| For those who've tried them, Mexican beach resorts | | | | A little bit north of the resort is the Mandalay Beach at |
| are among the most relaxing vacations or getaways | | | | Oxnard Park with its sweeping lawns and outdoor |
| one can imagine long stretches of beach, palm trees, | | | | facilities. Further south is Hollywood Beach, which was |
| a cerveza or margarita never far from one's grasp. It's | | | | the location for a movie called The Sheik starring |
| easy to drift along like some white fluffy cloud with | | | | Rudolph Valentino. Filmed in 1924, the movie needed a |
| your only worry being when the next drink server will | | | | location with an Arabian feel and this part of the coast |
| come along. | | | | was deemed to have it. |
| But not many folks can afford to do this very | | | | Back at the resort, we settled in for some serious |
| often.Today's air fare is a little higher than in past years | | | | poolside sun tanning and could see that the guests |
| so these aren't exactly cheap vacations. And it's | | | | were a mixture of couples and families who seemed |
| hardly worth going to Mexico unless you can stay a | | | | typical of the crowd you would find at any Mexican |
| week -- who has a week anymore to just sit and do | | | | beach resort. For all intents and purposes this was |
| nothing? | | | | Mexico just a kinder, gentler version in which you |
| The answer is to find a similar resort that's a little | | | | have no worries about the water, the food or the |
| closer and, when you eliminate your airfare, a little | | | | airfare. |
| cheaper. You need to find someplace where you can | | | | The suites at the Mandalay are spacious and |
| just hop in your car and drive a few hours, stay two | | | | comfortable. Our "king suite" had a king bed in one |
| or three days, and get back home just as refreshed | | | | room and sofa-bed in the other room. The unit was |
| as if you'd been to the Mexican Riviera. | | | | apartment-like with a refrigerator, coffee maker, |
| You need to check out the Embassy Suites Hotel | | | | microwave and wet bar although you won't need a |
| Mandalay Beach Resort in, of all places, Oxnard, | | | | kitchen for breakfast because a big one is offered |
| California. This is a California vacation that feels like | | | | free for all guests. Our suite opened out to the beach |
| you're in the heart of Mexico. | | | | and had a separate table and chairs on the patio with |
| Before we visited the Mandalay Beach Resort, my | | | | a nearby lawn area. |
| only recollection of Oxnard was a time when I was 19 | | | | California beach vacations can include much more than |
| years old driving through California with a buddy, eating | | | | sitting on the beach, and the Mandalay is no exception. |
| cans of tuna fish to save money and looking for a | | | | There is plenty todo in the Oxnard area including many |
| place to crash that was just as cheap as cheap could | | | | beach and ocean activities. You can take a trip out to |
| get. We found just such a place in Oxnard, but were | | | | the Channel Islands National Park either half or full |
| too scared of our surroundings to get to sleep. | | | | day excursions are offered. Kayaks, paddle boats and |
| Fast forward to Oxnard of the New Millennium and, | | | | motor boats are available for rent. Or, if you just enjoy |
| while its tourism infrastructure is not quite complete, the | | | | being around boats, visit the spectacular Channel |
| area is fast becoming a popular destination for people | | | | Islands Harbor, home to 2,600 boat slips, a maritime |
| who enjoy California beach vacations. About an hour's | | | | museum, three shopping centers and some waterside |
| drive northwest of Los Angeles, the area is close | | | | restaurants. |
| enough to major population areas to be accessible, yet | | | | Not far from Oxnard, Ventura and Santa Barbara are |
| undeveloped enough to feel like you're really getting | | | | great day trips that are quick and easy to reach by |
| away from the rat race. | | | | car. About a half-hour drive east from the resort is the |
| Positioned on some of the best real estate in the | | | | Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which we made a |
| Oxnard area, the Mandalay Beach Resort is | | | | point to visit in Simi Valley. The death of Reagan and |
| everything that the Oxnard visitor industry wants to be | | | | the resulting publicity apparently has created even |
| it's a waterfront playground that has style, lots of | | | | more interest in Reagan and this fascinating collection |
