Greetings Laguna Beach from Punta Mita, Mexico, where I have been visiting for the past week. I’ve been staying at the St. Regis here, helping the resort develop a new program titled “Surf with a Pro,” set to launch this spring break. It will be offered to beginning through advanced surfers alike.

Outside my window is a sparkling, crystal clear ocean with a slight offshore and a 2- to 3-foot peeling right.

Not a soul or surfer in sight.

However, I plan on changing that once I finish writing my column.

I’ve been amazed at how good the waves are such a short distance away from the resort, and looking outside right now it would be hard to distinguish whether I was in Hawaii, Tahiti or Punta Mita.

Waverider stands apart from traditional vacation rentals by offering daily rentals along with their unique “Flex Vacation Program” where surfers can buy a 15-day or 30-day package that offers a big discount off the daily rental rates. The Flex Vacation Program can be used partially or all at once over a two year period, and provides advance booking privileges over other vacation renters. Another feature setting Waverider apart is the departure from the standard “beach rental” format. Waverider is offering a complete surf experience, with a full menu of a la carte services like local surf guides, access to custom boat trips, concierge service for side adventures and even the chance to book your trip with celebrity surf guides such as Robert “Wingnut” Weaver.

“Over 2009 our team built out the Waverider program, acquiring our first group of residences in J-Bay, Punta Mita and Tamarindo to allow us to now launch the first phase of Waverider,” explains Founder and CEO Mark Taylor, “and now we’ve launched our new website for the surf community to learn more about us – and to start planning their dream surf trip.”

As a motive for the celebration, starting next February, the Mexico Cup Regatta, Bicentennial edition, the Televisa Deportes girl, Marisol Gonzales, was at the Riviera Nayarit this weekend recording promotionals on the beaches, natural beauty and magic of the traditions of this destination.

The also contest winner of Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2003 and a production team of this major private television station, swept over the whole weekend destination to capture the essence of its main beaches, the warmth of its people, services offered for tourism, the delicious cuisine of the region and all its competitive advantages.

There will be four Promotional capsules that will be transmitted in different channels of this network, which shows the world Careyeros beautiful sunrises on the beach, colorful sunsets in Nuevo Vallarta, the magic of the Huichol people and their crafts in Sayulita, the important range of golf-with the six fields available in Riviera Nayarit, and the entire infrastructure of hotels and services, which can be found those who decide to visit the destination during the celebration of the regatta.

“It was a very intense and very fast tour, but I’m delighted with what I learned, Riviera Nayarit really has beautiful places and a lot to offer, I’m sure I’ll be back,” the television host and former representative of beauty in Mexico.

The pelican sleeping on the dock ignores the man with a fishing rod and a tempting tackle box full of bait. It is equally impervious to the roar of speedboats and the hum from the crowded beach.

When I get too close with my camera, the bird lazily opens one orange eye, stares at me and seems to say, “Slow down. Relax.” Then it closes its eye. I creep closer and get my shot.

In Puerto Vallarta, even the birds are relaxed.

At 10 a.m., I’ve been told to relax four times. The first was my fiance Mike, who told me not to fret when we missed the first taxi. The second was the ticket salesman, who accepted $22 each for the roundtrip tickets and said, “Slow down, senorita. You have plenty of time.”

The third was the 14-year-old waiting to tie the taxi to the pier. “It’s only 15 minutes late,” he says. “Relax.”

Riviera Nayarit closed 2009 as the destination attracting more investment to the tourism industry in the country and began 2010 with the recognition of publications and International Property Haute Living Journal as one of the best in the world to acquire a second home. In the midst of this good news was presented Nahui, a development model that shows why Riviera Nayarit has achieved these distinctions. Beach Front Destiladeras, nahui a huge residential development projects that will extend over 800 acres with 4.5 miles of white sandy beaches in the Bay of Banderas. In the first stage, build a cozy little town, with shops that will house some of the most renowned restaurants and shops in the region, villas and lots for residential property, near the prestigious Tau timeshare resort, a hotel resort, fifteen small boutique hotels, a beach club and residential beach access open to the public.

Later stages will include luxury residential developments, two golf courses, one of these and designed by the renowned David Fleming, who will be the first open to other residential communities in the area, and many other sophisticated services. “As a developer of investing experience in Riviera Nayarit is good, the state government and municipal government are promoters, they want things done, it’s a great place to come and develop, work, local authorities do is put the shirt and push to get things done well, “said Hector Cardenas firm C & C Capital, responsible for realizing the project. For the entrepreneur, Riviera Nayarit has been an important growth pole, a great niche opportunity and a privileged place for the housing market led to tourism, but said that there are windows of opportunity also for the domestic market, since in the initial stage offer villas from 500 thousand dollars that will soon become high added value.

