Baja’s Grey Whales

March 7, 2026 / marniesteve / Leave a comment

About 10,000 people each year make the pilgrimage to Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico to experience what is known as the “world’s largest whale nursery.” Seeing the whales was the highlight of our 15-day Fantasy RV tour, but it was only part of this grand adventure.

We joined our group of 22 RVs in Ensenada and after one more visit to the wine country, we headed south. The day we departed Ensenada, cartel kingpin El Mencho was killed in mainland Mexico, setting off a wave of attacks centered in Puerto Vallarta and spreading across the country. While driving south we were temporarily stalled by a tomato truck that had been set on fire, creating a blockade. Here’s a photo taken from social media of the explosion.

We just saw the aftermath (no photos), and that was enough to caused some concern in our group. In fact, three RVs turned back the next day. We, however, decided to continue on since the violence in Baja was centered around the border and Tijuana. Our decision to proceed southward turned out to be sound, as it was peaceful for the rest of the trip.

Passing through Baja’s majestic desert topography, we saw wild horses and unique landscapes. Camping amidst the cardònes and cirios was like being in a western movie.

After three days of driving we arrived in Guerrero Negro. For the next two mornings we visited Ojo de Liebre lagoon and one of the largest concentrations of grey whales on the planet.

After feeding all spring and summer in Alaska, the entire grey whale population heads south to three Mexican lagoons to give birth and nurse their calves. While in the calm waters of the lagoon, the whales show great curiosity and playfulness toward the boats.

We were approached by numerous 35-40 foot specimens who seemed to be just as interested in us as we were in them. They allowed us to pet them and even sneak a kiss!

One even used its nose to push our boat in circles for over a minute. And there’s nothing like getting a whale blowhole shower.

We also spent time with a mama whale who was teaching her baby to approach us. The experience was definitely one-of-a-kind!

Guerrero Negro is also the site of one of the world’s largest salt production plants and it’s the high salinity of the lagoons that makes them attractive to the whales. One afternoon Steve joined the group for a tour of the massive salt facility and was amazed by the operation.

After our time in Guerrero Negro, we traveled across the peninsula to the sleepy village of Bahia de Los Ángeles (BLA), set on the Sea of Cortez. Our beachfront campsites were the perfect setting for kayaking and beach barbecues.

Beachfront camping in Bahia de los Angeles

Steve and his buddies went fishing and caught large, yellowfin tuna that was delicious on the Blackstone.

Fantasy RV tours fed us extremely well, and we are now in detox mode! Fresh seafood and Mexican dishes, along with plenty of margaritas were on our menu most days.

While this was a spectacular trip, our new friends made it even more special. Jay & June and Jim & Yujing were on both of the back-to-back tours, and the six of us became a formidable team. We shared meals, hikes, happy hours, laundry trips, and plenty of laughs.

Travel is always enriching, but it’s the friends you make along the way that truly make it exceptional. We are grateful to have made four, great new friends on this Mexican adventure.

A Taste of Baja

February 18, 2026March 7, 2026 / marniesteve / 1 Comment

Our RV lifestyle continues south of the border in Baja California, Mexico, enjoying two back-to-back, guided RV caravans with Fantasy RV Tours. Our first tour, A Taste of Baja, allowed us to tip our toe into Baja before diving further south.

Map showing the region of Baja California, Mexico, highlighting locations such as San Diego and Ensenada.

We started our Baja exploration by basing ourselves at Clam Beach RV park, just north of Ensenada and about 85 miles south of the US border. We’re the blue dot on the map above. With 41 other RVers we caravanned across the border and spent seven days exploring Northern Baja’s wine area, Valle de Guadalupe.

A winding road in a mountainous landscape with multiple RVs traveling in the same direction. — Caravan on the road

This tour was all about food, and wine (and some tequila), and the culture of northern Baja. Our first night featured dinner at the seaside restaurant Splash. The leisurely meal, accompanied by plentiful margaritas, offered the perfect environment for making new friends.

Group of eight people seated at a table enjoying a meal and drinks in a cozy restaurant setting. — At Splash with Jay, June, Brad, Denise, Jim & Yujing

On our first full day in Mexico, we boarded a tour bus for the 50 minute drive to Valle de Guadalupe. Our first tasting experience at family-owned Xecuè was complimented by fresh seafood and a range of wines.

A plated dish featuring a stack of green avocado slices layered with onions, served in a vibrant green sauce, on a textured placemat. — Aguachile

Tall cacti with multiple arms surrounded by various desert plants and rocks under a cloudy sky. — Aguachile

After lunch we headed to L.A. Cetto winery, one of Mexico’s largest and most influential wine producers. We toured the grounds and learned about the history of Cetto, which began in the early 19th century in Italy.

