Thirty years ago, the Mexican government surveyed the coastline and found two wonderful beaches yet undeveloped. One was Cancun on the Yucatan peninsula, which has since then become extremely popular and, in the opinion of some, very overdeveloped.

The other beach was Ixtapa, on the Pacific Coast about 200 miles north of Acapulco, near the old fishing village of Zihuatanejo, a favorite port for cruise ships. On this smaller beach, development has been more controlled.

We visit Mexico every year, and Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo is far and away our favorite spot on the entire Mexican Riviera. While we don't own here, we have often exchanged into Ixtapa with timeshares we do own in other Mexican resorts.

There's much to do here besides swimming in the ocean in the daytime and watching sunsets in the evening. But for now, just enjoy those sunsets.