Volume XXX, Number 85 July 16-31, 2008 home page   |   who we are   |   ad rates   |   faq   |   links   |   contact us   |
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PAST ISSUES
TECATE - THINGS TO DO
Visit A Park
Tecate takes great pride in its numerous parks. Hidalgo park in the center of town serves as a hub for shoppers, school children and anyone interested in a friendly game of dominoes. The tantalizing aroma of yeast from the nearby brewery wafts through the air, making you alternately hungry for homemade bread or thirsty for an ice cold beer. Stone Park, located next to Cuchuma Hill, transports you back to the age of the Aztecs. Built completely out of different kinds of stones and lushly adorned with lavender and shady trees, you have the feeling in this park of what other ruins would have looked like in their heyday. The enormous stadium, also built from stone, is most impressive.
There are five parks altogether in Tecate and each one has its own personality and function. For family get-togethers or just a day at the park, Encinos park is the perfect destination. It is beautifully manicured with huge oak trees, plenty of picnic tables, flowers and play equipment.

The Brewery
Of course, no visit to Tecate would be complete without a stop at the brewery. Located just a few short blocks from the center of downtown, the brewery offers tours. Not only are you invited to see how the famous Tecate beer is made, but you're also invited to sample an ice cold glass of brew afterwards in the "Beer garden".

Rancho Tecate

Tecate is hardly a town to boast of its tourist facilities, yet it has one outstanding resort facility, the Rancho Tecate, about six miles south of town on the Ensenada road, It's a great place to get away from it all, and to enjoy the quiet of the mountains. There are swimming pools, tennis courts, and a golf course. The dining room, bar area, and public rooms of the hotel are luxuriously appointed and beautifully arranged. Its upscale restaurant is know as one of the finest in Baja.

Spas and Recreational Areas

From world class spas to recreational water parks, Tecate has it all. Rancho La Puerta is an exclusive, world renowned spa. Devoted to both your physical and mental well-being, Rancho La Puerta has been receiving guests since its modest inception in the early 1940's. Today it's the temporary retreat of both the rich and famous who seek solitude, perfect weather and healthy foods. The entire regime is designed to cleanse the body and feed the mind.
There is another well known Spa in downtown named "Las Cascadadas".
Just outside of town there are several water parks which feature water slides, swimming pools and miniature roller coasters for the little ones. All also have lovely barbecue and picnic facilities for the perfect family outing. If you love to camp or want to enjoy the rugged outdoors with the modern conveniences of a pine cabin, venture 13 miles outside of town to the Tecate KOA. You can choose to rough it in your own tent, or unwind on the front porch of your own cabin. All of the facilities of the modern day are unobtrusively available in this rustic, frontier environment.

Shopping
If you're in the mood for shopping, Tecate has it all! If you go to the famous pavers' yard, where 95% of their merchandise crosses the border each day to such suppliers, you'll be able to find fabulous bargains. Pots and outdoor fireplaces, beautifully painted and sealed, sell for one third the price charged in the States. Paving materials for driveways, patios and interiors are also just as reasonable.
And to take home some of the most beautiful memories of Mexico, visit Hidalgo Park or the arts and crafts center across the street from the Lopez Mateos Park. Find beautiful hand crafts from the south of Mexico (pottery, alebrijes, jewelry, and picture frames) or watch the glass blowers create delicate, whimsical figurines. You can buy onyx bowls or hand-woven blankets, all for a fraction of the cost in the US.

Art
There is an active group of people supporting a local Cultural Center. Is located east of the city on Juarez Boulevard, and offers classes in dance and music as well as training in the visual arts. There is also an exhibition area, marked, at this writing with a collection of works of most of Tecate's best known artists, as well as important foreign exhibitions.
There are well known Tecate painters as Pabel, famous for his posters of Rosarito and the border crossing; Blancarte, prize winner in the Tijuana Cultural Center; Adame, best known for his stylized and yet sensual landscapes of Tecate; and Magana ceramic artist per excellence. Traditional and moving portraits by Marcos Brambrila, who is known as Tecate's first artist, etc. However there are no commercial galleries in the town. To purchase, the buyer must go to Tijuana or, better yet, Rosarito where Pabel's Gallery and Giorgio Santini Art Gallery feature Tecate artists.

Outdoor Activities

In the rugged and beautiful, boulder strewn mountains surrounding Tecate one cannot be disappointed if hiking is your hobby. Fresh water springs feed the valley below and make any trek more enjoyable amongst the plants which flourishes here. Bicycle, motorcycle and car races are important annual events, while horseback riding or backpacking can be enjoyed year 'round. The ancient archeological site of El Vellecito takes visitors back to a time when a drawing was worth a thousand words.

Bakeries

Tecate is famous for making the best bread in Baja! If you haven't had "bolillos" or "birotes", those little loaves that are the real masterpieces of the Mexican baker, you've missed the chance to tear your teeth into the best crust on this or any continent. Then, you sure try the huge elephant ears, bread pudding squares, "conchitas", croissants, "cocodrilos".... The fun lies in each bakery individuality. You will find them along the main street and they have coffee or hot chocolate to enjoy a sweet treat.


Restaurants

From Taco Stands to Burger King, to Seafood. There are several restaurants in town with excellent food as well as service. From Chinese food to Mexican quesadillas, Tecate offers a wide variety of delicious food.

 

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