The weekend started with a night march through the streets of Old San Juan and continued with events in and around El Morro as well as Escambron Battery.

Here are a few photos and a video from the Friday and Saturday events:

You should also check out the photos by Gustavo Adolfo

Related posts:

1. 1797 Battle of San Juan: 2012 Reenactment
2. Night March Kicks Off 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment
3. 1797 Battle of San Juan: Reenactment 2011

Oh and there’s an awesome video that you need to check out….

Rincon: One of the Caribbean Coolest Beach Towns

Caribbean Travel Mag gives a shout out to Rincon in its list of Caribbean’s Coolest Beach Towns. Mentioned for its great surfing beaches; Maria’s Beach, Steps Beach and Domes Beach during the winter months and calmer waters and quieter beaches through the summer. The article also has some ideas for non water activities and spots to grab some great local food. Check out the article here (CaribbeanTravelMag.com)

Caribbean’s Surf Mecca

Transworld Surf has a great article on the northwest corner of Puerto Rico geared as one might expect to surfers. All your questions will be answered. When to go, Why you should go, How to get there, Where to Stay, Where to eat, What to bring, and more are all covered here (surf.transworld.net)

Beach Camping in Puerto Rico: It’s an Adventure

The Daily Muse gives a run down on how adventurous camping can be in Puerto Rico and what you need to do before you go and how you can keep costs down while you are here. If you are looking to have an inexpensive trip to Puerto Rico, then camping is one option; so check out the article here (TheDailyMuse.com)

El Yunque With Kids

Puerto Rico is a great destination for families and El Yunque is probably one of the most popular attractions to visit. The website Kidventurous has some great tips to help make your day in El Yunque fun for you and your kids. Check out the article here (Kidventuros.com)

Puerto Rico the Best Kept Travel Secret in the Caribbean

The Daily Mail (UK) interviews Sir Bruce Forsyth and finds out just why he loves the golf, the island, the people, the food and why he has a second home here in Puerto Rico. Check out the interview here (dailymail.co.uk)

Bomba and Plena: Shared Traditions – Distinct Rhythms

Bomba and Plena are musical styles that you will hear throughout Puerto Rico. Bomba evolved out of the musical traditions brought by enslaved Africans in the 17th century and Plena evolved from Bomba during the start of the 20th century in the southern region of Puerto Rico. To find out more about these two distinctive sounds check out the article by Smithsonian Folkways here (folkways.si.edu)

Tourism Oscars: Puerto Rico up for SEVEN

If like me you were unaware of the Tourism Oscars don’t worry, they are actually called the World Travel Awards (WTA) and for 2012 Puerto Rico has been nominated for seven. For a rundown of the seven categories check out the article here (caribbeanbusinesspr.com)

Nature at its Best: Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting on Vieques

Finally you REALLY need to see this awesome video of a Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting on Vieques Island earlier this month (kineticcreative on youtube.com)

Surfing photo: Elizabeth McCabe from Flickr using Creative Commons License

Related posts:

1. Puerto Rico Tourism Roundup: February 2012
2. Puerto Rico Tourism Roundup: March 2012
3. Gunpowder, Sofrito, Popcorn and more: Puerto Rico April 2012

The premise for Puerto Rico Restaurant Week is simple: each participating restaurant will feature a set 3-course menu for $29 or $39, featuring dishes prepared especially for the event.

This unique one week event is a great way for visitors and locals to discover new and upcoming restaurants in the San Juan Metro Area, without having to break the bank.

