My husband and I are taking our very first cruise and will be spending a day in Ensenada. What would be a good itinerary for the day?  Good restaurants?  Best places to see?

Thank you 

If you are not doing any excursions, you can take in the town yourself.  It is a 10 minute walk to the downtown/tourist area.  There are several resturants on the strip of Mateo Lopez but I only ate at one 6 years about 6 years ago.  When I was there last month I didn' eat in town.  Many will go to Mango Mango which is a bar that has a great deal if you want to drink.  Across the street is Papas and Beer which is pretty wild.  Hussongs is between the two and more traditional (the birthplace of the Margarita) and a 100+ year old bar.  If drinking isn't your forte, plenty of shopping but the best deals are off the main street.  You can get off/on the ship as much as you want.  there is a shopping village right in the port.  I've done the horseback riding and it was fun, best tortilla's and salsa I've ever had.  Just read thes posts and you can filter what may be of interest to you. 

We love the La Bufadora excursion.  You get to see the big blow hole - in June there were Whales out in the water - it wa amazing.  The shopping at La Bufadora is so much fun, the food is excellent.  Fresh home made churros and tacos, you name it right on the walkway.  In Ensenada on the main street - Avenida Lopez Mateos - there is a really good restaurant that we have been eating at for years called El Cid.  You will love it.  The shopping in Ensenada is also great.  There is Papas and Beer, Hussongs, you name it.  Have a great time.