Where is tecate ca

La Rumorosa , a solid rock mountain range between Tecate and Mexicali, affords breathtaking scenery to the desert below. During wintertime, the snow-covered mountains of La Rumorosa bring a winter wonderland atmosphere to the area, the Mexican counterpart to Vail or Aspen, Colorado.

With an approximate population of ,, Tecate straddles the border of east San Diego, California and Baja, Mexico, nestled at the base of East County's mountains, just 55 minutes from downtown San Diego on old Highway One wonders how Tecate escapes the violence and corruption that the media has recently associated with Tijuana and Rosarito Beach. Perhaps it may be due to Tecate's small town image. Tecate is famous for its brewery, but also gives a glimpse of life in a non-tourist Mexican village.

Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, on the other hand, seem to thrive and rely on tourism, which brings with it many of the social ills that can contribute to violence and corruption. Tecate, about 30 miles east of Tijuana, is a small town--a place where you can still sense tranquility, friendliness from its people, and hospitality.

But being a small community certainly does not limit the options for visitors, rather, it enhances those options. Vinos Tanama , for one, is the first winery at the start of the northern entrance to the Wine Country route. Tanama, appropriately, means "Place of fertile ground, where water runs and oaks grow.

Tecate takes great pride in its numerous parks, as well it should. Hildalgo Park in the center of town serves as a hub for shoppers, school children and anyone interested in a friendly game of dominoes.

The tantalizing aroma of yeast from the nearby brewery wafts through the air, making you alternately hungry for homemade bread or thirsty for an ice cold beer. No visit to Tecate would be complete without a stop at the brewery for that free sample. Set in the rugged and rural Tecate highlands down Highway 3, the Rosita Resort Inn Hotel towers above the road less than four miles from Tecate's downtown.

I can envision myself there with my laptop computer, finishing up the book that I have been working on for years. The tranquility of this location would suit me, as well as other tourists just wanting to get away.

That is the contrast between Tecate and Tijuana. Visitors are discovering Tecate as a relatively safe and charming alternative to Tijuana and other areas that have seen violence in recent weeks. Having lived in Tijuana for two years, making the comparison between Tecate and other parts of Baja California comes easy.

Sure, there were times when I would cross the border late at night in Tijuana, and walk across the bridge towards Revolution Avenue to catch a bus or cab, and I would be somewhat concerned about my safety. I had heard the horror stories about the muggings and kidnappings associated with Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, as well as the numerous murders recently, but I tended to look at it as; "it comes with the territory.

Tecate, by contrast, offers a type of tourist attraction best described as a slower pace of life, having the charm of an authentic Mexican village rather than the hustle and bustle of a tourist destination. Besides the Tecate Brewery, the large beer factory offering tours in the city's center, Tecate also boasts a famous spa, the Rancho la Puerta, where you can enjoy a day of relaxation.

Rancho La Puerta, founded in and recognized as the first Destination SPA as well as the starter of the fitness revolution, is one of the best in its genre. Having written an article recently in the Baja Times Newspaper in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, titled, "Accentuate the Positive", I found myself struggling to find and say something positive about Tijuana and Rosarito Beach. I have no such problem or concern with Tecate.

Perhaps most intriguing to me about Tecate is its reputation as a haven for writers and artists. Being a writer myself, I can think of no more tranquil environment to stimulate my artistic senses than Tecate. The San Diego Railroad Museum has special events over the course of each year which include special trips from the U.

Caliente, an off track betting OTB establishment, is favored by a lot of Americans who cross the border into Tecate just for the opportunity to place their wagers. Tecate is not perfect, nor totally free of crime in modern-day Baja California.

But, the point is that no visitors have been harmed and the total level of violence has been minimal compared to other areas. In this day and age no city is immune to violence or crime, as the recent Mumbai terror attacks reveal. My hometown of Chicago has even been plagued by crime and acts of violence recently.

Just last year, while sitting on my deck with another American friend and neighbor in Tijuana, we entered into a discussion with each other about a Tecate policeman who had been murdered in his home after he had supposedly taken pictures of a tunnel being dug under the border from the Mexican side to the American side. After the shooting of this high-ranking police officer, a resident of the community stated; "It's very peaceful here, these kinds of things don't happen here.

Speculation was rampant at the time about the motivation, but it seems to be an anomaly, as nothing similar in the area has occurred and it does not seem to have affected the level of tourism. Sinaloa state Culiacan, Mexico , just south of Tecate and Tijuana, is also in the grip of Mexico's drug violence. Just recently thirteen bullet-riddled bodies were found along a dirt road in Sinaloa state, home to the drug cartel of the same name.

We, Americans, have a tendency to glorify or be vicariously attracted to the allure of the violence in Mexico and our own American cities, as evidenced in the Tom Cruise movie, "Collateral", in which Tom Cruise, playing the role of a hit-man for the drug cartel in Sinaloa state Culiacan , questions a jazz musician about his time in Culiacan, before shooting him to death.

Yes, there is a perception problem in Mexico of violence and crime, and the recent much-publicized beheadings associated with the drug cartel have not helped. Fortunately, none of that seems to be associated with Tecate! Originally inhabited by the Yuma Indians who settled in the Tecate valley. In , the Mexican Government gave Peruvian Juan Bandini a land grant of 4, hectares to develop an agricultural colony.

In the Kumeyaay indians plundered the ranch and lay siege to the ranch house. While Bandini and his men were rescued, the ranch itself was decimated and the livestock were stolen.

There were many attacks on Ranchers near San Diego. Bandini never returned to the area. In the railway connected Tijuana, Tecate and Mexicali and the City of Tecate was officially founded. Ranchers and farmers returned to the area with the abundant water and fertile soil. Grapes, coffee, olives and grain are produced locally. The Cuauhtemoc Brewery, producer of Tecate Beer, opened in After the Free Trade agreement, a few maquiladoras have located east of the city on Mexico 2.

Tecate remains an agricultural town with some small manufacturing plants. The quaint and enjoyable city enjoys a small but consistent tourism industry. Handicrafts, souvenirs, Mexican cuisine. The Plaza offers relaxation a a focal point for socializing.

Check if you are interested. The Tecate Brewery — now owned primarily by Heineken, has a free tour; You view the plant and are shown how the beer is produced. You also receive a free beer at the the beginning of the tour and sometimes also at the end. From Ensenada drive North on Highway 3. Rancho Ojai RV Park. Go here to view border crossing info: Weather: T emperate.

May — Tecate-to-Ensenada bicycle race.