| amenities, plenty of wide-open spaces and a wide | | | | of artifacts, photos and records help us to learn more |
| beach that stretches for miles. And, yes, it has plenty | | | | about our former president. |
| of Mexican beer and margaritas. | | | | Located on a magnificent piece of land overlooking the |
| Traveling Highway 101 northwest from Los Angeles, | | | | Simi Valley, the Reagan Library is well organized and |
| you'd never imagine that this resort area was just a | | | | includes interesting bits of memorabilia at every turn. |
| few miles off the freeway. The urban sprawl along | | | | Outside the library is a piece of the Berlin Wall, as well |
| the freeway is not particularly attractive and most | | | | as Reagan's final resting place. Inside are clothing, |
| people headed north know that an especially | | | | jewelry, desks, private papers just about anything |
| spectacular beachside city of Santa Barbara is just | | | | you can imagine taken from various points of |
| another half hour ahead. So it's no wonder that people | | | | Reagan's life. Photos help us to remember how it was |
| just don't think of Oxnard when they think vacation | | | | for example, when you see a dress worn by Nancy |
| paradise. | | | | Reagan, you also will see a photo of her wearing that |
| But if you take the Victoria Avenue exit and travel | | | | dress. Especially interesting was the full-scale replica of |
| across several miles of agricultural fields, you will come | | | | the Oval Office which gives you a real sense of |
| to the Mandalay Beach area, one of many beaches | | | | what that room feels like, and how large it is. |
| along this part of the coast. The Mandalay Bay Resort | | | | So, as it turned out, our trip to a Mexican-like resort |
| with its attractive early California Spanish design, is a | | | | actually was much more than cerveza and margaritas |
| large complex of several buildings that include 248 | | | | it turned out to be a history lesson as well. |
| suites in all. Tropical plants, giant palm trees of every | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| variety and a series of waterfalls give the resort a | | | | WHERE: Oxnard is 65 miles northwest of Los |
| feeling similar to many beachside resorts we have | | | | Angeles and about 30 miles southeast of Santa |
| visited in places like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and | | | | Barbara. |
| Cozumel. An inviting pool is the centerpiece for the | | | | WHAT: The Embassy Suites Hotel Mandalay Beach is |
| courtyard while the resort's restaurant and bar areas | | | | a one-of-a-kind resort in Oxnard, clearly the crown |
| are nearby. | | | | jewel of the local tourism industry. While the beach is |
| We immediately explored the grounds and found our | | | | public, the resort is the only major hotel taking |
| way out to the many paved walking and bike paths | | | | advantage of that particular stretch of sand. Hence, |
| that traverse the beach. Parked near the resort's | | | | the beach is beautiful, but uncrowded. As California |
| beach entrance were several peddle-cars and | | | | beach vacations go, this is in the top tier. |
| bicycles that, as far as we could tell, were getting | | | | WHEN: Any time of the year. Weather in this part of |
| rented quite frequently by the many families who were | | | | Southern California is pleasant year-round, although |
| staying at the resort. | | | | nights will be chilly and the ocean will be much colder |
| The beach itself was one of the most inviting we've | | | | -- in winter. Be sure to check for travel deals and |
| seenin Southern California. The resort looks out onto | | | | vacation packages that may be available certain times |
| an area of sand dunes and, beyond that, the broad | | | | of the year. This resort does not fall under the heading |
| beach. Off in the distance we saw the Channel Islands, | | | | of "cheap vacations" but prices are reasonable. |
| an easy boat trip from nearby Channel Islands Harbor. | | | | WHY: The Mandalay Beach Resort is an |
| Once out to the beach, we noticed that there was | | | | easy-to-reach, full service resort that is off-the-beaten |
| plenty of walking -- both north and south -- and, even | | | | path but still close to many beach services and |
| though this was a warm summer Sunday, not a lot of | | | | activities. It's a great drive-to substitute for a Mexican |
| people compared with other Southern California | | | | beach vacation. |
| beaches. | | | | |