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Gazing at the seemingly endless ultramarine waters as white sand seeps between your toes it's easy to grasp why Mexico attracts countless visitors and why more of them are opting to stay. After Sept. 11, airline-wary Americans began looking toward their sunny southern neighbor. What they found were new roads, beautiful land and a friendly welcome.

Terry Callison and his wife Lyn of Nevada understand perfectly. Terry began venturing to Mexico as a teenager, visiting the easily accessible drive-to spots. The mini-vacations continued after marriage, becoming a family affair that led to the decision to purchase a second home there. After years of wanting to own Mexican soil, Lyn gave the final push with an ultimatum.

"We went down (to Mexico) and my wife told me if we didn't buy (a home) we wouldn't go back," remembers Callison.

Who can blame her? The enchanting communities on the Sea of Cortez and Pacific coasts are worth scouting when purchasing a second home in Mexico. An exotic locale, friendly people and a rich culture all within a drive that takes the same amount of time as a round of golf seems ideal. Nestled beside old fishing villages, new developments in places like Puerto Peñasco, Ensenada and San Carlos draw attention because of the great location in proximity to the U.S., lower costs and sunny days by the sea. It doesn't hurt that each offers gorgeous landscapes and plenty of activities.

"I would encourage anyone looking for a home to visit the place they think they want to live and really get a feel for it to know if it's a good fit," shares Callison. "Know what things you need to make you happy and find a place that has those things."

Callison and his wife considered a home in upbeat Rosarito, but after visiting Ensenada a few times they knew where home was. They liked the small-town vibe and strong community spirit.

BAJA COAST
North of Ensenada and 30 minutes south of downtown San Diego you will find one of the most luxurious destinations in Mexico-Trump Ocean Resort Baja. A dramatic, cliffside location with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean is exactly what people want, apparent by the record-breaking sales. With such demand for this style of living south of the border it was decided to add the Spa Tower to Trump's resort. Owners can spend their days relaxing with massages, sea salt wraps and custom treatments used by Mexico's ancient cultures.

The more adventurous can skip the spa and head to Puerto Nuevo and the oceanfront El Milagro resort with its landscape of dunes, lagoons, estuary and beach. Day trips offshore will captivate you while viewing humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles.

An historic site can be found in the nearby El Descanso zone. Dominic monks colonized the area known as one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. The ruins of their home, Mision El Descanso, remain, as PromoCasa builds 216 homes in the first stage of the Descanso development.

Just 90 minutes from the San Diego border is Ensenada, known as La Bella Cenicienta del Pacifico (The Cinderella of the Pacific). It is a perfect place for anyone wanting to fish, surf, shop or golf. The seaside town is home to the Baja Country Club Golf Resort. At the end of a canyon, the mountain-enclosed championship golf course has become a favorite of expatriates living there. A Pacific breeze gently blows through the fairways, adding to the mystique. With fairway or mountain homes and lots starting around $200,000, it makes sense that the Callisons chose to live in this community.

That same cool breeze drifting through the course breathes life into the vineyards of Mexico's wine region. The warm summers and mild winters of the valley produce a variety of sweet wines that are gaining worldwide recognition. Local wineries such as Bodegas De Santo Tomas, Monte Xanic and L.A. Cetto offer tours and tasting sessions.

Further exploration of the area will lead you to the geographical blowhole La Bufadora. According to folklore the explosive marine geyser on a rocky inlet near the tip of Punta Banda is the spirit of a trapped whale. Only a handful of blowholes exist in the world and La Bufadora happens to be second-highest, blowing upward as much as 80 feet.

On the Sea of Cortez, 120 miles from San Diego, lies San Felipe. Here you can enjoy amazing sport fishing and the Valley of the Giants where the thousand-year-old Cardon Cactus grows. If that doesn't start your heart pounding take a sweeping view of the city's panoramic landscape. With a meeting of the sea and the desert floor and the 10,000-foot San Pedro Martir Mountains, San Felipe's beauty is breathtaking. The combination of convenience and beauty lures many people and seasonal residents increase the population by 50 percent. Perhaps people with homes here will begin to consider Mexico their main residence.

