Located 75 miles east of México city, Tlaxcala is a quiet town with a population of only 50,000 and is the capital of México's smallest state, also named Tlaxcala.   This is a small, extraordinarily  beautiful, colonial city that was founded by Hernán  Cortés and  a group of Franciscan friars in1520.  The city is easily explored form the main square, Plaza de la Constitución, around which many of the picturesque colonial buildings are located.  The plaza itself is the primary meeting place for locals, with its 19th century bandstand and beautiful fountain that was built in 1646.  Dances are held in the plaza on weekends and the music and dancing seem to bring our all of the locals.  The 16th century Palacio de Gobierno, directly adjacent to the plaza, contains a series of incredible murals that depict the history of the area.  The incredible Templo de San Francisco houses Tlaxcala’s Regional Museum and the Living Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.  

This area is well known for handicrafts that include many different hand-loomed textile items, Talavera style pottery, and hand carved wooden items, especially masks and colorful walking canes.  Casa de las Artesanías three blocks west of the plaza is a museum, with shops, where the actual Artisans act as your guide.  Plaza Xicoténcatl next to the plaza is another location where you can purchase quality local crafts.

The beautiful countryside surrounding the city is comprised of mountains, lakes and even some real desert.  There are many old haciendas and some beautiful ranches.  Many of of the ranches are where they raise the prize bulls for one of the local passions, bullfighting.  There is a large bull ring just a few blocks from the historic center and they fight the bulls sixty days a year in Tlaxcala.  

Huamantla, a town 30 miles to the east of Tlaxcala has their local fair every August.  One of the special events of the local fair is the Huamantlada, this is México’s version of the Spanish Festival in Pamplona and the running of the bulls.  Young men challenge death in order to perceive the feeling of danger and to prove their ability as bullfighters.  The fair lasts two weeks, with the Huamantlada being held on the third Saturday of August, every year.
 

Todos Santos is approximately fifty miles north of Cabo San Lucas and fifty miles south of La Paz on highway 19.  This is a beautiful one-hour drive, from Cabo, through the mountains and along the ruggedly beautiful Pacific coast.  This small town has a history dating back to the early 1700s and was originally the location of a Jesuit mission and plantations that produced sugar cane and mangos.  At one time this area supported eight sugar mills.  

Today Todos Santos is known for being somewhat of an artists colony with several shops featuring the work of local artists.  Todos Santos is also known for the quality of the local fresh fruits and vegetables, hand made furniture and some surfing nearby.  Todos Santos is a nice stop on a one-day tour of the southern tip of Baja California Sur.  Browsing the colorful shops and lunch at one of the outstanding restaurants will prove to be time well spent.

Airport code for Cabo San Lucas:  SJD

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For more information visit AllAboutCabo.com.  Then visit the "Great Side Trips" page.
 

Another ingredient in the incredible shopping experience of Guadalajara.

A few minutes from Tlaquepaque and a bit smaller, Tonalá offers another shopping experience that you are sure to remember fondly.  Tonalá is a village of craftsmen, it is where many of the artists make and sell their goods. Tonalá is not as glitzy as Tlaquepaque, this is more a city of factories than stores but most are open and willing to sell to the public.  Much of the ceramics,  pottery and some of the finest dinnerware sold all over México, is made by the estimated six thousand artisans living in Tonalá.

If you can visit Tonalá on a Thursday or Sunday, do so, as you will enjoy a particularly exciting shopping experience as these are the official market days in Tonalá.

Airport code for Guadalajara: GDL

For more information about Tonalá and Tlaquepaque, visit AllAboutGuadalajara.com.
 

Torreón, located in the southeast corner of the state Coahuila, is a modern city of parks, plazas and museums.  Torreón is a prosperous city that was founded in 1887, originally as a railroad center.  The area produces great amounts of cotton, wheat, dairy products, grapes and also serves as a distribution center for nearby mining operations.  This well planned city promotes a very encouraging business atmosphere which keeps attracting new businesses.  The attractive residential neighborhoods help give this city a good reputation and because of this the city will continue to grow and prosper.  The city has recently built a very modern convention center which also helps to highlight the quality of life in Torreón.

