It was about 10 minutes after they opened the climbing wall on our first day, and I hustled over from the pool to watch my son and daughter take turns racing to the top. Seamus, my 12-year-old boy, had bubbled about the wall as we planned this trip to Mexico's Nuevo Vallarta, our first to an all-inclusive resort.

Swimming, parasailing, water sports, all these possibilities enticed him. But it was conquering the wall that put an extra spring in his step.

So I was dismayed to see my kid already at the top by the time I arrived. For a boy who dashes from one activity to another, this didn't bode well. Sure, our resort -- about 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta -- was beautiful, bathed in sun and set against the aquamarine Pacific. But did this too-easy climb portend that there wouldn't be enough to do -- for Seamus or our 15-year-old, easily bored daughter, Beret?

Nope.

Our five days and nights were filled with more activities and events than we'd ever plunged into before. Volleyball games, water polo, tennis, snacking,

soccer, water basketball, soaking in the hot tub, swimming, parasailing, beach-combing, snacking, water volleyball, Ping-Pong, more snacking, nightly shows, working out -- our "to-do" list became our "do-almost-everything" list.

We've done a lot of traveling over the years -- to Yellowstone, Cape Cod, Italy, Disney World, Cozumel. This time, my wife, Heidi, said she simply wanted to sit back, relax and let somebody else do the work. We came close to that in Cozumel a couple of years ago, but Heidi really wanted to try the all-inclusive experience. She didn't want to worry about cash, or reservations, or an itinerary. All she wanted was to soak up some sun, get some exercise and leave her stress at home. She found her personal paradise online, when she and the kids ran across Marival Grand and Club Suites, in an area called Nuevo Vallarta.

We arrived on a spring break Sunday to find a brilliant sun, temperatures in the high 80s and an extremely friendly staff.

Our junior suite was more than big enough. Heidi and I had a bedroom and the kids slept on a sofa bed and roll-away in a large living room. The suite overlooked the resort's adults-only "quiet" pool, with just a glimpse of the beach and ocean beyond. While our bed was, literally, a mattress resting on a concrete slab -- and felt just like that every night -- we were seldom in our room. Marival's abundant activities and vivacious staff members had us continually hopping.

Five swimming pools, two with swim-up bars, five restaurants and numerous other bars and lounges kept us occupied between organized sports and other activities. Each day contained a roster of action; each night, dinner in one of the resort's themed restaurants.

Leading up to this trip, I had imagined spending time lying by the pool or on the beach, maybe reading a book. Other sun worshippers -- including my fully relaxed wife -- were doing just that. But, much to my and my kids' delight, I never lounged.

"Dad, what activities are you going to do?" Seamus asked as I browsed the list of programs the first day.

"All of them," I said.

"Really?" he asked, remembering my occasionally bad back.

Really.

Where ya from?

We were like hungry kids in a candy store, given 10 minutes to grab as many goodies as we could.

"Hey, Seamus, water polo is at 2," I noted.