A man in a green jacket and cap stands next to a welcome sign that reads 'Bienvenidos' and 'CETTO' in a garden setting. — Stainless steel

Interior view of a modern winery featuring multiple large stainless steel fermentation tanks arranged in a row. — Stainless steel

The wine and olive oil tasting with our new friends was a great way to spend the afternoon.

A bottle of L.A. Cetto Chardonnay Vino Blanco, 2022, displayed on a table with wine corks and caps in the background. — One of four tastes

A group of people enjoying a tasting event at a long table with various food items, including sliced bread and olives, while an instructor explains the offerings. Bottles of wine are displayed on the table. — One of four tastes

The next day we bussed to Ensenada and toured the Casa del Cultura, Riviera del Pacifico. Once a former luxury resort and casino, the building now serves as a cultural space and welcoming center. There we were treated to margaritas from the bar that claims to have created the drink, named after its patron, Margaret King Plant. We’ve since learned that claim is also attributed to about five or six other sources. Oh well, the margaritas there were great!

Elaborately painted wooden ceiling with floral and geometric designs, featuring a vintage chandelier. — Beautiful ceiling in Casa del Cultura

A woman smiling next to a framed black and white photo of a glamorous woman in vintage clothing, with a background featuring additional framed images. — Beautiful ceiling in Casa del Cultura

We spent the rest of the day wandering Ensenada, lunching on tacos, and tasting tequila.

A bustling street market scene with colorful stalls displaying various goods, including handbags and clothing. People are walking and browsing, with a clear blue sky overhead. — Streets of Ensenada

A classic blue Chevrolet Chevelle SS parked on a busy street with shops in the background. — Streets of Ensenada

On Steve’s birthday we returned to Valle de Guadalupe and the incredible Casa Frida. Great wine, great art centered around the influence of Frida Khalo, and great tequila marked our visit. First we tasted four wines complemented by a robust charcuterie plate.

A man and a woman posing in a vineyard next to a large, colorful heart sculpture featuring a portrait, surrounded by vines and blue sky. — Art in the vineyard

Colorfully painted vintage truck with an artistic skull design, parked in front of a building, featuring directional signs for tourist attractions like 'Frida's Lake' and 'Wine Tasting'. — Art in the vineyard

Immediately following we tasted four tequilas complemented by uniquely garnished citrus. Steve got extra of everything as a tribute to his birthday!

A wooden serving board with slices of orange and lime topped with different seasonings, accompanied by a glass of clear liquid, reflecting light. — Citrus for tequila

A man in a baseball cap holds a decorative bottle shaped like an avocado, sitting outdoors with others in the background. — Citrus for tequila

From Casa Frida we stumbled into King and Queen cantina for lunch. There we enjoyed a welcome mezcal cocktail and four appetizers.

Signage for King & Queen Cantina featuring decorative skulls with crowns, set against a concrete wall with succulent plants in the foreground. — Shrimp & steak fajitas

A plate of sizzling fajitas with grilled meat, bell peppers, and onions, accompanied by guacamole, refried beans, and rice, with a glass of red wine and cocktails in the background. — Shrimp & steak fajitas

Lunch was served with margaritas and our firecracker-topped dessert was served with house-brewed beer. By this time, the DJ had the crowd on the dance floor and the old folks were boogying. Steve remained seated, as per the “Green” norm.

A man giving a thumbs up and a woman posing with a thumbs up, both seated at a bar with a mountain view in the background, surrounded by other people enjoying their time. — Steve and Denise not dancing

A lively bar scene with patrons enjoying themselves, some dancing, and a large screen displaying a performance in the background. — Steve and Denise not dancing

Believe it or not, we had one more stop after King and Queen. A tasting of four more wines about did us in at Valle de Rondo. We left that stop with a gifted bottle of wine, thanks to Fantasy RV tours. What a day!

A lively restaurant scene with a group of diverse diners gathered around a table, enjoying their meals, while staff serve food in a rustic setting. — Ugh! More wine!

We finished our time on this tour with a free day at Clam Beach followed by a farewell dinner at the renowned restaurant Finca Altozano. Finca Altozano was created by Michelin-starred chef Javier Plascencia, who is known for pioneering Baja-Med cuisine.

A scenic view of a garden featuring various plants, including cabbages and cacti, with a wooden deck and seating area in the background. The landscape includes rolling hills and colorful flowers under a partly cloudy sky. — Garden at Finca Altozano

A busy restaurant kitchen scene featuring two chefs at work, with a variety of grilled meats and colorful dishes served on wooden tables in the foreground. — Garden at Finca Altozano

Our six course meal, served in the open-air restaurant overlooking the sweeping vineyards, featured panzanela salad with vegetables from the garden, shrimp sopes with bone marrow, blue fin tuna tostados, grilled octopus, beef ribs, and lamb. Dessert of pan de elote with fresh cream sealed the deal.

