Jun 24 2009
Fun places to see in Mexico with the kids
Travelling with younger children to Mexico could be fun and exciting once you are equipped with a nice budget that works for your family, and a good research on the places you plan to visit, every other thing will fall in place.
Mexico is one of the countries that welcome children with open arms. Restaurants, attractions, coffee shops and most public places accept children and make them and their parents feel comfortable and relaxed.
Most Restaurants in Mexico have children’s menus on the table and some also offer places for children to play.
Children, 6 years and above will benefit more from a trip to the city of Mexico, because of the tourism centers, cultures, and also the great experiences
A few suggested tours for both active and less-active families
Chapultepec Park, or Bosque de Chapultepec, — is a popular weekend park for local families. You can bring a picnic, or eat lunch in several restaurants located throughout the park. Also available are live concerts, Pony rides and bike rentals for children
Anthropology museum or Museo Nacional de Anthropologia – This museum has all the good stuff from the pre-Columbian archeological ruins - Toltec, Maya, and Aztec. The Mayan Chacmool from Chichen Itza is a must see, so also is the jade mask of Pakal from Palenque and the famous Aztec calendar. The museum also features a recreation of a Mexican village and Mayan ruin, models of Tenochitlan.The different rooms are filled with exquisite stone, ceramic, jade and turquoise objects.
The Voladores (Dance of the Flying Men) —There is a tall pole set up Near to the museum, where you can watch the ‘’the Voladores’’ (Dance of the Flying Men) which is Performed by the Totonac Indians, here four men are tied to the pole, and they whirl through the air in an impressive traditional manner.
Parque Zoologica de Chapultepec – This large and well laid-out zoo is the place to see giant pandas (the first pandas bred in captivity outside of China) and is free.
Papalote-Museo Del Niño – This is a museum for children. The museum has hands-on science and cultural exhibits and an IMAX theater. At the “La Tienda del Museo” you’ll learn about traditional arts, crafts and games. It is similar to the ‘’Exploratorium’’ in San Francisco.
Rancho Del Charro or Avenida Constituyentes – this is a riding exhibition in a charreada by the “charros,” cowboys, usually on Sundays. In this exhibition, Charros, wearing traditional costumes, demonstrate great riding feats and mariachi bands play sweet, pleasant music.
Zocalo — is the heart of the historical zone in Mexico City. At sundown, you can watch the large Mexican flag being lowered ceremonially from flag pole. Stop into the Baroque Catedral Metropolitana, the largest cathedral in Latin America.
Templo Mayor – is not so far from the Zocalo is a “must see,” the Templo Mayor, are the ruins of the Great Temple of the Aztecs… The Museo del Templo Mayor has ten rooms full of artifacts from the ruins, including skull masks and stone “face blades” used in ancient sacrifices.
Parque Alameda Central– is the oldest park in the city, with a Parisian style and lots of fountains. You can find out the schedule of performances of the world famous Ballet Folklorico, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico – has all you need of the history of Mexico. There are excellent models of Tenochtitlan, reproductions of Aztec maps and books.
Teotihuacan – let the children run down the Avenue of the Dead (Calle de los Muertos) and climb up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. From the top, you can see the ruins of this marvelous city .you can also Climb up the Pyramid of the Moon for another look over the city. In the Museo de Sitio, you can see items excavated from the site as well as a model of Teotihuacan in its better days.
Tula de Allende – is the Toltec city that came after Teotihuacan. Tula is the legendary home of Quetzalcoatl, the great Toltec king and Feathered-Serpent god. According to legend, Quetzalcoatl led Tula to greatness, but was banished and wandered east to the Yucatan, where he died and turned into the morning star. The Atlantes, huge stone columns in the shape of Toltec warriors are very spectacular sights.
A few suggested tours for the active families (ONLY)
Centro de Convivencia Infantil —On the other side of the Lago di Chapultepec is the Centro de Convivencia Infantil, a place where children can play with swings and slides and also see beautiful animals.
