Baja California is a wonderful state in Mexico and one of our beautiful wonders.

One of our wonderful members of this Group call Zaphod travels from US to Baja and I think he must know more about Baja than anybody else even me being mexican
Still there is wonderful information about "baja I can provide uin this thread for you all. I hope you have a wonderful time and Remember that "Mi casa es su casa " and I love to share the wonders of Mexico

http://www.discoverbajacalifornia.com/

Baja California is located in the extreme northwest corner of the Mexican Republic.

Baja California is bounded on the north by the American States of California and Arizona; at the northeast tip by the State of Sonora, which is the only land area that joins the Baja California peninsula to rest of the country; and on the south by the State of Baja California Sur.

Baja California has a population of approximately 2'487,367 inhabitants.
This state has 4 municipalities; The biggest is Ensenada, with an area of more than 51,000 sq. km (19,690 sq. mi.). The total area of the Baja California state is 70,113 sq. km (27,070 sq. mi.), not including the insular territory.

The climate of Baja California is hot and dry, but the state's geographical location, to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, gives it a well defined winter. In the northeast, the climate is semi-desert, with very high temperatures in the summer and at the beginning of fall. The winter is rainy, but not extremely so. To the northwest, from the U.S. border to San Quintin Bay, the climate is mild with hot summers. The winter is rainy with prevailing westerly winds.

In the San Pedro Martir Mountains, the highest area of the state, the climate is mild in the summer and cold in the winter, with snow in the area of the astronomic observatory.

In the desert and sandy zones to the south of Rosarito, the climate is very dry, extremely hot in summer, and the large temperature difference between day and night.

Link from the government of Baja California

http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/english/index.jsp

Baja Travel

http://www.bajatravel.com/

http://www.baja.com/

I will post more about baja tomorrow Im sleeping I had a long day I hope you all have a great weekend

Lots of love!

I  love  Baja  and  the  people there!!!   There  is a  out  of  the  way  Hostel  in Erendiria, about 100 miles  south  of  of  the  boarder.  (The  owner  can  be a  bit  goofy, but  the  village  is  great   and  a  nice  mix  of  people  stay  there,

www.coyotcals.com

Cabanas  also  there for  $10.00/night (Not associated  with  the  Hostel)...I'll  try  to  get  some  photos  up

Zaphod

PS  Looking  for  nice people  to  travel  with  in  Baja, work takes  me  to  San  Diego  fairly  often, and if  I  have a  weekend  free weekend  I  head  south!!!

Z

We went on a 2 month tent camping expedition down to Cabo from WA State a few years back. One of the most impressive finds was just south of Tecate. The impressive little wineries of Guadalupe Valley. We stopped at a very small one named Don Juan Winery. It had wine tasting, a gift shop and a small hotel (maybe 6 cabanas). The wine was incredible! Would be a really fun day trip from SD. This area was what I hoped envisioned Napa might have been like many, many years ago!

Sounds   Great, (the  Winery), and  the  trip  sounds  awesome!!!

Tina, I  live  in a  little  town  in  WA called  Lake Bay, I  saw  you  live  in Okanagan!  Years  back  I  used  to  teach  in a little  town  not  too  far  from  you  Northpoert. 

Best  Wishes,

Zaphod

aww Tina its great that you had such a great trip! It seems this winneries started to be stronger back in the 80's in Mexico and ofcourse in Baja where they say have a beautiful weather. Thanks for this great info...I hope someday I can go and make that tour...visit the whales and do all this wonderful things Baja California offers !