A wooden platter displaying a vibrant taco topped with fresh diced fish, avocado slices, pickled onions, and leafy greens. — Blue fin tuna tostada

A sizzling platter of chicken pieces cooked with nuts in a savory sauce, served on a wooden board. — Blue fin tuna tostada

A long, leisurely meal with spectacular views and a great group of friends was the perfect way to end our Taste of Baja experience.

A smiling man in a plaid shirt and cap is holding up a glass of red wine in celebration at a dining table, with a plate of food and a woman in a plaid shirt sitting beside him.

Once the tour was over we relaxed at Clam Beach with a few fellow adventurers until our next tour began. Our small group visited local sites, shared dinners, and shopped at a Mexico Costco.

Group of eight people sitting around a wooden table enjoying food and drinks at a coastal restaurant with a view of the ocean. — Lunch at La Bufadora

A group of people unloading items from a pickup truck in a rain-soaked parking lot near a Costco store, with shoppers and shopping carts visible in the background. — Lunch at La Bufadora

Our next tour will take us deeper into Mexico to see the famous grey whales and their babies. Stay tuned! We’ll have another update soon.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

October 10, 2023 / marniesteve / 3 Comments

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is considered the most photographed event in the world and we now know why! Warning: Photo dump to come.

Our weeklong excursion in the heart of the Fiesta was supported by Fantasy RV Tours, which supplied our campsite in a lot within walking distance of the festivities, along with power, trash service, meals, and several additional activities. We loved having a close by home base from which to take in this massive event, along with a built in set of fellow travelers with which to enjoy every minute.

Our crew in the Fantasy RV group: Kathi, Sharon, Steve, Doug, Jacqui, Steve, and Dwight

We started this “once in a lifetime” experience with a tour of the Balloon Museum, where we learned about the sport of ballooning including its history, the mechanics of ballooning, and the details of the Fiesta.

The 51st annual Fiesta began before sunrise on Saturday morning where we joined over 100,000 others on the field for Dawn Patrol and the Mass Ascension. Before we got here we didn’t know what any of that meant, but now we do! After making it through the gates we took in the early morning drone show followed by the inflation and launch of the first dozen balloons, Dawn Patrol, who test the winds for the other balloons that will follow.

The line to enter the park on Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m.

The Mass Ascension occurs on the weekends of the eight day Fiesta and involves the inflation and launch of over 500 balloons. We were able to be on the field and up close to the balloons and their crews. We selected one balloon and watched the detailed process of setting up the balloon, inflating it, and launching it.

The Mass Ascension is an overwhelming spectacle whether you watch it from the field, from the borders of the field, or from afar. We spent Saturday morning on the grounds of the Albuquerque Balloon Park and Sunday outside the park on our bikes. Every angle is incredible!

On other days we stayed in the campground and the balloons came to us! Our accommodations in the South Lot were the perfect place to watch the balloons land and chase crews rush to provide assistance. Look how close they got to the RVs!

Evenings at the Fiesta are fun as well, with the evening glow and other activities. During the glows, the balloons do not launch, but rather inflate and then light their burners in a synchronized way. Again, we were able to get close enough to hear the burners and feel the heat. Wow!

The evening we attended the glow was special because they also launched gas balloons as part of the Gordon Bennett balloon race. These balloons run on hydrogen and are designed for long-distance flights. They come from all over the world and can travel thousands of miles. The goal is to travel further than your competitors and as I write this several days later many are still in the air on the other side of the country. Hosting the Gordon Bennett race this year was a unique feature of this year’s Fiesta.

Balloon Fiesta Park is filled with fun photo ops during this event. Besides balloons there are sky divers, drone shows, chainsaw carving, and even Darth Vader sightings.

In addition to the balloon activities, we spent a little time on our bikes exploring the miles of trails that weave through the city of Albuquerque. We also had the opportunity to connect with my cousin Jon and his wife Monja for dinner to catch up on family affairs.

And, when the balloons weren’t flying, Fantasy RV Tours took us to other fun places in ABQ like Old Town where we visited the Breaking Bad Store and Museum, among other shops! As you can see, we had perfect weather all week.

The Balloon Fiesta is all about photo ops, so we’ll finish this post with a photo dump of our favorite balloon photos and a nudge to you. If you ever have the opportunity to attend the Fiesta, jump on it!