Lazaro Cardenas Park — Attraction in Jalisco

If you've walked through old town PV, chances are you've walked through or at least passed by this park and not even noticed. I have, three times in the past three years and didn't even know its name until now.

THE PARK: It's about the size of a city block and is located in the heart of Old Town Puerto Vallarta at the middle point of the Malecón Boardwalk near numerous vendors and restaurants. The park was named after Lázaro Cárdenas, once an army general, former president of Mexico from 1934 to 1940 and the founder of Pemex, a huge state-owned petroleum company.

The park is mainly all cement sans for four raised gardens that sport a few trees and not much greenery in terms of grass or flowers. Shadiness is at a premium. At the center of the park is a small raised gazebo. On the beach-side of the park is a small stage with an amphitheater. The once boring cement columns holding up the trellises are now covered in beautiful mosaic glass, giving the monochromatic scheme a splash of pizzazz.

Near the central gazebo is a bust of Enrique Carothers Barreto. He was an engineer by profession who purchased the nearby Playa Los Arcos Hotel which he expanded & remodeled. He did the same with several other properties nearby which in turn jumpstarted the area's tourism boom.

Due to its open-design and nearby activities, it felt very safe even at night. During the day it's abuzz with locals, peddlers and tourist.

TIP: Parking is located beneath the park.

OVERALL: Great place for people-watching...

If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop by. This is a beautiful plaza in the Romantic Zone. On Saturdays they hold a local farmers market there. Several nights, we've happened across different traditional dance performances. The entire plaza is covered in an art project of wonderfully tiled benches and other structures. There are still a few incomplete but in the two weeks we've been here we've seen the artist complete one section and start on another so it is very much an...

One of my favorite places for a morning walk. This morning, Sunday, send seemed to be walk your dog day. I lost count of how many charming animals I saw. I just sat for a while among the multi mirrored art work which is Lazaro Cardenas. A pair of tiny old Chihuahuas followed their owner. A lady with three special dogs called for her missing one. One of her dogs was super friendly and came up to me for extensive petting. What a wonderful way to start my day after breakfast at...