History of the Baja California winneries

In 1791, Jesuit priests established the Mision de Santo Tomas in Baja California, about 90 miles south of present day San Diego, bringing and planting vines whose grapes were named "uva mision" (mission grape). The first wines in the Californias were produced at this mision.
In 1834, Dominican priests founded the Mision de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte, around 70 miles south of San Diego. This was the last mission established in the Californias, and the one that functioned the least time. But the valley retains the abbreviated name "Valle de Guadalupe." Today the valley produces around 90 per cent of Mexico's wines, many winning international recognition as among the best in the world. It turned out that the Valley was blessed as one of the rare places in the world where premium wine grapes can be grown
The road to the present wasn't easy for the valley and its wines. In 1857, after Mexico's War of Reform the Catholic Church was stripped of all it's land holdings, which included the missions in the lower Californias still left to Mexico after the U.S.-Mexican war. All Church property became the property of the State. The government sold the former lands of the Mision de Santo Tomas to a private group, who established the Bodegas de Santo Tomas in 1888.
Nothing notable happened in the Valle de Guadalupe until 1904, when a group of one hundred Russian families settled in the valley. The group belonged to a pacifist religious group who abandoned Russia to avoid their men being conscripted into the Czarist army.
They bought several hundred acres dedicating a good portion to planting vines producing grapes for wine, raisins, and for sale as fruit. Others who came later followed their example and more and more grapevines were planted.
The wines from Santo Tomas had by then acquired a good reputation, but sales of wines in Mexico was dormant, as wine drinkers preferred French, German, Italian and Spanish wines though they were exorbitantly priced.
Casa Madero, the oldest winery in the Western Hemisphere didn't until recently even bother with the Mexican domestic market exporting most of its nearly 400,000 annual case production to the U.S., England, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland and Belgium.
Casa Pedro Domecq long established in Valle de Guadalupe, is better known for other products, such as "Presidente Brandy," the world's best selling brandy, is now also producing higher quality wines. Then L.A. Cetto made a significant entry and the Valley started to acquire fame. These two wineries account for nearly 75 per cent of all wine production in the Valley
In the 1980s, as the popularity and sale of quality wine grew in the U.S. and California's wines began to be recognized for their excellence, Valle de Guadalupe came to the full attention of a new breed of Mexican entrepreneurs.

Recognizing the enviable weather and soil conditions in the Guadalupe Valley as a place where the highest quality wine grapes could be grown, a group from Mexico City decided to invest in producing high quality wines.
Monte Xanic (pronounced: sha-nee-ck) was the first. In the early 1980s, they established a vineyard next to the town of Zarco (where the Russian immigrants settled, and many of their descendants still live), about 25 miles northeast of Ensenada. With painstaking care they planted the best of vines, and with patience and care produced their first wines in 1988, to immediate acclaim.
No one had dared enter this market before. Their example led to a friend of the owners, Ernesto Alvarez-Morphy Camou, a wealthy Mexico City entrepreneur, who was spending some time in Baja California overseeing one of his real estate developments, to fall in love with the idea of producing such high quality wines.
He purchased 500 hectares (slightly over 1000 acres) in the Valley, and taking his Mother's maiden name, he created Chateau Camou. The vineyard only planted 100 acres the first year, adding around 50 acres each year thereafter.

The results have won national and international acclaim. In France's "Challenge International de Vin" the Chateau Camou label has won the Silver medal in 1998, and again in 1999, and the Bronze in 2000. From Belgium's "Concours Mondial de Bruxelles" it took the Great Gold Medal in 2000. Additionally, in 1998, 1999, and 2000 it has won either the Silver or Bronze from the "Wines of the Americas" in competition with the best wine producing U.S. states, and from the other Western Hemisphere countries.
Likewise Camou's two other labels, "Viñas de Camou," and "Flor de Guadalupe," have won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in France, Belgium and the U.S.

The success of Monte Xanic and Chateau Camou resulted in opening the door to a great increase in exporting quality Mexican wines, and responding to the new demand in the expansion of other wineries, and a near stampede of new ones sprouting throughout the Valley.

The best good news is that most of the Guadalupe Valley wineries are open to the public. They have wine tasting and savory treats. Some have a minimal charge, and require an appointment.

