After years of visiting the Baja Peninsula, I've developed a strategy for maximum Los Cabo enjoyment.

I reserve the first couple of days for beachcombing and bar-hopping in San Lucas, home of the perpetual spring break. After realizing that I'm about a decade too old to party at a bar called El Squid Roe and that I'm probably not going to run into Jennifer Aniston or George Clooney at a luxury resort, I head over to San Jose's historic centre, where I pass the rest of my days unwinding in boutique hotels, cozy cafes and delightful galleries.

Art, Anyone?

My first stop is always the quitessential San Jose Arts District destination, Casa Dahlia Garden Café and Fine Art Gallery. Each time I visit, I discover new favorite art pieces like the haunting glass light fixtures by Dinorah Dominguez, but my favorites have always been Casa Dahlia co-owner Leah Porter's colorful abstract acrylics.

Porter, a gardening enthusiast originally from Portland, Oregon,  along with her husband and co-owner Julio Montero, a native of Acapulco, have done a masterful job translating the town's laid-back, colonial aesthetic into a gallery setting.

Built in the early 1900s, the rose-colored building is one of San Jose's best-restored historic buildings and was originally a home for the Sandoval family, who at one time owned most of the block. Contemporary art hangs on original adobe walls and the building retains its wooden doors and shutters.

Local Art Hub

When Porter and Montero took ownership in 2006 the building had most recently been home to a tienda, or market. Now it serves as a hub of activity for local artistic enthusiasts.

Thursday evenings from June to November, Casa Dahlia is one of several stops on the local art walk (during the summer months, a smaller group of galleries adorn their facades with red ribbons to indicate participation).

Visitors stop into the garden to enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of organic Mexican coffee served in a French press, all while enjoying a great view of the church steeple.

If you plan on visiting on a weekday morning, perhaps you'll find me enjoying a "Julio's Special"—eggs to order, a fresh cheese quesadilla, and a side salad served with homemade pesto and chili oil—as I check the local newspaper for the latest celebrity sightings.