Have a restaurant that you have been longing to try? Check the list of participating restaurants below to see who is taking part in Puerto Rico Restaurant Week

Condado

• Bar Gitano: Spanish, 1302 Ashford Ave, 787-294-5513, Website
• Blonda: International, 1504 Ashford Ave, 787.993.5710
• Budatai: Asian, 1056 Ashford Ave. Ventana al Mar, 787-725-6819, Website
• Casa Lola: Fusion, 1006 Ashford Ave, 787-998-2918, Website
• Di Parma: Mediterranean, 1049 Ashford Ave, Ventana al Mar, 787-725-5202
• Di Zucchero: Italian, 1210 Ashford Ave, 787-946-0835, Website
• JC’s @ Condado: Creole, 63 Luisa St, 787-200-8115, Website
• La Vista: International, 1309 Ashford Ave, San Juan Marriott Resort, 787-722-7000, Website
• Rao’s: Italian 1451 Ashford Ave, 787- 607-5477
• Ummo: Argentinean, 1351 Ashford Ave. 787-722-1700

Guaynabo

• Cocina Abierta: International, 100 Tabonuco St, San Patricio, 787-708-6960, Website
• Piccolo e Posto: Italian, 146 Santa Ana Ave, Plaza Chalets de Caparra, 787-793-1123
• Table 105: International, 787.501.0404

Hato Rey

• Latitudes: International, 553 Cesar Gonzalez Ave, 787-764-9630, Website
• Tras-Patio: International, 115 Uruguay St, 787-754-6969

Isla Verde

• BLT Steak: International, 6961 Los Gobernadores Ave, Ritz Carlton Hotel, 787-253-1700, Website
• Cafe La Plage: Caribbean/Seafood, Isla Verde Avenue #4851 (The Beach House Hotel), 787-268-7733, Website
• The Garden: Vegetarian, 2413 Calle Laurel Punta Las Marias, 787-963-0087

Miramar

• Bistro 606: International, 606 Ponce de Leon Ave, 787-977-1000
• Casita Miramar: Creole, 605 Mirarmar Ave, 787-200-8227
• Lima: Latin, 667 Ponce de Leon Ave, 787-725-1597

Old San Juan

• Atlantica en Puerta de Tierra: Seafood, Lugo Viñas 7, Puerta de Tierra, 787-722-0890
• El Picoteo de Tapas: Tapas, 100 Cristo Street, El Convento Hotel, 787-723-9202, Website
• Inaru: Caribbean/Latin, Calle Recinto Sur #311, 787-724-7384
• Lemongrass: Asian, Hotel Caribe Hilton, 787-724-5888
• Morton’s The Steakhouse: American, 1 San Geronimo Grounds, 787-977-6262, Website
• Pizza e Birra: Pizza, 100 Cristo Street, El Convento Hotel, 787-230-0445, Website
• Waffle Era: Tea Room, 259 1B Cristo Street at Tetuan Street top-west, Website

Santurce

• Atmosfera Bistro: International, 1311 Ponce de Leon Ave, 787-724-5463
• Bistro de Paris: French, Plaza de Diego, Bldg 310 De Deigo Ave, 787-998-8929
• Jose Enrique: Creole, 176 Duffault St, La Placita de Santurce, 787-725-3518
• Santaella: Fusion, 219 Canals St, La Placia de Santurce, 787-725-1611, Website

What: Puerto Rico Restaurant Week
When: May 14 – 20, 2012
Where: San Juan Metro Area

More info at Puerto Rico Restaurant Week

Article updated: May 8 2012

Related posts:

1. Condado Food Festival 2011
2. Ajili Mójili Restaurant Review
3. Condado Culinary Festival 2009

According to Jose E. Lopez, Teniente Abanderado of the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico, this will be the biggest Night March ever to take place during the annual reenactment.

Taking part in the march will be around 60 soldiers including flag bearers and musicians, 2 horse drawn carriages carrying ladies in period attire and about 8 cavalry.

Night March details

• 6pm at the Cuartel de Ballajá.
• March along Norzagaray Street turning right at Plaza del 5to Centenario.
• From Plaza del 5to Centenario march up to Cristo Street and then turn left at San Sebastián Street.
• March along San Sebastián Street turning right at San Jose Street and down into Plaza de Armas.
• At Plaza de Armas the regiments will form for the Proclamation by the Municipio de San Juan where honor guard will be represented by a visiting group of volunteers from Poland who will mark the Proclamation with musket firing.
• The Regiments will then march to the San Juan Cathedral and down Caleta de San Juan to the San Juan Gate.
• 7:00 – 7:30pm At the San Juan Gate a Remembrance Ceremony will take place along with musket firing by the honor guard.
• The march will then continue along Paseo de la Princesa to the Chamber of Commerce where there will be a private reception.
• Following the reception the Regiments will regroup and will ‘march to Cristo street up the hill’. According to Jose E. Lopez, this final march is the first time in 200 years that troops have marched up Cristo Street.

