Home of the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango is a center for recreational activities in southwestern Colorado, with convenient access to a number of nearby national parks, forests, recreation areas, and ski resorts. The towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains provide a scenic northern skyline.

The tawny, green-touched flanks of the Sierra de Guanajuato rise up around the Mexican colonial city of Guanajuato. Sprawling along the steeps side of this mountains region, Guanajuato came to public attention when a very profitable vein of silver was discovered here circa 16th century.

Lone seagulls skim the surface of the protected bays that scallop the shores of Manzanillo. A pleasant-sized city south of Puerto Vallarta, the beaches glimmer with phosphorescence at night and adjacent bars keep a local laid-back vibe going until the wee hours of morning.

Blue Pacific Ocean blends at the horizon into the deep purple of shadowed mountains as the sun slips over Puerto Vallarta with a last fiery display of color. Halfway down Mexico's Pacific Coast, this popular beach destination is about romance or recreation, depending on your frame of mind.

Early morning sunlight leaves colonial-style architectural curves softened in the shadows of another San Miguel de Allende day. This picturesque city has a charm that regularly lures visitors into retirement and earns it a reputation as one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations.