Baja California

Baja California is where Mexico borders California and where Northern Pacific cultures merge in unique ways. Tijuana, the world's most-crossed city—with 50 million border crossings annually at the San Ysidro port of entry—has evolved from its image as a pass-through city to become one of North America's most exciting gastronomic capitals.

The Valle de Guadalupe, 90 kilometers from Tijuana, produces Mexico's finest wines and has become a world-class gastronomic destination: more than 100 wineries and chef-driven restaurants scattered among vineyards and olive groves create the country's most concentrated wine circuit. "Baja Med" gastronomy—a fusion of seafood, local ingredients, and Asian influence—is recognized in the world's finest international guides.

Ensenada combines an active fishing and cruise port with a sophisticated cultural scene: the Mercado Negro seafood market, the bars of Barrio de Hussong's—California's first cantina, founded in 1892—and cycling routes through Valle de Guadalupe make this city a complete destination. La Bufadora, a natural marine geyser 20 minutes from downtown, attracts thousands of tourists.

Mexicali, the capital, is known for having Mexico's most authentic Chinese gastronomy—a legacy of Asian workers who built the irrigation canals of the Mexicali Valley in the 20th century—and for its northern-style bars and cantinas where cheese broth and caguamas are a way of life.