And it's a residence with access to an adventurous golf course, Las Caras de Mexico (Spanish for The Faces of Mexico). Golf architect Bradford Benz created the exclusive course at La Ventana del Mar Golf and Beach Resort by combining Mexico's culture and desert surroundings with life-size bronze sculptures of the area's heroes, legends and golf stars. The resort is part of El Dorado Ranch, where heritage and nature rank high. Along with the eco-friendly golf course, which utilizes sea-tolerant grass, 17,500 of the 35,000 acres have been set aside to preserve the natural beauty. The development offers homesites with both sea and mountain views starting in the low $40,000 range as well as beachfront and golf condos.

MAINLAND
On the northeastern shore of the Sea of Cortez, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point to its northern visitors) draws people wanting to experience the sea both above and below the warm waters by snorkeling, swimming and fishing. Though the great shrimp and fishing fleet have diminished, there are still many opportunities for guided fishing tours. Your greatest challenge of the day comes when deciding whether the sea looks better holding a rod or a golf club in your hand.

The Links at Las Palomas Golf Course stretches along Sandy Beach, sculpted by the tides and winds of the Sea of Cortez. The challenging course with its natural obstacles seems to be a great perk when living in the 350-acre master-planned community. About 600 condos of the nearly 2,000 residences are ready for use and construction of town, courtyard and estate homes begins this year with prices ranging from $340,000 to $1.9 million.

The city is rapidly developing, including the Mirador, the main shopping and dining district, where you can find Puerto Peñasco's first city center high-rise condo project, La Perla del Mar. The spacious one- to four-bedroom condos start at $230,000. If you're keeping a mental tally on the benefits of living south of the border, make a note for The Puerto Peñasco Real Estate and Yacht Club, which offers various condo clubs in the area.

Continuing along the shoreline, the charming town of San Carlos offers many water sports-boating, sailing, sportfishing, windsurfing and snorkeling. While people on the water's surface may spot a few creatures, scuba divers below interact with playful sea lions darting about. The seaside community has two marinas and a lighthouse.

The lighthouse is part of Costa Bella Living's first phase and features a world-class restaurant and penthouses with 360-degree views. The first phase, which is nearing completion, also includes 45 residential lots and six condominium towers. This community seems as unique as the San Carlos pearls (the area is known for these ocean jewels).

You may prefer to enjoy the Sonoran lifestyle at Del Mar Vista Estates. Central Park Promenade, the centerpiece of the private community, is perfect for relaxing with your family. Single and two-story homes are available ranging from 1,283 to 2,356 square feet and $170,000 to $250,000.

Further south is one of Mexico's secret resorts, Estrella del Mar in Mazatlan. Within the 816 acres lies the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. championship golf course. The exciting course parallels the shoreline and golfers enjoy sea spray while playing holes along the beach. Condos and homesites starting at $185,000 can be found along the 3.5-mile beach and the golf course.

Terry and Lyn Callison travel from Nevada to their Baja Country Club home multiple times a year. They spend one week during Christmas, one week during summer and many long weekends in Mexico, gathering with fellow expats for holidays, parties and civic activities. It's the perfect sort of close-knit community for the quaint villages and laidback lifestyle of Mexico.

SOURCES:
Las Palomas, 866.305.0202, laspalomas-sgc.com;
La Perla Del Mar, 888.344.9837, laperladelmarinfo.com;
Puerto Penasco Real Estate & Yacht Club, 480.308.8948, puertopenascorealestateclub.com;
Baja Country Club, 866.599.0631, bajacountryclub.com;
Descanso, 866.350.0034, descanso.com.mx;
Costa Bella Living, 503.654.5726, costabellaliving.com;
Trump Ocean Baja Resort, 866.858.8736, trump-baja.com;
El Milagro, 800.439.2252, elmilagrobaja.com;
La Ventana del Mar, 800.455.0119, laventanadelmar.com;
El Dorado Ranch, 877.787.2624, eldoradoranch.com;
Estrella del Mar, 800.967.1889, estrelladelmar.com;
Santo Tomas, santo-tomas.com;
Monte Xanic, 011.52.646.174.7055, montexanic.com.mx;
Vinos L.A. Cetto, 011.52.646.175.2363, cettowines.com