The Night March is scheduled to end around 9pm

The march route covers some of the major sites in Old San Juan and should make for some great photographs.

1. Cuartel de Ballajá
2. Plaza de Armas
3. San Juan Gate
4. Chamber of Commerce

If you are able to see part of the march, why not share some of your photos on our DiscoverPuertoRico Facebook page

Don’t forget the 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment takes place all weekend April 27 – 29 with events on Saturday and Sunday taking place in and around El Morro Fort (Saturday) and Luis Muñoz Rivera Park and El Escambrón Battery (Sunday). Details here.

What: Night March Commemorating the 1797 Battle of San Juan
When: Friday April 27, 2012
Where: Old San Juan

Related posts:

1. 1797 Battle of San Juan: 2012 Reenactment
2. 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment: In Pictures
3. 1797 Battle of San Juan: Reenactment 2011

For anyone heading here who is wondering how they will keep their kids occupied, look no further. Here is a list of kid friendly things to see and do in Old San Juan; which everyone in your family will enjoy:

El Morro Fort

This is our number 1 go to spot in Old San Juan. Standing at the entrance to San Juan Bay, El Morro Fort is just an awesome site that kids of all ages will enjoy exploring. The fort has several levels to explore as well as a lighthouse. You can either tour the fort on your own or join one of the ranger orientation talks (offered daily) or weekend ranger led guided tours of the lighthouse.

On the 3rd Sunday of each month, kids can check out the interactive storytelling and canon firing that takes place between 10am – 3pm

El Morro Esplanade

The esplanade is the large grass covered area in front of El Morro Fort that is hugely popular with families and for good reason. It’s a great spot to have a family picnic, fly a kite, play soccer, throw a frisbees around or just have your kids running around burning off some of that excess energy that they have.

Ask yourself, when was the last time you flew a kite in the shadows of a 400 year old Spanish Fortification?

Go on make it happen the next time you are in Old San Juan.

Plaza Centennial

May not be a place that you would have considered but this large open plaza means your kids can run and play without worrying about the traffic. It also has the added bonus of an extremely popular (with kids and adults alike) water feature with several water spouts that shoot water into the air. It’s a great spot for your kids to play and cool down at the same time.

Parque de las Palomas (Pigeon Park)

Located at the end of Calle San Cristo, next to Capilla del Cristo, this small area gives you the chance to escape the Old San Juan streets for a while and watch your kids chase after the pigeons that call Parque de las Palomas their home. Here, you will usually find someone selling bird food for around $1 so that your kids can also feed the pigeons. Don’t forget to point out to your kids the man-made holes in the walls, where the pigeons hang out.

The park also provides some great views of San Juan Bay.

Paseo de la Princesa

Another favorite, Paseo de la Princesa is the tree lined promenade that follows the city walls along the San Juan Bay to the San Juan Gate. On weekends it is busy with artisans, musicians and street vendors and makes for a great spot to just wander. The path to the San Juan Gate offers plenty of shade and great views of the city walls and the boats sailing in the bay.

Paseo del Morro

The continuation of Paseo de la Princesa gives your kids the chance to see the city walls and El Morro from virtually sea level. The walk is really enjoyable with great views cross San Juan Bay. It’s worth pointing out that this section of the walk offers less shade, especially in the afternoons.

Note as of April 2012, it is not possible to walk the full length of Paseo del Morro due to a recent rock slide.

San Cristobal Fort

Another fort that your kids will love exploring; San Cristobal Fort like El Morro has several levels and offers great views of the San Juan coast and the city of Old San Juan. You can tour the fort on your own, take a ranger orientation talk (offered daily) or tour the tunnels or outer works with a ranger (weekends only).

