Skip to main content
Family Guides Kids

what we did in mexico…

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

A couple weeks ago, we made a little escape to Punta de Mita, Mexico just two and a half hours away from Los Angeles by plane. After a long and (somewhat tiring) trip to France, we welcomed a shorter and more relaxing trip with Ruby.

As part of a partnership with St. Regis hotels, we stayed at their Punta Mita resort to experience Family Traditions at St. Regis, which is all about making a vacation with kids easier and more fun thanks to the hotel's family-friendly activities and accommodations. In contrast to Paris (which was not very kid-friendly), it was such a nice change to be in a place where kids get the royal treatment, too.

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico


Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico


Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

When you go to a resort in a warm climate (it was 95 degrees that week!), it's a given that you're going to spend time in the water. But the water options here were seriously amazing. In addition to the beach and a few different pools, we spent most of our time in the kid's pool and in the wading pool every day. Ruby was in serious water heaven and was constantly asking to go play in the "agua".

While we loved relaxing in the resort, we also took some trips the local town nearby…

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico


Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico


Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

One of our favorite dinners was in the surrounding town of Punta de Mita at a oceanside restaurant called Si Señor. We enjoyed the amazing view while having just-caught, grilled seafood. Ruby and I shared a virgin piña colada and tried to keep cool during the sultry evening.

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

One morning, we made a trip to Sayulita which is a 20 minute car ride from the resort. It was nice to be out in a local town and see the vibrant colors and culture around us. With tiny handmade animals, flowers sold off trucks, paletas (popsicles) galore, and some amazing seafood at Don Pedro's, we loved our visit to this beautiful town.

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

My favorite shop in Sayulita was a store called Ula that sold beautiful handmade items made accented with pom-poms. The wall hangings, decor, scarves, and bags made with bright and beautiful poms were so fun for both Ruby and I to be inspired by.

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

The best part of our stay in Punta Mita included all the kid-friendly activities that were available each day—including a piñata lesson and trick-or-treating (since we were there during Halloween), a Family beach BBQ, a class about wild animals, and a champagne toast on the beach for the whole family to be part of. 

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Plus, there were always beach toys, sand sack games, soccer nets, and other activities available at all times. Ruby wasn't old enough for their children's club, but I found myself longing for the day that our kids are old enough to be able to learn and play with an instructor on-site while we get some relaxing adult-time to ourselves.


Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

Oh Joy | What We Did in Mexico

This was honestly the most relaxing vacation we've had since having Ruby two years ago. There are some vacations you go on where you're out and about constantly, and you come by needing a vacation from your vacation. Yes, we made sure to experience some of the local culture, but it was all stress-free and easy. This was the kind of vacation where we really could just lounge around, play in the water, eat when we wanted to, and have our days just be carefree. It's one of the few places we've gone where we decided before leaving that we would absolutely go back again in the future. 

P.S. If you want the chance to win a vacation like ours, you can also enter to win a family trip to a St. Regis hotel uploading a family traditions photo with the hashtag #stregisfamily and by following St. Regis on Instagram. See their Facebook page or the contest page for more info!

*Thank you to the St. Regis for providing our accommodations for this trip and for treating us so well!

{Photos by Oh Joy}

26 comments

  1. Looks like such a fun place. I had no idea St. Regis sponsors family trips. So cool. Ruby looks so happy. I love her outfits, care to share where that greyish jumper suit is from. It’s adorable. Glad you had such a great vacation and it was not a constant rush to see places and do things 🙂

  2. It was so fun to see all your vacation photos on Instagram, and now to see the full story here! It looks like the perfect holiday. We’re about to head to Hawaii to visit my family for Thanksgiving. Last year it was what you described — we came back needing a vacation from our vacation. This year, we’re trying to focus on relaxing and having fun! This post was great inspiration for that. If only I could figure out a way to be as fashionable as Ruby!

  3. So lovely! We took our first family vacation with our toddler last summer and a beach vacation is really relaxing. Visiting cities with kids can be chaotic. So happy you enjoyed.

  4. Hello Joy! At first, I must confess that I love reading all of your posts and looking at all of your beautiful photos both design-ish and also these of your gorgeous family. Second, I noticed you didn’t include that photo of Ruby ‘riding’ the tortoise here, as you did on Instagram. I can only assume it might (or might not) be because of some of the rude comments that appeared there, and be it or not that way, I just wanted to express my support for you. I believe nor you, nor Ruby and not even St. Regis resort intended to harm any of the animals they present there (not that it actually would suffer any harm, which – by being ‘ridden’ by a little child – couldn’t really be done). I even believe that the resort itself knows very well what they do with their animals and as you stated above, it was a ‘wild-animals class’ and I can’t imagine that a resort, well-known and luxurios such as St. Regis, would knowingly do something bad within their own presentation. Apart from being an animal lover, I’m also in the state of cooperating with a local zoo and I think I can quite assess what IS animal cruelty and what’s not. And this was not. I just wanted to say I don’t think you or anyone else did anything wrong. And that you’re amazing! Best regards, Kate

  5. This looks amazing but probably not some place anyone can just go… considering the cost… It’s great that they sponsored your family and you got to experience it. Maybe some day…

  6. I had those baggo boards made for our event there last year and the resort told me they were well loved. So nice to see your little girl enjoying them!

  7. Kate, the comments on Instagram were not rude, in fact many of the people who voiced their opinions really took care to do so as politely as possible. Raising a question or being critical is not the same thing as being rude and it is really patronising to brush off the (often evidence-based) opinions of others in that way. With the background that you speak of in animal care, you will no doubt be aware that in most National Parks, it is forbidden to even touch the animals, so I don’t think it is that surprising that so many people were so shocked to see that picture of a child sitting on one. If you read all of the comments on Instagram properly, you would know that many were not directly accusing this family/hotel chain of “animal cruelty.” You are clinging to the very extreme end of the argument. The suggestion was that it lacked taste and seemed to contradict the work that many other conservation organisations were trying to achieve in various parts of the world – to educate the public that wild animals are exactly that and sitting on them for a cute photo opportunity is not something that many deem to be respectful, cruel or not. I’m sure that Joy is interested to read both the positive and negative feedback from her readers and doesn’t expect it all to be pink, fluffy compliments about her latest dress, cupcake, tote bag.

  8. What a fun trip to Mexico! It looks like the whole family had an absolute blast! I will be taking a family vacation soon enough. I am looking for pet friendly new hampshire hotels as we speak.

  9. Wow! I’ve been looking for a happy dress just like the muliticolored one you are wearing in the blue wall/archway photo. Who makes it?

  10. Hi there!
    I’m heading to PV with our 13 month old soon. I was wondering what you did in regards to feeding veggies/fruits? Obviously we will drink bottled water but when we bath our son he usually takes in a bit of water. How did you deal with that aspect? Thanks for your insight and I love how you travel!

Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Along

[instagram-feed]