I had referenced in a previous post about the revitalization going on in the Historic District of Mazatlan, which is commonly referred to as "old Mazatlan". I've attached an article that lists the reasons why Mazatlan was chosen as an emerging travel destination for Travel & Leisure in 2009. It's a beautiful area, full of culture, art galleries, the Teatro Angela Peralta opera house, the Plaza Machada, small shops and wonderful restaurants. It surely beats the commercialized Zona Dorado which is a strip along the beach north of Centro Historico where all your chain restaurants, strip malls and tourist hotels reside.
Mazatlan is worth a trip if you're considering a mexican vacation in the next year. Click on the title of this entry for a look at the full article available in Travel & Leisure magazine.