Old San Juan Trolley Ride

The old San Juan trolley is a good way to get to or from El Morro especially if you have small children and the added bonus it’s FREE. The only downside to the trolley is that it can be quite hard to find an empty seat.

The route to El Morro has some really great views as it takes you up from the cruise ship piers out along past the Capitol Building, up towards San Cristobal Fort and along to El Morro Fort. You can jump on and off at the various stop, just remember if you decide to do this you may have to wait a while for the next trolley with enough available seats.

Old San Juan Segway Tour

If your kids are old enough (minimum weight is around 90lbs), then a Segway tour of Old San Juan is not only educational but a whole lot of fun too. It will certainly be something that they will tell their friends when they get home. The tour last from 45mins – 2 hours depending on the tour and take in the major sites around the city.

Plazas

Scattered around Old San Juan you will find open air plazas both big and small. These make for a great spot to take a break from walking around, while you let your kids run around.

Special Events and Festivals

Throughout the year you will find special events and festivals taking place around Old San Juan and most will have some element that will be suitable for children. Events like:

• San Sebastian Street Festival (daytime only)
• El Morro Kite Festival
• El Morro Pet Festival
• Battle of San Juan 1697 Re-enactment
• Christmas Boat Parade

Are just a few of the events taking place throughout the year in Old San Juan

Food and Drink

It gets hot here in Puerto Rico and Old San Juan is no exception; you need to make sure you and your kids are well hydrated. There are plenty of roadside stalls where you can pick up water, drinks and snacks, but why not try something traditional from Puerto Rico; a Piragua (flavored shaved ice) or a Pina Colada (alcohol free).

Rain

If you are unfortunate to get caught in a rain shower, jump inside the nearest shop or restaurant and wait for the rain to pass (usually relatively quickly) and then head back out to enjoy the sunshine.

If it looks like the rain is here to stay for a while you could always check out one of the many museums located throughout the city.

Finally, one of the best things about Old San Juan is the fact that it is easy to walk around and explore. There are plenty of things that you can do as a family no matter what the age ranges. So just explore and have fun.

So how about you, what places do you recommend in Old San Juan for families with children?

Photo: Plaza Centennial by Antonio Rivera using Creative Commons License

Related posts:

1. San Juan Kite Festival 2011
2. Parque De Las Palomas, Old San Juan
3. 1797 Battle of San Juan: Reenactment 2011

The 2012 Puerto Rico Craft Beer Festival is being held at Palmas Station will feature around 400 beers from around the world and you will have 5 hours to sample your way through them all; OK may be not them all.

Admission costs $40 (+ IVU), which includes commemorative tasting cup, and UNLIMITED one ounce samples. To put that into perspective:

20 one ounce samples = 1 English Pint

So you should be able to sample a good selection of the 400 beers on display. Just make sure you have a designated driver to get you home safely.

As well as touring the world’s craft beer offerings, there will be live music, beer friendly food and non alcoholic drinks available. Note: food and non alcoholic drinks are not included in the admission price

The Puerto Rico Craft Beer Festival doors open at 5pm and close at 10pm.

Tickets for the event are on sale at: Palmas Station, La Taberna Lupulo, 110 Thai in Aguadilla, Hacienda Meat Centers in Garden Hills, San Francisco, Miramar, and Dorado.

Some of the breweries that will be available at the festival include:

