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The scenic Baja California port city of Ensenada, future home to the Porto Hussong marina resort, boasts an irresistible mix of warm weather, duty-free shopping, restaurants and nightclubs, world-class winemaking, sport fishing, varied recreational opportunities, and natural, historical and cultural attractions that make it a popular stop for vacationers and retirees.

“Porto Hussong will be a luxury destination that serves as a stepping stone to the Baja experience and will showcase all that Ensenada has to offer,” says Doug Bowers, marketing director with Meridian Development Group, the resort’s developer.

Where the city meets Bahia de Todos Santos is the malecón, a widened and refurbished bayside walkway that runs for half a mile along the water. Furnished with benches for enjoying the bayside view, the malecón takes visitors past the city’s sport fishing piers, the civic plaza and the cruise ship terminal.

Visitors seeking a unique find or special bargain are certain to find one or both in Ensenada’s many shops. As a duty-free area, shoppers can purchase imported items in Ensenada at a savings over U.S. prices. Gift shops feature items including silver and gold jewelry, onyx, leather goods and fine liquor. In addition to upscale merchandise, the area also features curio shops that stock traditional Mexican crafts and clothing items including baskets, ceramics, guitars, furniture and leather jackets, purses and sandals. In addition to specialty shops, Ensenada also has shopping market chain locations and pharmacies to meet day-to-day grocery and health needs.

Being a port city with a thriving fishing industry, seafood is abundant and varied. An open seafood market just north of the fishing piers features freshly caught fish and shellfish for sale. Seafood cocktails, fish soups and fish tacos offer a true flavor of Ensenada and can be found at numerous stands along the harbor.

In addition to seafood, Ensenada is known for a variety of dining options – from street-side taco stands to restaurants specializing in International, Italian, Asian, Spanish, and French cuisine.

Downtown bars and clubs catering to tourists feature cerveza (beer), margaritas, music and dancing. These range from favorites like the world-famous Hussong’s Cantina and Papas & Beer to the quieter Bar Andaluz in the Riviera del Pacifico or the Best Western El Cid’s “La Capilla,” which features Latin jazz on weekend evenings.

A fitting accompaniment to the area’s culinary experiences is the creations of Ensenada’s world-class wineries. A few miles inland from Ensenada is the picturesque Valle de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Valley), where acres of grape vines and award-winning vintners turn out approximately 90 percent of the wine produced in Mexico. Tastings and tours are available at area wineries including Bodegas de Santo Tomas (Baja’s oldest winery) and Cavas Valmar, both of which are within the Ensenada city limits. Wineries outside the city limits, but still easily visited from Ensenada, include Chateau Camou, Domecq, L.A. Cetto, Mogor Badan, Monte Xanic, and Vina Liceaga.

The area’s natural attractions include La Bufadora, an amazing natural blowhole spouting seawater 70-feet into the air, primitive rock art estimated to be 600-1,000 years old in the caves of Catavina, and viewing of the California gray whales migration to their calving grounds in Baja California lagoons. National parks accessible from Ensenada include Laguna Hanson -- featuring a scenic lake surrounded by pine forests – and Sierra de San Pedro Martir – an unspoiled wilderness that is home to the Mexican National Observatory located near the 10,154 ft. peak, Picacho del Diablo.

Sport fishing is Ensenada’s most popular recreational activity. Todos Santos bay and the area’s Pacific Ocean waters are home to species including albacore, barracuda, bonito, rockfish, and yellowtail. Porto Hussong’s marina will be able to berth visitors who bring their own boat, but group boats and fishing charter’s can be arranged at piers off the malecon. Sightseeing tours are also available and kelp forests sheltering a wide range of marine life make snorkeling and diving popular. Kayak rentals are also available for a self-propelled tour of area waters.

Surfing is also available in the area at spots including Punta San Miguel, Punta Salsipuedes and Estero Beach. But the area’s ultimate waves await at Islas Todos Santos, at the mouth of Todos Santo Bay. The islands catch winter swells from the north Pacific, with waves that can reach 30 feet.

Cultural sites include the area’s many missions, as well as museums covering history, science, and local, national and international art. Riviero del Pacifico, for example, is an elegant Mediterranean-style mansion that was a former gambling casino and hotel favored by wealthy American and Mexicans during the Prohibition era. In addition to ornate remnants from this heyday, the building now houses Ensenada’s Museum of History and beautiful botanical gardens. Productions of Mexican dance, ballet and theater, as well as visiting artists from the U.S. and around the world can be enjoyed at the City Theater (Teatro de la Ciudad).

Numerous annual events also keep visitors entertained. April sees some 450 boats of various sizes arrive to finish and celebrate the renowned Newport Beach – Ensenada yacht race. Twice a year (Spring and Fall), thousands of mostly Southern California cyclists pedal 50 miles as part of the Rosarito-Ensenada Fun Bike Ride, joined at a finish line fiesta by supporters and appreciative fans. The first two weeks of August features the Grape Harvest Festival (Fiesta de la Vendimia), complete with wine tastings, tours, special dinners and concerts.

Thanks to these activities, amenities and attractions, vacationers and retirees can find just the kind of exotic, warm and cultural retreat they seek in Ensenada.

About Porto Hussong

The 16-acre Porto Hussong, to be located in the northernmost part of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, is being developed by the Meridian Development Group (MDG) in partnership with the Hussongs -- one of Baja’s most influential and respected families.  Porto Hussong will be a world-class, oceanfront destination resort, rich with amenities and just one hour’s drive from the international border in Tijuana.  Porto Hussong will feature a 46-suite boutique hotel, 450 ocean-view condominiums, private villas, upscale boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and a state-of-the-art 250-slip marina designed to accommodate yachts up to 200’. For more information, log onto www.portohussong.com.

About Meridian Development Group

Meridian Development Group (MDG) is an international development consortium formed by an experienced and successful real estate development team. MDG's developments have included marinas, oceanfront residential properties and commercial property throughout Mexico. For more information, visit www.mdgresorts.com.