Im so happy that you are so so well informed about Baja!!! wow
I just had a problem with the link so I reaserch a little and discover that the link and the webpage is the next:

http://coyotecals.com/




I hope it is what you say

Anyway it would be awesome if you have sometime to upload some photos thanks My dear dear friend

The Wines of Baja
Renewing the History of Mexico's Wines

A country already world-famous for its tequila, Mexico is also trying its hand at winemaking, with successful results.

In the past few years, the country's leading wineries have collected an impressive array of accolades, gaining a following among wine lovers excited by the prospect of finding excellent vintages in unexpected places. Discover the varieties of wine from Mexico and learn about the 2003 award-winning vintages, as well as the myriad of local festivals celebrating the wine-making tradition.

While Mexico's wine industry has boomed rather recently, winemaking dates all the way back to the Spanish conquest, with the Spaniards surprised to find how well the vines they brought from the homeland adapted to the New World climate. In 1597, the Spaniard Don Lorenzo Garcia made the town of Santa Maria de las Parras in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila home to his Casa Madero, the oldest winery of the Americas.

By the mid-17th century, however, the Spanish crown determined that the vineyards were doing too well for its taste: fearing future competition from New World wineries, it banned all vine planting and brought wine production in Mexico to a halt. Many Spanish missionaries refused to abide by the new rules, though, continuing to plant vines and produce wine on a small scale.

The Saint Thomas Mission (Mision de Santo Tomas), founded in the northern area of Baja California Norte State by Jesuit priests in 1791, reactivated the production of wine in Mexico. The mission grape brought over and planted by the Jesuits found its perfect home in an area that compares in climate to California's Napa Valley and France's Rhone Valley. In 1834, Dominican priests began growing grapes at the nearby Northern Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mision de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte), now known by the abbreviated name of the Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe). The Guadalupe Valley is one of the few places in the world where premium wine grapes can be grown.

In 1857, after Mexico's War of Reform, the Catholic Church was stripped of its holdings and all church property became part of the state. The small wineries formerly tended to by missionaries were eventually abandoned. In 1888 the government sold the former lands of the Santo Tomas Mission to a private group, which established the Bodegas Santo Tomas, the first large-scale winery in Mexico.

In 1904, the region received an influx of immigrants known as the molokans, a pacifist religious group which opposed war and fled Russia so its men would not be drafted by the Czarist army. The Russian families purchased about 100 acres of land and dedicated a considerable portion of it to harvesting grapes for wine. They encouraged others to do the same, helping the area acquire a reputation for making good wine.

Today, Mexico's largest wineries can be found in three regions conveniently located near the town of Ensenada, 70 miles south of the U.S. border: San Antonio de las Minas, the San Vicente Valley and the Santo Tomas Valley. Guadalupe Valley is located in San Antonio de las Minas. Others states such as Zacatecas, Sonora and Coahuila also boast boutique wineries producing high-quality wines: Coahuila is home to the aforementioned Casa Madero, and grapes produced near Sonora's capital city of Hermosillo are often used in the production of wines from Baja wineries.

The varieties of red wine produced in the Baja California region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Ruby Cabernet, Zinfandel Grenache and Mission. The white wines are Chenin Blanc, Palomino, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Saint Emilion and Malaga.

More information::

http://www.ensenada.com/wineries.html

Eco turism to watch the Graywhales in Baja:

WHALE WATCHING SEASON 2008

For hundreds of years, the Gray Whale has been a winter faithful visitor to the Peninsula of Baja California, looking for its warmer water to give birth to their cubs. With its presence, the Gray Whale gives to the people of Baja California, pride and satisfaction, because it is Mexican born.

