Ensenada
is a harbor city with hundreds of years of history and culture. Though modern and a great tourist destination, Ensenada maintains
its heritage with its museums and well preserved historical landmarks.
Located
only 80 miles south of San Diego, it is a great place to immerse yourself in the Mexican culture without having to stray too
far from home. The drive to Ensenada and back is a peaceful and scenic 2 hour ride where you get to see the ocean from a top
view as you pass through mountains.
Ensenada
can be broken down into two parts; the very modern and touristy downtown area which is noted by its well lit and nicely decorated
streets near the harbor with all kinds of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, internet cafes, and convenience stores. Tourists
can rent mopeds, mini cars, or take a ride in a horse drawn carriage.
The other part of Ensenada is the more authentic Mexican
part of town. It is where the locals live, work, and run errands. It too has shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, internet cafes,
and convenience stores but it is also where the more practical day to day businesses exist like car washes, grocery stores,
and other shops. This part of town is less glitzy and more rustic than those of the downtown area. The nice thing
about this part of town is that it is not touristy and the locals will rarely speak English to you forcing
you to practice the language. Ensenada is known for its safe and friendly environment. The people are very outgoing
and easy to talk to... in Spanish!