• Abita Brewing, Achel, Affligem, Anchor Brewing, Ayinger
• B.B. Burgerbrau, Ballast Point, Bavik Brouwerij (Bavik/Wittekerke), Bear Republic, Bell’s Brewery, Birreria Moretti, Brasserie Dupont, Brew Dog
• Caldera, Chimay, Cisco, Czech Rebel
• De Koninck, Dubbuison, Duvel
• Eggenberg (Samichlaus), EKU
• Fischer, Fullers
• Goose Island, Greene King
• Hacker Pschor, Halve Maan (Straffe Hendrik), Harpoon Brewery, Het Anker (Gouden Carolous), Hofbrau
• Jolly Pumpkin
• Kulmbacher
• L. Huyghe (Delirium Tremens), La Chouffe, Lindemans, Lost Coast Brewery
• Maredsous, Maes, Mahrs, Maui Brewing, Moinette, Moylan’s
• North Coast
• Ommegang, Orval, O’Haras
• Paulaner, Poppering
• Rochefort
• Samuel Smith, Schneider, Sea Dog, Shipyard, Southampton, St John’s Brewers
• Troubadour
• Van Honsenbrouck (Kasteel), Van Steenberge (Gulden Draak / Piraat)), Victory Brewing
• Weinhestephan, Westmalle
• Zatec

What: Puerto Rico Craft Beer Festival
When: Saturday April 28, 2012 from 5pm-10pm
Where: Palmas Station, Cataño
Cost: $40 + IVU which includes unlimited one ounce samples

Resource: Puerto Rico Craft Beer Festival

Related posts:

1. 2009 Puerto Rico International Rum Festival
2. Puerto Rico International Rum Festival – Taste of Rum 2011
3. Condado Food Festival 2011

A must for any one looking to try some great traditional Puerto Rican Food; Lechon in Guavate

Related posts:

1. Guavate Home of the Lechon
2. Guavate: It’s a PORK Thing
3. Skip the Fast Food Try the Street Food in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Culinary Renaissance

Former resident and now frequent visitor to Puerto Rico, Julie Schwietert Collazo has a great article on LatinoFoxNews about Puerto Rico’s Culinary Renaissance. If you are looking for some new places to try on your next trip to the island, check out Julie’s article here (latinofoxnews)

New Puerto Rico Cuisine

Travel expert Peter Greenberg, reveals some of the chefs who are putting Puerto Rico on the Global Culinary Map. Chef Ariel Rodriguez (Augusto’s), Chef Lamerto Valdez (miX on the Beach @ W Vieques) and Chef Damien Hernandez-Lorenzo (Eighty20 Bistro @ Hotel Verdanza) give their take on awesome Puerto Rican Cuisine. Check out the full article here (petergreenberg.com)

Where to Find Authentic Puerto Rican Food

Bradley Steven gives a great overview of the best places to go around Puerto Rico if you are looking for great authentic flavors. Check out Bradley’s article here (bradsteven.com)

Hot New Things to Do in Puerto Rico

Looking for something new to try in Puerto Rico, Departures has you covered with a list of some of the newest hotels, up and coming art galleries and the emerging local chefs taking Puerto Rico’s cuisine to the next level. Jose Enrique, José Santaella and Christian Darcoli are all featured as chefs raising the bar when it comes to locally inspired dishes. Check out the Departures article here (departures.com)

Seeking the Real San Juan

It may not have been a critically acclaimed movie but the Daily Mail set out to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Depp’s ‘The Rum Diaries’ as the search for the ‘real’ San Juan. Fortunately, they have great success and you can check out the article here (dailymail.com)

Puerto Rico: Smart Choice for Families

Examiner.com gives some great tips for families traveling to Puerto Rico, including; El Yunque, the Biobays and touring Old San Juan. Check out this family friendly article here (examiner.com)

Gallery Inn, Old San Juan

If you are looking for a small intimate place to stay in Puerto Rico, then you might want to consider the Gallery Inn, in Old San Juan. The Coolist.com has a detailed review of this small hotel with some really good photos. You can also find out which Presidential hopeful enjoyed a brief stay at the Gallery Inn. Check out the review here (thecoolist.com)

Colors of Puerto Rico

Finally, Coastal Living has a great slideshow for those looking for inspiration or an excuse (if one is needed) for visiting Puerto Rico. Check out the great photos here (coastalliving.com)

Photos: Saborea Puerto Rico

Related posts:

1. Puerto Rico Tourism Roundup: February 2012
2. Puerto Rico Tourism Roundup: April 2012
3. Music, Rum, PGA Golf and More: Puerto Rico March 2012