| Upon retiring fourteen years ago, we spent a great | | | | of Vallarta's are yellow and black orioles and green |
| deal of time traveling the world in search for the | | | | parrots. While brown bears roam the mountainsides |
| perfect retirement haven. Eleven years ago we | | | | around Lake Tahoe scavenging for scraps of food, |
| selected Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as the location for | | | | crocodiles are doing the same around Vallarta's ponds; |
| our main retirement residence. | | | | beware of both! |
| Vallarta, located on the Mexican Riviera and only two | | | | The mountain views are simply majestic with 3,000 |
| to four hours from most major cities in the US, | | | | foot elevation changes in every direction, providing |
| offers all of the modern day conveniences, numerous | | | | spectacular horseback riding and hiking trails around |
| activities for retirees, fine dining and social life, and | | | | both areas. Golf, tennis, fishing, and boating are just a |
| perfect weather for almost eight months of the | | | | few of the many daytime activities available in both |
| year, from October through May. During those | | | | cities. The rolling hills and shorelines provide the |
| months, the average daily temperature is 73*F with | | | | perfect terrain for some of the most beautiful golf |
| an average monthly rainfall of less than 0.4 inches of | | | | courses found anywhere. Very active nightlife in both |
| rain; in other words, more than 97% of the days are | | | | cities can be enjoyed in the wonderful restaurants |
| absolutely ideal for golfing, tennis, fishing, or what | | | | and nightclubs. Of course, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada |
| ever outdoor activity interests you. | | | | is famous for its world class casinos but few know |
| The weather in Vallarta during the summer months | | | | that Vallarta also has a new casino with slot |
| of June through September is similar to that of | | | | machines; more are sure to come if and when |
| Houston, Texas with high temperatures during the | | | | gambling is fully legalized in the area. |
| daytime and evening showers almost every other | | | | Although both of these clean, safe, and visitor |
| night. Due to the oppressive tropical summers, most | | | | friendly areas host millions of tourists annually, Puerto |
| of the retirees living in Vallarta use this time period | | | | Vallarta, with its 350,000 inhabitants is substantially |
| for travel or visiting their friends and families back in | | | | more populated than the Greater Lake Tahoe Basin |
| the States or Canada. | | | | which has only 55,000 permanent residents. In order |
| We have selected the Lake Tahoe area as our | | | | to serve the residents and tourists, each area has at |
| summer residence for those months where the | | | | least three modern hospitals, a number of schools |
| average daily temperature is 68*F with an average | | | | and university branches, modern shopping centers, |
| monthly rainfall of less than 0.3 inches of rain; | | | | and all the services required to support the people in |
| resulting in sunny days more than 93% of the | | | | the area. Both areas have high speed internet service |
| summer time period and absolutely ideal conditions | | | | and satellite TV, however mail delivery in Vallarta is |
| for all outdoor activities. | | | | terribly slow and it's virtually non-existent in many of |
| By combining Vallarta with Tahoe, we are pretty | | | | the communities around Lake Tahoe. |
| much assured of perfect weather year round with a | | | | Puerto Vallarta has a huge modern airport, whereas |
| better than 95% probability of a sunny day | | | | Lake Tahoe is accessed from the Reno Airport which |
| tomorrow. In fact, the annual rainfall in our world | | | | is approximately 40 miles away. There are three |
| averages about four inches, which is comparable to a | | | | huge modern marinas with moorage for 1,200 large |
| single thunder storm in most other regions of the | | | | yachts in the Puerto Vallarta area and there are a |
| world! | | | | number of small marinas scattered around Lake |
| Aside from perfect weather for eight months in | | | | Tahoe for docking smaller boats used on the lake. |
| Vallarta and four months in Tahoe, there are a | | | | Vallarta has a huge modern Maritime Terminal serving |
| number of other similarities to be found between | | | | the passenger cruise ships that arrive daily; obviously, |
| these two beautiful areas. Both have magnificent | | | | there is no such Maritime Terminal in the Tahoe area! |
| mountainside and water views. Tahoe is nestled along | | | | On the other hand, Tahoe has a number of beautiful |
| the southern shore of the 22 mile long Lake Tahoe, | | | | ski lodges, and again quite obviously, Vallarta has no |
| the second deepest lake in the US and eighth | | | | such lodges! |
| deepest in the world, measuring 1,645 feet at its | | | | In summarizing, for those of you fortunate baby |
| deepest point. Vallarta is nestled on the south shore | | | | boomers wondering what to do with the rest of |
| of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay, one of the | | | | your life and where to do it, we suggest that you |
| deepest bays in the world, measuring 3,000 feet at | | | | seriously consider this combination of retirement |
| its deepest point. | | | | areas; Puerto Vallarta during the winter months and |
| Pines are abundant in Tahoe whereas palms are | | | | Lake Tahoe during the summer months represents |
| abundant in Vallarta. Many of the colorful birds in | | | | the very best of both worlds. |
| Tahoe are blue jays and red cardinals whereas many | | | | |