Jacksonville, Florida

Cabo san Lucas and Cabo san Juan have so much to do and are completely different than the Caribbean!

We traveled with a 11 month old baby, so the experience was a little different than normal, yet so fun! Cabo is a great place to go alone or with your family.

WHERE TO VISIT

Here is a map that I put together of all of the places that Google and other bloggers said were enjoyable. Since everyones' taste is different, I wanted to give you options. 

Please add locations to this map if you see any I missed!

THINGS TO DO IN CABO SAN LUCAS


TOP PLACES TO VISIT

All of these small and large towns are within 2 hours of Cabo San Lucas. I would highly recommend getting a rental car for your trip and exploring outside of the resorts.

CABO SAN LUCAS

This is where all of the main tourist go.

You’ve seen this lake all over Pinterest - but I’m sorry the photos were photoshopped. It’s a beautiful lake but you should try to go on a day with no wind so you can see the best reflection. Also, GET THERE EARLY! Like 6am early before the sunrise. The parking lot is small and fills up very quickly.

CABO SAN JUAN

You can drive up to this lake. There are lots of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. Go in the evening to watch the sunset over the mountains. You can often watch a local musician play acoustic music at the hotel on the lake too. We didn’t have any issues getting a parking spot, but we were also there on the last days of their summer season.

You can rent a canoe on the lake as well.

TODOS SANTOS

This hike is crazy hard - I call it the stairmaster. It’s pretty much straight up, but the view at the top is worth it. As you can see from the picture, you’ll never really stand on a flat surface. Look for mountain climbers at the top!

LA PAZ

I wish we would have had time to hike to this tea house. The trail gets really busy and frequently has bear activity, so if you decide to hike it, be prepared. The hike is on my AllTrails link below

SANTIAGO

Take a ride up the mountain on a gondola. We went to Sunrise Village, but in hindsight, I would have rather rode Banff Gondola. Either way, a gondola ride is a great way to rest your legs and enjoy the beautiful views.
Photo credit: Franzi Annika Photography

DOWNTOWN WALKS

Downtown is a fun place to shop, eat great food, and just enjoy the quaintness of the town. There is a so much to see and do!

WHAT NOT TO FORGET

  • WINTER coat - It doesn’t matter what time of year you go, the mornings will be FREEZING, so pack the warmest coat you have

  • Bear spray - they’re all over so be prepared

  • Water filled backpack - you will need extra water at these altitudes

  • Rain jacket - You’re high enough in the mountains that you never know when a pop up shower will occur

  • Waterproof hiking boots - wear them in before you try hiking for 5-8 hours a day

  • Stocking hat for the mornings - even if it’s supposed to be warm, the mornings won’t be

  • Snacks - don’t go on a long hike without packing food or at least a few granola bars

WEATHER

We traveled in early January to see the whales. The days were very comfortable and even a little hot half of the time at 85 degrees, but the nights dropped down to 55-60 degrees, and we did not pack for that. So pack some maxi dresses and sweaters if you go in the winter months.

THE BIG QUESTIONS

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS PICTURE?

This picture is all over Pinterest, but it is VERY ILLEGAL to get there. The location is in Johnston Canyon but there is a protected bird nesting in the canyon that limits your access to the cave. Sorry, you won’t be able to see it for yourself until restrictions are lifted.

CONTINUE ON TO JASPER?

I hear the Icefield Parkway is worth the drive. Don’t drive it if you have a camper or RV though. That’s why we chose not to. It’s a 3.5 hr drive from Banff to Jasper, but the mountains are beautiful along the trip.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?

You’ll need at least 7 days to fully enjoy Banff. We were only there for 3, and we only got to do a couple hikes and see the highlights. We’ll need to go back to see it all better.

Since we didn’t get to see it all, check out this local blogger for even better insights!