You can walk to the Marina from the Marriott; there are restaurants, shops, etc.
The Malecon is their boardwalk about 15-20 minutes south and has restaurants, shops, clubs and some performers. South of the Malecon is the Viejo Vallarta; there are other things to check out around the Malecon as well.
This is a small river inlet about an hour south of the Marina. There are a few restaurants on the sand, and you can catch water taxis to some of the secluded coves from there. Transportation back can be tough so plan accordingly. Boca is fantastic and a slice of local life.
San Pancho, as it's known, is Anna's favorite place in the greater area. It's north of Vallarta and has beautiful beaches.
A delicious tacos spot on the street that serves marlin tacos.
For those that want to hit the links, this is literally a few blocks from the Marriott.
You can take a water taxi here from the Vallarta Downtown Pier or from Boca de Tomatlan; it's only accessible by boat and has limited boats, but Nick loves it there! A semi-remote cove south of Vallarta
This organizations has a lot of different excursions; check out their website
Check out the Hotel Spa for some pampering
A great restaurant nestled into the cliff south of Vallarta; really romantic awesome restaurant.
Famous local church off the Malecon
They feature a rooftop with beautiful views of Banderas Bay! Highly recommend.