The Norwegian Sky hosts a Cougar Bahamas Cruise this year

In the Chinese calendar, 2010 may be the Year of the Tiger. For the cruise calendar, however, 2010 may as well be the Year of the Cougar. After the first-ever international cougar cruise set sail late in 2009, the sexy travel trend continues to make waves throughout the travel industry in the New Year. For starters, Carnival Cruise Lines announced that it would no longer offer the niche vacation, despite popular demand. But Royal Caribbean was right there to pick it up after it was dropped off at port.

The Cougar Mexican Riveira Cruise takes place May 16-23, and departs from Los Angeles aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas to visit Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.

Sacramento will be losing more than the most eclectic greeting card shop in town when Etc. closes next week.

The city is also losing a one-of-a-kind neighborhood gathering spot. Owners Jeff Heald and Abdon Legrand — with help from a glittery, life-size chrome man standing sentry outside the shop — have welcomed shoppers and passersby to the corner of 21st and L streets for two decades.

The pair are closing their shop — previously known as Postcards Etc. — and moving to Mexico. They plan to open a new business: Café Como No (Cafe Why Not) in Punta de Mita, near Puerto Vallarta, said Heald, 57.

Heald grew up in the Sacramento area. However, 47-year-old Legrand grew up on the Gulf of Mexico in Tampico, Mexico. The couple, who have been together 28 years, want to return to Legrand’s home country after vacationing there for 15 years.

The store has officially closed, but the pair are allowing customers in as they pack up. The store’s last day is Monday. In the midst of a going-out-of-business sale, the pair said saying goodbye to friends in Sacramento is taking an emotional toll.

En el 2010, bajo la conducción del Gobernador Ney González Sánchez, se aplicarán innovadoras estrategias de proyección turística para lograr la consolidación de la Riviera Nayarit,In 2010, under the leadership of Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez, innovative strategies with tourist projection towards the consolidation of the Riviera Nayarit, said Undersecretary of Tourism, Mario Alberto Basulto Seas.

With nautical events such as the Bicentennial Edition Mexico Cup Regatta to be held in this idyllic destination from the month of February, they will strengthen the economy and more jobs, he said.

The Nayarit Riviera will host the Mexico Cup Regatta Bicentennial Edition 2010, world-class event to be held from February 26 to March 13, 2010 as part of the bicentennial commemoration of the start of National Independence and the start of the Centenary of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico and Nayarit positioning as destinations of excellence for the practice of this sport.

Mares Basulto said “the timetable of activities has been prepared for this sector will attract a significant number of national and international tourists as well as investments.”

Inspiration for Charles Guy’s album of nuevo flamenco began about five years ago when the Ashland guitarist started taking winter breaks on beaches and hilltops in Mexico.

“The way of life there — the pace, the spirit — is inspiring,” Guy says. “There’s certain feel to it. It’s a culmination of ocean air, bougainvillea and sitting underneath a palapa playing guitar.”

Guy, along with cellist Daniel Sperry, bassist Jeff Addicott and percussionist J. Billy Rock Smith, will debut the new album, “Sakes Alive,” as the Charles Guy Quartet at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at Avalon Bar and Grill, 105 W. Valley View Road, Talent.

Guy steers clear of the big resort cities along Mexico’s Pacific coast, where live music is more about catering to American tourists and less about Mexican culture. He finds his muse in the less populated areas.

“If you go to the smaller towns where the real people are, you get to hear the real music,” Guy says. “It is its simplicity that is the most appealing.”

Sayulita, just north of Puerto Vallarta, is one of his favorite destinations.

Valentine’s Day is just weeks away. It’s the perfect time to book a romantic trip!

Call me spoiled but luxury hotels bring out the romantic in just about anyone. I have some fabulous ideas for romantic getaway for you and your sweetheart, from Mexico to Manhattan. Here are some of my favorite places for a Valentine’s Day trip.

Hacienda San Angel, an intimate boutique hotel overlooking Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico offers a 2-night “Heavenly Escape” including a couples’ massage, sparkling wine, evening margaritas, breakfast in bed & airport transfers for $845 per couple.