Things to do in ensenada with family

Author Meagan Drillinger visits Mexico several times a year.

Unique things to do in ensenada

She most recently visited Ensenada on an extended trip through Baja.

Seventy miles south of the California border sits a quiet fishing-village-turned-cruise-port and surf haven. Ensenada, a small town on the coast of Baja Norte, is one of the most iconic beach towns in Mexico.

The quirky coastal city is a mishmash of day trippers in port on a cruise call, Californians passing through for a weekend of surf, local fishermen and craftsmen, musicians, and domestic visitors from the mainland.

As such, it's a fairly international spot for such a small town. You'll find everything from traditional tacos to haute French fare, tacky T-shirts to Indigenous handicrafts.

Among the top things to do in Ensenada are to stroll the streets to soak up the effervescent atmosphere, from live Mariachi music to cacophonous taco stalls, dancing fountains and natural geysers, epic waves, and brightly colored souvenir stands.

Don't miss one of the