Ananasfreak

Once in a while a paradise exists right under your nose, but it’s so far off the beaten path that it is virtually unknown.

There is a terrific vacation spot in Mexico that falls into this category by the name of Puerto Penasco, or as people North of the border call it, Rocky Point.

One of the main reasons it is so little known is that, unless you have a private jet, the only way you can access Rocky Point is via automobile through the border entrance in tiny Lukeville, Arizona. Once in Mexico, a short drive through the town of Sonoita, Sonora, will lead you to a four lane highway that, sixty miles later, leads directly into Rocky Point.

It seems that most tourists that visit Rocky Point are from Arizona or southern California, not surprising since driving is the only affordable way to get there. The town is nestled on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, and attracts thousands every year to its beautiful beaches.

The development boom hit the town beginning in the early to mid-90s. Before then, there were a few hotels, mostly in the urban center of town. At that point Rocky Point mainly attracted people with RVs who would pull them into town and park and camp right on the beach. Some adventurous types would do the same thing without an RV - they would simply fall asleep in the back seats of their cars - a nice weekend on the beach was worth the hassle of the sleeping arrangements.

Nowadays there are many resort hotels along the beaches offering just about any amenity you could think of. Although that means there is less beach space to camp on, a few RVers are still able find spots right on the water like before.

Rocky Point also attracts people who want to ride their ATVs, or “quads.” The sand dunes northwest of town near Cholla Bay are some of the most challenging on the North American continent.

Even if sand dunes aren’t your thing, the section of town called Cholla Bay is a sight to be seen. Settled by expatriate Americans, Cholla Bay features homes and cottages, small grocery stores, and restaurants and bars. There is even an outdoor cantina along the Cholla lagoon that seems like something out of a Hemingway novel.

Swimming, scuba diving, fishing, and even whale watching are all at your disposal in Rocky Point.

If you live in the Southwest U.S. or southern California you should add Puerto Penasco to your list of vacation spots for a truly unique experience.

If you should ever ask any professional travel writers how they enjoy getting free trips to exotic places all over the world, it is very likely they will quickly disabuse you of the notion that their press junkets are free. Rather, a travel writing pro will go into a lengthy explanation of how the services he or she provides are actually worth far more than the complimentary air fare, accommodations, meals, guide services, ground transportation and entry into attractions that he or she was provided. Nevertheless, to the untrained eye of an outsider, it appears very much like what the travel writer obtained was indeed a free trip to an exotic destination. Not everyone can become a travel writer. The most primary prerequisites are not only the ability to write but also the desire to do so. That being said, if you have a knack for penning compelling paragraphs, then getting to be a travel writer is a possibility you may wish to consider. For more people who are starting out as travel writers, the kind of trip they are most likely to be invited to join is a familiarization tour, known within the travel industry as a “fam” trip. These media junkets are most often organized by a government tourist bureau, whether on a national, state, regional or city level. For example, some official bodies that have been known to sponsor press trips are the government of India, the Australian state of Queensland, the Washington State Department of Tourism and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Tampa Bay, Florida. None of these organizations is likely to finance a visit by someone who does not have either a proven track record of getting their travel articles published. That is why most people who are beginning as neophyte travel writers find that they have to start off by paying for their own trips. This is not too difficult for most people, however, who are accustomed to spending some money to go on a vacation every year or two. A good way to start is to write an article about a destination you have recently visited. The length of a desirable travel article varies between different publications. Some newspaper editors may ask for stories between 500 and 800 words long, while travel magazines are more likely to publish articles of 1,000 to 2,000 words in length. It is recommended that someone who is just starting out start small and pick a local newspaper. Find out the name of the travel editor, and email him or her a query letter that describes your article and tells why the readers of the publication would find it interesting. Finally, do not be discouraged by rejection. It is not uncommon to be turned down by dozens of newspapers or magazines before connecting with an editor who will immortalize your words in print. Once you have had three or four articles published in this way, then it is time to start contacting the tourist boards of places you would like to visit. This is not as difficult as it once was, because most tourism boards now have internet sites that list the contact details for their media relations staff. As with any hobby, travel writing becomes less difficult with practice. If someone has the basic writing skills, along with lots of desire and tenacity, they can eventually earn the enviable title of travel writer.