Boating– families can Rent a rowboat and parents and children can take turns rowing their own boat on the lake under the beautiful Mexican sunshine.
Castillo de Chapultepec – you can climb up the hills to “Chapultepec Castle,” which according to ancient history was once the home of Maximillian, the French Emperor of Mexico, and now the Museo Nacional de Historia, which chronicles the history of Mexico from the Spanish takeover through the 20th century. In front of the Castillo is a monument to the Los Niños Heroes. History also made it known that in 1847 the castle was a military academy, and six cadets died defending the castle against the Americans. Good way for the family to let of some energy.
La Feria de Chapultepec—– this is an amusement park with a huge roller coaster, bumper cars, carousel, miniature train, and family restaurants and lots of thrills and chills rides.
Rancho Del Charro or Avenida Constituyentes – this is a riding exhibition in a charreada by the “charros,” cowboys, usually on Sundays. In this exhibition, Charros, wearing traditional costumes, demonstrate great riding feats and mariachi bands play sweet, pleasant music.
Aguas Salvajes Water Park –the whole family can cool off in the Aguas Salvajes, an aquatic park with wave swimming pool and splash slides.
Paseo de la Reforma – take a long walk with the family starting at Chapultepec Park, down this wide tree-lined boulevard. The boulevard is punctuated with different monuments, starting with a large fountain, Fuente de Diana Cazadora. Another monument is the Monumento de la Independencia also called El Angel, a tall column with an angel on top. The Monumento a Cuauhtemoc commemorates the last Aztec emperor. The last monument, Monumento a Cristobal Colon, is in honor of Christopher Columbus.
Torre Latinoamericano (Latin American Tower) –take a ride up the Torre Latinoamericano. This was the first skyscraper built in Mexico City. On the 38th floor there’s an aquarium. You can get a good view of the city, from the observation deck.
Markets (Mercados) – these are markets where you can get an amazing array of handicrafts, such as the Mercado La Lagunilla, Mercado de Artesanias, Plaza de la Ciudadela, Mercado San Juan .
Xochimilco – When you visit the floating gardens of Xochimilco, kids will enjoy a ride through the canals on a colorful flat-bottomed boat. Enter the Xochimilco Museum and take a look at stuffs that have been dug up from the bottom of the lake. In the Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco, restored marshlands are home to many birds and endangered species
Parque Acuatico Spa Ixtapan— is a water park for swimming and spa treatments, while the kids are swimming with daddy, mummy can take a relaxing soak in the spa. There are also Horse riding
The coast of Mexico on the Caribbean side –has clear warm waters filled with tropical fish, mangrove forests and wetland lagoons to explore, plus Maya ruins, some right at the beach. Kids of all ages will have a fun time on the Caribbean Coast, and this is also a great place to bring the grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles for a multi-generational trip.
Puerto Morelos or Croco Cun – here you can see lots of crocodiles. I This crocodile farm and zoo has many different species of crocodiles, snakes, parrots, spider and monkeys.
Akumal Bay — The water is very, very warm and shallow, way out into the bay.
In the bay, snorkeling is excellent – lots of colorful tropical fishes, a sandy bottom and bits of coral. At the tide pools, you’ll find crabs and sea anemones. The kids will love this.
Aktun Chen Cave – is a cave with a sparkling clear connote, fed by an underground river. It’s an easy walking tour. Outside the cave there is a little zoo, with monkeys, snakes and other local fauna. Good for a little exercise and sightseeing
Xel-Ha Lagoon National Park – is a great place to snorkel, hang out on the beach, or check out the archeological exhibits. The lagoon is a combination of fresh water and sea water, with lots of wildlife such as manta rays, tropical fish, and dolphins. Raft on big inner tubes or hike on the trails in the park. Little ones may want to just ride around the lagoon in four wheeled carts .There are life vests or snorkeling gear for rent.
