Los Cabos, Mexico Grows Up

the sexy rooftop bar and jacuzzi at Hotel El Ganzo 

I go to Cabo practically every winter, thanks to my mom and her husband who own a time share (or two!) down there. Over the years, I've noticed a welcome trend: garish bars are being replaced by stylish boîtes that—instead of neon blue cocktails—serve wines from Valle de Guadalupe. Raucous eateries have given way to upscale restaurants set on organic farms. Indie bands play on rooftop bars. There's even a farmers' market and a bike path on the marina. The vibe is starting to feel very...Portland.

Cabo has always been an idyllic vacation spot, especially if you've slogged through a few months of a soggy, dark Pacific Northwest winter, but now it's shedding its party vibe and growing up. Read my guide to Los Cabos in the November issue of Portland Monthly.