July and August are not good times for measuring Rocky Point tourism. Mid-July to mid-September, and mid-November through mid-March are basically crossed off my list as Rocky Point visiting times. These are all prime times for doing other things in other places like the White Mtns of Arizona, the Rockies and the temperate California coast. What goes on mid-March to early July and mid-Septembe to mid-November is a better barometer of American tourism. I don't know whether Mexican tourism is on the same schedule since Mexico does not have the high-altitude/northern latitude alternatives we have in the US.
The Mirador is not a significant part of the Rocky Point experience for me. I particularly do not care for Manny's. It is not up to my standards, and I'm sorry but my standards aren't budging.
Rocky Point is indeed having an identity crisis. Rocky Point was never Loreto, but it once had a quaint charm that could have been built on with minimal investment. Now it is permanently over-shadowed by the intrusive monoliths of industrial tourism (Tessoro, the pigeon coops, Mayan Palace, etc.), and I'm not sure it can do much but continue in that sorry direction once the economy turns around. I'm expressing my subjective preference only, but Rocky Point can expect to lose the business of other Americans who share my preferences.
Maybe the best hope for the Mirador area is to re-invent itself as Old Rocky Point South with antique stores, quality art and furnishings and restaurants that ladies like (cobblestones, fountains, vines, patios.) Located conveniently for Las Conchas and adventurers from the Mayan Palace, it might be able to compete successfully with the Malecon/downtown area by simply offering one amenity that is scarce in Rocky Point: convenient parking.
The highway improvements to the south are mixed blessing. While it's possible that other Sea of Cortez/Mexican-quaint-village experiences will appear, I suspect we'll mainly see more grand scale projects that you'd have to pay me to stay at. And I hear there's a saying in Mexico that "at the end of bad roads, you will find good people. At the end of good roads, you will find all kinds of people." So much for the Steinbeck-like innocence of the Sea of Cortez and its coastline. I'm aware that there was always potential for problems of the worst kind in these remote stretches, but I suspect crime between Rocky Point and San Carlos will only get worse with more traffic and development.
Finally, as Esperanza noted, this forum does sometimes seem like a rough joint where things can come apart fast over the slightest perceived insult, which is surprising since it is centered around a place known for good times and relaxation, and you would think everyone would be laid back and in good spirits. I hate to think what it might be like without a bouncer like Stuart to toss out the rowdies, morons and the truly mean.
The Mirador is not a significant part of the Rocky Point experience for me. I particularly do not care for Manny's. It is not up to my standards, and I'm sorry but my standards aren't budging.
Rocky Point is indeed having an identity crisis. Rocky Point was never Loreto, but it once had a quaint charm that could have been built on with minimal investment. Now it is permanently over-shadowed by the intrusive monoliths of industrial tourism (Tessoro, the pigeon coops, Mayan Palace, etc.), and I'm not sure it can do much but continue in that sorry direction once the economy turns around. I'm expressing my subjective preference only, but Rocky Point can expect to lose the business of other Americans who share my preferences.
Maybe the best hope for the Mirador area is to re-invent itself as Old Rocky Point South with antique stores, quality art and furnishings and restaurants that ladies like (cobblestones, fountains, vines, patios.) Located conveniently for Las Conchas and adventurers from the Mayan Palace, it might be able to compete successfully with the Malecon/downtown area by simply offering one amenity that is scarce in Rocky Point: convenient parking.
The highway improvements to the south are mixed blessing. While it's possible that other Sea of Cortez/Mexican-quaint-village experiences will appear, I suspect we'll mainly see more grand scale projects that you'd have to pay me to stay at. And I hear there's a saying in Mexico that "at the end of bad roads, you will find good people. At the end of good roads, you will find all kinds of people." So much for the Steinbeck-like innocence of the Sea of Cortez and its coastline. I'm aware that there was always potential for problems of the worst kind in these remote stretches, but I suspect crime between Rocky Point and San Carlos will only get worse with more traffic and development.
Finally, as Esperanza noted, this forum does sometimes seem like a rough joint where things can come apart fast over the slightest perceived insult, which is surprising since it is centered around a place known for good times and relaxation, and you would think everyone would be laid back and in good spirits. I hate to think what it might be like without a bouncer like Stuart to toss out the rowdies, morons and the truly mean.
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