Day Trip to Vina del Mar

Located just north of Valparaiso, Vina del Mar is a beach resort town with Chilean coastal character. Littered with restaurants and bars, this rocky Pacific coast town seems to say - casual attire only please. Having been here in the winter and spring, I look forward to my next trip there in the summer. With a drastic incline in elevation shooting up from the waterline, the architecture takes on the look of steps as every floor is afforded a balcony atop the floor below. Only an hour's drive from Santiago, one could ski the Andes in the morning, have a late lunch in wine country on the road to Valparaiso, and be on the beach sipping cocktails in the late afternoon. That's what I love about Chile!! Either walking, riding a bike or driving along the road that hugs the seawall will afford you with breathtaking Pacific coast vistas as well as quaint seaside town scenes. Highly recommended for any traveler in Santiago looking for something to do for the day.