SG Wanders: Sayulita, MX

Hi Everyone!

Happy Tuesday friends!  As you all know I took a little break from the blog over the past month or so.  I didn’t plan it and honestly had no intention of stepping away, but then life happened.  My mother came in to visit us from North Carolina and once she arrived I decided to really focus on spending time with her and the kids before the busy-ness of back to school arrived.  This was her first visit to see us in CA, and we hadn’t seen her since we went down to FL to visit over 2 years ago. Needless to say its been a while, so during her stay I decided to take a little vacay from blogging.

While on my blogging vacay, Naomi and I went on an actual vacay.  Our anniversary was in August and to celebrate we decided to finally take a break and indulge in a real getaway.  It was the first time we’d ever gone away together just the two of us in the eight years since we became an item.  We usually go away with the kids, or friends, but never just the two of us.  It was definitely time.

I discovered Sayulita 4 years ago during my research for possible locations for our wedding.  In the end we decided on a local wedding rather than going the destination route, but the quaint, bohemian surfer town has been in my heart space all the while. I knew when we finally got around to pulling the trigger on a vacation this was where I wanted to go. And it was absolutely perfect.

Sayulita is about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta nestled in the jungle.  Its lush and green and lazy and refreshing.  The people of Sayulita are so nice and completely fantastic.  The water is warm and the food is delicious.  We went during off season so it was hot and humid, but we beat the crowds and took advantage of great savings on accommodations.  The town is quite small, so it only took us a day to get our bearings and figure out where things were. We enjoyed daily walks exploring the town and relaxing on the beach.  I loved that there were no mega resorts or hotel chains there.  The local culture was vibrant and evident everywhere.  It was very raw and unpretentious, and the bohemian laid-back vibe was right up my alley.  As a lesbian couple we always have to consider our safety and wellbeing when we travel.  We live in an extremely open and accepting area, but we are also aware that this isn’t always the case throughout the world.  We’d heard great things about Sayulita being a gay-friendly travel destination and it absolutely was.  We never felt uncomfortable or weary at all.  That definitely added to our enjoyment.

The town was filled with local artisans and great little shops.  I wanted to buy alllll the things, but in the end I brought home a few small things for our home and the kids, including a gorgeous handmade hammock that I cant wait to hang.  I was able to custom design it with a local man who was selling hammocks on the beach.  I told him I was interested in one, showed him photos of examples, and the next day he showed up with a custom design for me!

We stayed for a week, but part of me never left. It was so rejuvenating and  I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.  The most amazing part was the time Naomi and I got to spend together.  As parents, so much of our lives revolves around the kids, our home, the day to day. It’s easy to get complacent and lost in it all.  Taking time to connect with your partners/spouses/significant others is essential.  We hope to make taking time away together an annual occurrence.

Until next time friends…

Xo-Shavonda

Posted By: Shavonda Gardner · In: travel