Lunch on the Beach at Lol Ha in Akumal

435836 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:48:00 GMT

This weekend, we decided a quiet beach day was in order so, on Saturday, we piled everyone in the truck and headed 30 minutes south to our favorite spot in Akumal. Depending on our destination of choice, I sometimes pack a cooler for these impromptu beach days. This day, we were craving some really good food and we knew just where to find it.

In the past decade, options for good beach eats have really taken off. But, when we first arrived in Playa del Carmen, finding a really good meal with a really good view often meant a day trip to Akumal. Years ago, Lol Ha Restaurant was one of the few places you could go and enjoy consistently great food on the beach. Despite the addition of new (and admittedly more convenient) Playa beach eateries such as Wicky's, Indigo Beach, Canibal Royale and Kool Beach Club, Lol Ha has still remained one of our very favorites. The menu features a nice selection of homemade soups, fresh salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and a variety of grill items. With a stunning beachfront location it would be easy to lay back and rest on their laurels but Lol Ha has never wavered on their commitment to high quality food and good service. The menu options have recently been given an extra boost by the addition of a pizza oven and a nice array of toppings to choose from. Every time we go, we have a great meal and a nice time. We almost always opt for the Lol Ha Burger, stuffed with poblano peppers and cheese and one of my picks for Top 5 Burgers on the Riviera Maya, but a recent shift toward healthy living has made us look at some of the other items. The winner this day was my vegetarian panini with pesto and goat cheese. Sooo gooood!!

Lol Ha Restaurant in Akumal

You can't beat the view!

Vegetarian panini with grilled veg, pesto and goat cheese. Yummo!!

Coconut Shrimp

Grilled chicken sandwich with lightly grilled poblano peppers

Fresh grilled Grouper

Sev got this great shot of Birdie

....and Cole. Little fishes, the two of them!

Break time for Ethan and Cole

Josh taking Sawyer for a spin!

Cole and Birdie cooling off.

A nice day on the beach and lunch at Lol Ha were just what the doctor ordered. The water was crystal clear and perfectly still. Everyone went out with masks and fins to see the majestic sea turtles that call Akumal Bay home. Sev was thrilled to find a group of colorful sea slugs, a variety rare in these waters. Birdie saw a Lionfish and I followed a pod of cuttlefish through the coral formations. The reef was teaming with life and the visibility was just great for a day of snorkeling. Akumal has always been a favorite getaway for our family and we are forever dragging friends out of Playa to enjoy the quiet laid back beach and the family friendly atmosphere. Anyone with small kids will find that Akumal Bay is the perfect place to spend a day and relax under the coconut palms. If you have limited your beach time thus far to Playa del Carmen, you will definitely want to check out Akumal.

Life's a Beach... a real pretty one!

435836 — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

One of the distinct advantages to being your own boss is you can take off just about any old time you please for a leisurely lunch. That's exactly what we decided to do yesterday. The "Wicked Burger" was calling my name so we grabbed Mitch and Kate and made time for Wicky's on the beach. In case anyone was looking for a Playa del Carmen beach update, here you go. I think we can officially lay claim to the whitest sand in the world!

Wicky's Restaurant and Beach Club

Working hard!!

Buffalo Chicken Wings (best in Playa, FYI) with blue cheese sauce, yummmm

The American Burger with real cheddar cheese

Chicken Salad sandwich

French Fries with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese....back off...they're all mine!!

The Wicked Burger

Wicked good!

Fresh brewed iced tea. Perfect on this hot Playa day.

As Kate arrived from London well after the beach reclamation had finished, she inquired (as many others have) whether a lot of the new sand had eroded away. I took a good look today and, honestly, the erosion that we witnessed in the weeks immediately after the sand was relocated seems to have abated. The big "shelf" that was created near the waterline seems to be evening out and the beaches look really good.

I'm not going to get into the argument about whether this beach reclamation project was a good thing or a bad thing. (So don't go leaving any nasty comments for me) I'll leave that to the experts. I can say for certain that the beach in Playa del Carmen is beautiful and I am happy to be lucky enough to enjoy it everyday.

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Lunch on the Beach at Lol Ha in Akumal

Life's a Beach... a real pretty one!