Alaskans tend to find Mexico a convenient place for a sunny winter vacation:

Where	When/ Links	Comments
Zihuatenejo	2008-02 2005-12 2004-03 2002-01 Zihuatenejo Snorkeling 2000-03 Manzanilla Las Gatas Alfredos 1999-08	Ixtapa The actual resort is Ixtapa not Zihuatenejo. On my third trip I finally spent an afternoon and evening in Ixtapa. Yes, it is a resort... probably a nice one, but Zihuatenejo it is not. However, Ixtapa does have Gelato. Zihuatenejo I like Zihuatenejo. Little English is spoken and much more authentically Mexican for the town. Nice little town. Good snorkeling near in several spots (Las Gatas, Playa la Ropa, and Manzanilla). Definitely at the top of my Mexico destinations, so far (western Yucatan is a close second). However, it certainly would not be for everyone (and please everyone, don't spoil it!). 2005: English is fairly common in Zihua now, still a nice place with more Mexican vacationers than gringos.
Yucatan	2007-01: Cancun & Chichen Itza 2003-03: Xel Ha & Cozumel Tulum & Cancun Chichen Itza 1987-11	Yucatan y Quintana Roo After 15 years I finally got back to the Yucatan. Outside of the resort areas the Yucatan has both an indian and Mexican flavor. Cancun You get there via Cancun, which is a mondo modern resort. I am not really a resort person. In 1987 I flew on to Merida and when I passed through Cancun on bus I immediately boarded a bus for Playa del Carmen. In 2003 I based myself in Cancun. While there is a Mexican flavor to Cancun, it is essentially a resort For folks who need English and want US type amenities, Cancun is the place to go (over the west coast and Baja resorts). The beaches (miles and miles and miles of it) are fine white sand and the water is gorgeous, hands down the prettiest I have seen in Mexico. So why did I base myself there in 2003? Cancun is convenient and a good jumping off to other parts of the Yucatan. There are the small Ruinas del Rey in Cancun. I found these ruins worth a visit and except for a peacock and many iguanas I had the whole place to myself... I guess all the college students on spring break had other things to do. Isla Mujeres Easy to get to from Cancun, but much smaller and less resorty (and everybody speaks English still). I only spent a day there, but seemed a much more laid back place than Cancun. Chichen Itza A must see place, I went in both 1987 and 2003.... in the 15 passing years much restoration (authentic) has occurred. This is truly a wonder. I missed visiting on the Spring Equinox by two days in 2003. That would have been fantastic to see the shadow snake down the pyramid, but I would have been there with probably 50k other people(!). Being there a couple days prior was a lighter than normal crowd which was very pleasant for seeing the ruins, no line to go inside the great pyramid and easier climbing outside. I was surprised one could still climb either inside or outside, that may change soon for preservation purposes. Merida, Uxmal, Celestun On the western side of the penninsula, I only visited here in 1987 but I would definately go back. Merida is a Mexican city (with indian flavors) not a resort. I had some wonderful cultural experiences in Merida in 1987. The ruins of Uxmal were very impressive. Celestun is one of several estuaries along the pennisula where one can see large numbers of flamingos. Cozumel, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Xel Ha, Coba I spent a day in Playa del Carmen in 1987, it was a village... it is now a resort city extension of Cancun. In 2003 I passed through Playa del Carmen to get to Cozumel for snorkeling. Tulum (2003) is a smaller but pleasant set of ruins overlooking the sea... definitely worth a visit. Xel Ha (2003) is an eco park around a lagoon with some very good fresh water snorkeling. Coba (1987) is more ruins, in 1987 they had barely begun to restore and uncover Coba from the jungle. One side of the large pyramid there was restored, the backside was still overgrown. Looking from the top of the pyramid one could spot a number of jungle hills... each hill was likely an overgrown ruin since the Yucatan is essentially flat. It would be interesting to return to Coba.
Mazatlan	1998-12 1996-11 1991-03	Mazatlan Mazatlan was an early favorite for me for Mexican resorts. The first trip included Kara... at that time the only "American" food place was a funky Pizza Hut, that has changed (the old Pizza Hut is gone, but the McDonalds, etc., have arrived). One can still find good authentic places as well as the Carlos-and-Charlies type fun places. Between 1991 and 1998 it grew alot as a resort and my preference has switched to Zihuatenejo as less developed. I still like Mazatlan, the city was distinct from the resort area and still fairly authentic in 1998. The fishing from Mazatlan is supposed to be great. I fish in Alaska and eat what I catch, I have not been able to fish solely for sport. For eating, the shrimp from Mazatlan are wonderful.
Puerto Vallarta	1995-12	Puerto Vallarta My visit was too short to form much of an opinion, I flew in for only two days to relax after a conference and months of grotesquely long work weeks both before and after (I was exhausted). There seemed to be a large contingent of expatriated gringos and brits. Someday I might go back.
Los Cabos	1999-03 1994-04	Los Cabos Los Cabos was developed as a resort and is nothing, but a resort. The area is pretty and the location is the most convenient access from the US. It is a good place to relax and soak some sun, but do not expect anything cultural there. Found a good snorkeling spot and also saw whales while on a boat (which is special, but I also see them in Alaska). Kara was with me on second trip, she probably appreciated that it was less foreign than some other destinations.