We tagged along with Whalebone for a journey to the land of mystical mariachis, hand-painted skulls, and mind-blowing tequila.

Mexico holds a special place for the RAEN family. Located just a few clicks south of our home base in Oceanside, CA, this road-tripping paradise is filled with seemingly endless amounts of magic and wonder. From off-the-grid point breaks, to dusty two-tracks, to the rich art history of Frida and Diego, this is a land where anything is possible. And when it’s done right, you can open up a world of inspiration – especially with a little tequila.

So you can imagine our excitement when the crew over at Whalebone Magazine asked us to join them for three days in Jalisco, the mecca for tequila and home to the legendary Don Julio Distillery. Few people have the stoke for surf and adventure like the family at Whalebone. Not only do they love the outdoors (and tequila), but they also appreciate strong craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and a good four-piece mariachi jam session.

 

Upon arrival, the crew settled in and tried on their new RAEN frames. The Remmy Crystal Champagne and Wiley Brindle Tortoise were a huge hit with the boys. While Lindsey Miller and Audrey Amelie couldn’t get enough of the Morrow. Once the frames were selected, the gang got to work on the welcome buffet and cocktail hour while waiting for Whalebone author Pat Fallon to arrive after missing his flight. Pat finally got in and day two was spent wandering the sacred agave fields at the Don Julio Ranch, where they were shown the fine art of piña harvesting from the treasured hands of the world’s finest jimadors. That evening they devoured handmade cuisine, tossed back some tequila, and told many tall tales. There was even some Backstreet Boys thrown into the mix. For the final day, they hit the vibrant streets of Guadalajara and hopped over to the iconic Hospicio Cabañas for an afternoon filled with art and culture. They even found time to paint skulls and jump on the pottery wheel with Paco Padilla at his studio. For 72 hours, stoke abounded in true Mexican form. Tequila was savored, food was devoured, and good times flowed freely. Even though the trip was short lived, the song of Mexico is sure to live on long after their Don Julio bottles dry up.