Memorable Mexico Weekend Getaways From La

Los Angeles is known as many things: The City of Angels, La-La-Land and Tinseltown, to name a few. Los Angeles is famous for so many reasons. That said, did you know it's a popular destination port to cruises to the Caribbean and beyond? Cruising from Los Angeles couldn't be easier, or more fun.

To really get to know Los Angeles, I planned to explore it before and after my cruise trip, once on my own and once on a shore excursion. My plan was to enjoy Los Angeles for a day or two before the cruise's departure to Mexico, explore the many cruise amenities while at sea and then immerse myself in Mexican life and culture, exploring as much as I could at the ports of call in Mexico.

My main goal was to explore Los Angeles by way of its strongest traits: the entertainment industry, the postcard-worthy beaches, the bountiful nature and of course, the theme parks. My main takeaways? Don't underestimate how long it takes to go from point A to point B (traffic changes within minutes) and don't be intimidated by the size and population of Los Angeles (it's the second largest in the United States). I divided my visit by areas and themes and was able to dig deep and get acquainted with this glimmering city in a short amount of time.

Adventurous Sea Days

After all the excitement on land, it was time for my weekend trip to Mexico from Los Angeles. Joining my cruise ship for my journey to Mexico meant enjoying incredible activities and amenities onboard. There are so many opportunities available during these all-inclusive Mexico trips, that I went ahead and created an itinerary with the help of one of the cruise-planning features. I divided my seagoing trip into three sections: the adventure portion, the educational portion and the water fun portion. In a matter of minutes, I had a customized plan and was ready to enjoy the thrills, relaxation and learning opportunities on my days at sea.

The adventures offered onboard meant I could tailor this portion to my specific interests. I love to do daring things and found plenty to satisfy my adrenaline-seeking nature. My first stop was Ripcord® by iFly®, the gravity-defying attraction had me flying in the air, freefalling without leaving the deck. Next up was zip lining above the Boardwalk, suspended on the line ten decks above everyone. I was again flying, but this time across the ship while under the sail. Then I decided to try my luck at the FlowRider* Surf Simulator, surfing the 40-foot-long simulator that featured 30,000 gallons of water. I opted for a boogie board and had a blast, but next time I'll try to stand up on a longboard.

I spent a sunny sea day hopping from one waterslide to the next, starting with Typhoon and Cyclone. The double challenge was the perfect way to race with my friend down a waterslide, loving every twist and turn and the perfect sea views. Then, like the thrillseeker I am, I ran to the next waterslide on my list, Supercell. As part of what is known as The Perfect Storm — easily the most daring waterslides at sea — Supercell shoots you into a giant bowl that looped me down to a pool. I had never experienced anything as scary and exhilarating. Lastly, I found The Blaster for a hair-raising adventure on the longest waterslide at sea. I hopped on a tandem tube to journey along 800 feet of drops and turns.