We came to Puerto Vallarta to relax, and relax we did. A couple of lazy days dipping feet into the gentle waves of the Bay of Banderas, soaking up the warm afternoon sun at our beachfront resort,  and wondering at a star filled sky after a late night garden stroll soothed our tattered nerves. Our natural Circadian rhythms returned. But soon enough those rhythms brought with them an itch, a desire to explore and connect to the community where a gentle, modulated pace and a genteel attitude encouraged a restorative peacefulness. We found an exciting dynamic between unplugging at our beach cabana and plugging into PV’s rich and diverse community of artists and artisans.

PV’s public art is accessible and welcoming. North of the old city, minutes from the airport, there is a wall of mosaics created by local families, businesses, and travelers sharing sentiments and images in the bold colors of tiled designs. Along the streets, on the sides of homes and shops are the posterized colors of murals and even some artful graffiti. Several of the hotels and restaurants give the foodie as well as the general observer an opportunity to experience sophisticated and sometimes playful displays of local artistry both in the cuisine and in the ambiance.  Downtown, a walk along the Malecón boardwalk is cliché, of course, but inviting and a teasing gateway to an arts district with more than a few treats and surprises.