Touring Isla Mujeres by rental golf cart is common. The five-mile Island offers a beautiful tropical setting, tranquil ambience, serene beaches on all sides, a great variety of daytime activities and some of the finest diving, snorkeling and fishing in the region.

At Avalon, visitors experience endless sun, blue skies, palm-fringed beaches, free-flowing rum and dining under the stars at a table for two. For the romantics, there’s dancing barefoot on the sand on this secluded island. To relax. just grab a reclining lounge chair on the beach under a palm-covered canopy and pass the time reading, snoozing and sipping your favorite tropical drinks, while you enjoy the stillness of the night with only sounds of the lapping of water and the chatter of small birds. Time virtually stands still the longer you are at Avalon.

At night, the moon led the way to my Spanish-style villa, a charming combination of white stucco and red-tiled rooftop, and I could see the deluxe one or two-bedroom suites at the tower.

Michael E. Kelly from Indiana founded Avalon Resorts, which now numbers seven. Cancun, Mexico’s playground, has been home for three Avalon properties. It offers the right mix of exciting nightlife and relaxation, thanks to its great dining, entertainment and white-sand beaches. Some vacationers who prefer the pace of Cancun enjoy Avalon Grand known as “crown jewel” Buccara, the boutique resort or Avalon Bay.

The signature restaurant at “The Grand” and “Avalon Reef Club” is Porterhouse Grill & Steak restaurant. Here you feast on the finest steaks and seafood in town. The ambience and service is outstanding. Creative appetizers, tableside salads and soups: wonderful sauces for the specially prepared main dishes were quite marvelous and of course a perfect selection of wine to complete the meal.

At the Avalon Reef Club there were two fabulous entertainment nights where the food reflected the theme of the evening: A Caribbean menu matched the Caribbean showcase and the Mexican Dinner with Mexican Show at Castaway Discothèque. If you prefer casual fare there’s Fajita/Margarita night and every night there’s Fusion dining on the beach.

One of the highlights of my stay was having relaxing massages at the spa operated by MCM International. Sophia was marvelous with her therapeutic hands and sparkling personality. I chose aromatherapy massages twice because the benefits are excellent for relieving stress, restoring harmony and balance.

There were many opportunities to explore the island such as a visit to Tortugranja Turtle Farm where turtles develop from infancy to their full-grown state. Another popular attraction is to swim with dolphins. Two dolphins put their noses on each foot of the swimmer, and the swimmer is raised to a standing position yelling with joy with his hands in the air. www.dolphindiscovery.com

The biggest attraction is Garrafon Natural Park, featuring abundant land and water activities for everyone. You can spend the day hiking, swaying in a hammock, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba and Seatrec. Try Tyrolean rappelling for the thrilling sensation of flying over the “grand cliffs” of Isla Mujeres. A movie crew filmed a Spring Break Reality Movie here and at Avalon. Octavio, my local guide, watched from the sidelines and even had a chance to come to their rescue with bottled water. www.garrafon.com

On an outing to Cancun I was escorted by Olga, another guide. At The House of Mexican Folk Art visitors can experience the extraordinary diversity of the folk art, joyful expression of the people’s daily life. There are traditional masks, regional costumes, native scenes, churches, images of mermaids, trees of life, gourd crafts, musical instruments, traditional toys and a complete Mexican Colonial kitchen. 849-4332

One of the highlights of time spent with Olga was the spectacular show and dinner at Xcaret. It is an experience for all your senses: an epic celebration with the sights and sounds of a grand festival set in Mexico’s golden years and the mysticism and splendor of ancient Mayan kings. It features a colorful fair, the drama of the pre-Hispanic ballgame and the Ball of Fire in the impressive Tlachco ballcourt, followed by an unforgettable gala performance of Mexico’s regional music and dance. Over 200 performers in an incredible pageantry of color, sight and sound were quite amazing.

By day Xcaret is one of the most beautiful parks with more than 25 attractions to enjoy. These include a manatee lagoon, coral reef aquarium, marine turtles, bat cave, butterfly pavilion, tropical jungle walk, orchid conservatory, wild bird aviary, equestrian show and Archaeological sites. Xcaret is 35 miles south of Cancun’s International Airport 998-883.31.43 &44 www.xcaret.net

Cancun is a Mecca for travelers from all walks of life, with treasures for every taste. It combines rich traditions and legends of the past with the luxury and comforts of the present in the heart of an ancient and mysterious Mayan world.