Where to begin? First, let’s clarify that it’s Bart who turned 60 back in June of this year, and that yes, he’s a cradle-robber. There’s a seven-year difference between us–a fact that makes our children cringe when thinking of themselves with someone seven years older. But anyway, our favorite guy is now the Big 6-OH!
Back when he turned 40, he took a trip with a bunch of friends to the British Virgin Islands, where they chartered a sailboat and had such a blast. I’ve heard stories of this incredible trip repeatedly over the past 15+ years, and so, when 60 was rolling around, they wanted another group trip.
As it will, life threw some wrenches into that plan, as some of those friends have scattered and gotten busy, but luckily, we were able to gather four of the original group to celebrate sweet Bart and our friend Mary, both of whom hit that milestone this year. Since all of us have families, we aimed for somewhere close but that felt far away: Los Cabos!
We chose to stay in San Jose del Cabo for its more family-friendly and less “how much can you drink before puking” atmosphere and decided on an all-inclusive resort (Hyatt Ziva), so we could easily gather and not have to worry about getting around and splitting costs. Before you ask, yes, I created a Google sheet. But let’s get to the fun stuff!
We stayed there a week and had too many blog-worthy experiences to fit in one post, but let’s try:
THE BUFFET
Ok, so maybe this doesn’t SOUND like the coolest stuff, but OMG. Give kids some freedom and options, and watch their eyes light up. While the resort had some “adults-only” venues, most were kid-friendly, which allowed the six younger folks in our troop to explore and enjoy their own private meals:
Look at those cuties! But Ella’s favorite thing, bar none, was the sugar buffet. From chocolate milk to the sugary cereal we’d never have in our home, to pancakes, waffles and donuts, this kid was in heaven.
In fact, you’ll see a lot of eating photos in this post because, well, we ate a lot. If you’ve ever been to an all-inclusive, you know they provide many entertainment options, too. So at night we enjoyed shows, ranging from singing to dancing to singing and dancing to acrobatics and trivia nights–we even won a hat, which the girls had to go on stage to accept.
We had two special birthday dinner nights, one with the entire group around an hibachi grill and a private one on the beach for the adults, both complete with celebratory swag and lots of smiles.
We also enjoyed a LOT of water time! Bart and Zoe went snorkeling on a catamaran excursion, and we all spent time between the two pools at the resort (one with a swim-up bar) and some time on the beach, though the waves were too strong for ocean time. That’s a Cabo problem.
The downtown area of San José del Cabo is lovely, and we went into town a few times for shopping, dining and for an Art Walk. Super fun! A few recommendations below, with photos!
This cute downtown restaurant has great food and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy it in, including a wall of flowers outside the restrooms, a gift shop with local wares, and an expansive indoors for parties. Interesting moments: They burn rosemary at the table on the patio to combat flies. It works but the wind was in my direction, so I may still smell like rosemary…
Right across the street from one of our group downtown excursions for lunch at Baja Brewing Company (also recommend) is a cute little bakery our friend recommended. While they have a full breakfast menu, we simply enjoyed some fancy cafe drinks and the awesome service.
THE ART WALK IN SAN JOSE DEL CABO
As I mentioned, every Thursday night downtown San José del Cabo turns into an art paradise, with local artists setting up stalls in the square, galleries open after hours for viewing, and plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. The lighting alone is gorgeous!
We found an interactive art gallery from artist Ivan Guaderrama downtown as well, where you can use a phone app or simply touch and interact with a variety of art installations and photos. The girls liked the musical stairs, though they were a bit deep to be easy to navigate…
Hanging around in and near the resort was also fun, with lots of areas to “be”, food and drink options all day long, and even a henna tattoo artist on the beach. So we did a lot of chillin’ and exploring, too!
Wonder if Bart ever saw himself turning 60 in Cabo with a teen, a 9-year-old and a feisty wife (who happens to speak Spanish) back when he turned 40 and celebrated with these awesome friends? We may never know, but we sure hope he feels as special as he IS for this milestone birthday. Love that guy.
Emphasis on Joy 