Taking the Kids to San Blas - 10 Wishes for Happy Travel in 2016 Eileen Ogintz - Chicago Tribune
go to original December 31, 2015

We're watching the mango man sculpt mangos into fruit flowers to sell on the beach, as we sit under a thatched palapa eating just-caught fish that had been grilled and served up on freshly made corn tortillas.

People come to San Blas in the Riviera Nayarit area of Mexico's Pacific Coast to see the amazing birds, surf and play on the beach alongside Mexican families. It may only be a couple of hours from the all-inclusive resort scene in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, but it feels like it's light years away.

Many families aren't comfortable visiting Mexico at all, much less leaving their all-inclusive resort. But that day proved one of the most memorable of the year for me for exactly that reason. It was so different. It was a chance to meet Mexican families having fun in the sun. And besides, the food was fantastic!

What kind of traveler are you? Maybe you are most comfortable returning to familiar climes where your gang has had fun in the past, each visit solidifying your memories. You count every penny or, once you're on vacation, you don't want to think about what anything costs.

Maybe you like nothing more than exploring new places and sharing new adventures with the kids and grandkids, well aware that things may not go as planned, though that can happen wherever you go, of course. Wherever you venture in 2016, give yourselves permission to get off the tourist track, at least for a little while. You'll be glad you did.

Here are my other nine hopes for your travel this year...

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