the magazine said there is "no better place" in the United States for whale watching than the stretch of coastline

It looked like the silvery blade of a knife. Peering through his goggles, diver Ted Judah had laid eyes on a deep-sea creature rarely encountered by humans. He and wife Linda were diving off McAbee Beach in Monterey County in late December when, near the surface, he spotted the undulating thing. It was some kind of ribbon fish, he wrote in a post on the Facebook group Monterey County Dive Reports. Kevin Lewand solved the mystery.

Make no mistake: tackling Mexico's Baja Divide trail isn't for everyone. It's a strenuous, lengthy journey along graded dirt backroads and rough, sandy tracks. Covering more than 1,700 miles, the route starts in San Diego, California, and ends in La Paz, Mexico, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Sea of Cortez. If you're familiar with the Baja California peninsula, though, you're well aware that this part of the country is rich in natural beauty.

I may be a bit biased, but I consider the California coastline to be the most scenic and diverse route in the U.S. As a native to the state, I've taken more than 20 road trips over the years, traversing desert terrain, budding vineyards, and cliff-hugging highways that tower above the Pacific Ocean. And though I love the colossal redwood forests in northern California and the gleaming coastline that cradles the state's southern end, there's one road trip I always return to for its access to some of the state's best wineries, restaurants, and charismatic hotels.

Stretching along Mexico's Pacific Coast 200 scenic miles north of Puerto Vallarta, the Riviera Nayarit is rich with pristine golden beaches, lush forests, and sunset views over the waters of the Bahía de Banderas. Resorts brands from Auberge and Four Seasons to Rosewood have planted their flags in recent years, but what makes this region most appealing has been here all along.

Spirits brand Clase Azul México will soon open a brand-new home in the city's Polanco area on Feb. 17, offering guided tastings, rotating art installations, private events, and more. The new address, dubbed "Casa de Los Leones," or House of the Lions, was built in a historic mansion where original elements like stained glassed windows were preserved, juxtaposed with contemporary design.

For travelers looking to get to know the many-varied charms of the Golden State, discovering it through the best beaches in California is never a bad idea. The state's coastline spans a vast 3,427 miles after all. Among its 420 public beautiful beaches are plentiful opportunities to swim, lay out, look at tide pools, surf to your heart's content, or watch the sunset.

Quintana Roo is consistently Mexico's most-visited state. Travelers flock here for blue waters rich in snorkeling and dive sites, powder-soft sands, ancient Maya cities cocooned by jungle, and a proliferation of rowdy bars, clubs, and all-inclusive resorts. But as millions of sun-hungry travelers pack their bags for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum this winter, remember there are still pockets of secluded paradise to be found and cherished along Mexico's Caribbean coastline.