Each year the season starts the last weekend of December and ends the last day of March. This is a 4 hours guided open sea trip into the Todos Santos Bay (Ensenada), zone where its route to the southern waters of Baja is located. Because of federal regulations, the boat can approach the whale at only 50 meters. Besides, in this trip you will observe other marine animals like sea lions, dolphins, seagulls, pelicans, and more. It is important to make reservations, which you can do at these companies:

View list of companies in PDF

RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENJOY YOUR TRIP:

• All passengers must be 30 minutes prior to departure

MORE INFORMATION:

During your visit to Ensenada you will find hotels for all budgets, restaurants that offers you a great variety of regional, Mexican and international food, not forgetting to taste the magnificent Baja California wines. Also, you have the option to visit interesting places such as: Centro Riviera del Pacifico, ex-hotel and gambling casino from the 1930’s; the Museum of History of Ensenada; the Art & Craft Center; Paseo Calle Primera (shopping, restaurants & bars); the Regional Historic Museum; the Harbor Board Walk and its park “Window to the Sea”; the Giant Mexican Flag (measures 50 meters by 40 meters, weights 150 kilos, pole of 103 meters tall); Santo Tomas Winery (guided tours); in Guadalupe Valle you can visit the Wine Country where you can have a guided tour and wine tasting, visit the Russian Community Museum and its Russian Restaurant, guided tour to Hot Springs and Mission site of the Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe del Norte; la Bufadora, marine geyser that spit the sea water up to 20 meters and more, second in the world of its kind. Also, in La Bufadora you’ll find all types of art & craft and seafood restaurants.

Baja California sur (South) is a protecte area for the reproduction of many species includding the grey whale

Some awesome videos!

You guys thanks a million for sharing these beautiful comments and history and enriching our lifes.  I'm from Baja, believe me it beautiful, but like every where else.  Outsiders are whom most appreciate what we have @ our reach.  Sad but true, I love Valle de Guadalupe, it's one of my favorite place to visit when ever I'm down there.  I'm was born in Tijuana, B.C. I presently reside in Los Angeles, crowded city, looking forward of soon moving out of here.

in Valle de Guadalupe there are colonies of Russian people.  They make great wine, they're awsome. 

Tina you've been there did you went to Ensenada through Valled de Guadalupe, that is a fun ride.

Cathch later guys, have fun on your next trip to my country. 

Wow I didnt Knew you were from Tijuana!   I want so much to go to Baja. I have research and many of my friends say that alll Baja California Peninsula is AWESOME!!!

There are so many things to share from Baja.

So You are coming back soon To Mexicalpan de las Tunas??

I hope that if you have sometime dear Lourdes If its nottoo much trouble to give us a special dish recipe that is Regional for all our friends around the world. I hope you can also tell us more about your wonderfulñ State! Thanks VERY MUCH lourdes for being part of Mexico and our BEAUTIFUL culture!

"Lulu"Our Mexi Betty Boop

I'll  be  in  San  Diego  Monday, (4/21), and  plan  a quick  trip  to  Baja  anyone  near  by  want to  travel a  short  trip?  down  south  in  Baja?

Z

Sorry Z, have not been in tune with my messages, so I didn't get yours.  I was out in San Diego, Tijuana, Ensenada this past weekend.  My gosh did we had a great time, my husband, son and me, we enven had the music playing by our table.  We went for business & pleasure. 

I'm planning on starting a tour business this summer, headin to Rosarito & to Ensenada on weekends only.  Going out from L.A. of course where I live.  That still on the works, I'll advise once I'm ready to start.

Yes, you're friends are definitely right, BAJA IS AWESOME! There are so many things to share from Baja.

Hola mi amiga

Si con mucho orgullo soy Cachanilla. 

Our Baja is such a beautiful place, very relaxed there is even a city with the name of "La Paz" which meand "Peace"    as you all might be aware there are several missions around these areas.  Our missionaries were out here centuries ago and left us Spanish names on our missions.

Yes, we're planning on going to Mexico can't wait, probably in July. 

I haven't forgotten, I'm working on a simple good recipe for our friends to enjoy.  Well here in Baja the Caguama (Sea Turtle),  Which is now prohibited by law, because they're in-danger species.  It's been one of their favorite dishes, it's prepare in many different ways. 

Well talk to you soon 

Hello, fairly new.

I live in Brawley and I will be living in Mexicali in July. I know that in Mexicali, it gets soooo hot!! . Baja california is a very nice state. I have been through almost everywhere.

Welcome to our group!! So you are going to live in Mexicali! Well many have told me it is pretty hot up there...I havent visit.

I hope this season is not very very hot. But I also hope that if it is you remeber to be well hidratated!

Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, Mexico. Mexicali is also the seat of the municipality of Mexicali. Founded on March 14, 1903, Mexicali is situated on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to Calexico, California. Mexicali has grown to be an important city in Mexico and is the northernmost city in Latin America, located at 32°40′0″N, 115°28′0″W.

The link is emphasized by the way each city's name combines the words "México" and "California." To the East of Mexicali lie the states of Arizona (U and Sonora (México), to the west lies the municipality of Tecate, and to the South lies the municipality of Ensenada.

Welcome  to  the  group ainistrom!!!

Z

Thank you for the welcome!

I know it gets very hot over here, and every single building can't live without A/C!! I've been there many many times and in fact, I was born there. There are many famous monuments like Lazaro Cardenas, Benito Juarez and Alvaro Obregon. Downtown seems so crouded during rush hour. Trust me, I've been there...

I've also have been to Tijuana, San Felipe, Ensenada and Valle De Guadalupe

Hola Anistorm, I'm sure you'll like Mexicali it is a pretty extreme weather, but not much difference from where you now live Brawley, isn't Brawley which is also warm. 

Listen let me share with you and whom ever wants to join this event.  I'm directing to you because this is specially for the people who live in Mexicali, because there is local beaches.  If you go to the following website, http://www.mexicalienlaplaya.com/ this links you to an event that will be happening in Rosarito beach.  It's a very cool and fun event.  click to find out.

Everyone is invited to join the party, this will be a blast, check it out @ http://www.mexicalienlaplaya.com/ please click where it says TOO MUCH FUN for info.

        Sorry I meant to say there are no local beaches within the area.  

apology accepted. I know...I could really use some beach time here. The nearest is San Felipe. And you get sunburned easily...even with sunblock.

Anyways, thanks for sharing that info!!

I went to Baja California Sur to work in a kid's show for Discovery Channel.

Spent 2 weeks there and really liked it.  The only problem is that crew members fainted in a regular basis because of the heat.  I live in Cancun and work in hot environments all the time so i know not to use Coca Cola as my main mean to hydrate

Loved the contrast of the desert and the ocean.

I'll post some pics later.

I'll  be  going  to  San  diego  for work  in  mid  August...Byt  am  leaving  early  for a road  trip  to  northen Baja with my  17  year  old  son, and a  freind  of  his  also  17...any  suggestions?  on  places  to  go?  proably  2-3  days  in  Baja

Thanks,

Z

Well that depends how far in Baja you're planning on going.  I know Rosarito & Ensenada have fun things for kids to do.  These places a tourist attractions.

http://www.bajainsider.com/environment/port-punta-colonet.htm

Please ck this site, there is a huge project on the works to open a huge port from Ensenada to Punta Colonet, about 150 miles of rd.

It sounds great, but I believe this will bring so much destruction to our ocean life and whole environment.

Oh Wow Lourdes thanks for this information.

At this point I dont know if it is a good or a bad news. I mean
In a way the trade we have with the Chinese has to be at certain point controlled not just in Mexico but in the US as well.

There are some aspects that have to be rethink . Not all trades are good. Yes we need to move the economy, but with intelligence, not just because it has to move we are going to make a mess on the economy and the ecology.

Thanks A LOT for this information I wasn´t aware before I will investigate further

 sweetie you missed an "n" which made me laugh for a while You are a real doll anyway

Hi Moni, oops don't know where I left it, he,he,he