One of the main attractions for residents is a 30 square block city park, Bosque Venustiano Carranza, which is actually a forest within the city.  The park contains many family attractions and on Sunday nights the park springs to life with a dance party for locals and visitors alike.  Here in the shady park crowds of locals gather to dance to salsa, tango and even a bit of polka music.  Everyone is welcome and all age groups are usually in attendance.  The park also contains a museum that merits a visit.  Museo Regional de la Laguna contains some excellent examples of highly prized indigenous ceramics and a sizable collection of pre-historic art and artifacts.  High quality bullfights are also presented on locally on a semi-regular basis.

Airport code for Guadalajara: GDL

Just 90 miles west of México City, but worlds apart...lies Valle de Bravo.  This quaint town is perched on a hilltop, in a beautiful pine forest away from the smog and traffic of México City.  Valle is one of the favorite places for city residents to spend weekends and holidays.  This ex-colonial town is like something out of a historical novel.  It sits on a hillside overlooking the pleasant lake with winding cobblestone streets and beautiful colonial style homes.  Gardens alive with colorful plants and walls covered in brightly hued bougainvillea dominate the landscape, adding a picturesque touch to the streets and homes of the community.

The lake, actually a reservoir, is a peaceful place for sailing, water skiing, fishing (for bass & perch) and other water sports.  Boats for fishing, skiing or just relaxing can be rented in the small marina, near the dock.  The surrounding hills and forests are a great place for hiking, mountain biking, camping or just exploring.

For more information about Valle de Bravo visit: AllAboutMéxicoCity.com.
 

Veracruz is México's oldest and busiest port city, in fact, Veracruz is the oldest post-Columbian city on the North American continent. This is a steamy, but lively, port city that dates all the way back to 1519. Veracruz is a city that beats of the tropical sounds coming from the many local marimba bands which can be heard every afternoon and evening.  Veracruz is not likely to be described as a glitzy resort but still manages to thrive on tourism, with most of the visitors coming from other parts of México.  The central focus of the city is definitely in the areas around the main plaza (zócalo) and the malecón that runs along the waterfront.   The sidewalk cafes, coffee shops and colonial buildings that are prominent in the area around the plaza tend to give the city a slightly European flair. Dances, with live music, concerts with local bands and other cultural events are regular occurrences in the main plaza.

Fresh local seafood is available everywhere and is as delicious as you will find anywhere.  This part of México is where they grow some very flavorful coffee, so be sure to enjoy some of this local treat.   Boat tours of the harbor are available from many locations along the malecón.  Fuerte de San Juan is the most prominent landmark and the cities most important historical site, built shortly after the arrival of Cortés in México.

The best local beaches are located to the south of the city, in and around the Boca del Río area.  This is also the center of nightlife in Veracruz and most of popular bars and discos are located here.  There is an underwater national park nearby that offers some great diving and white water rafting is another popular activity that takes place on the rapids of several  nearby rivers.  There are several important archeological sites that are within an easy day trip from Veracruz, inquire locally for tours.  Veracruz is proud of their enormous aquarium that houses an amazing variety of marine life and includes a touching table for the kids.

Carnival in Veracruz is when the city really comes to life and the party is endless during the week before lent.  Parades, constant music, endless dancing and masquerade parties fill every nook and cranny of the city in what is known as one of the best parties in the country.  If you plan to visit Veracruz during carnival, be sure to make your reservations well in advance as the city always fills up for this incredible celebration of life.

Zacatecas is not only one of the most photogenic cities in all of México it is also one of the highest, at 8200 feet.  Zacatecas, a city that is also rich in Mexican history, is very well known to Mexican tourists but is a relatively unknown destination for international travelers.  This unique city, with its stunning colonial architecture, is situated in a steep valley which makes the design of the city itself very irregular.  A walking tour is the best way to see Zacatecas, as there are many pleasant surprises in store for those who wander among the steep, winding and narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways that make up much of the central district.

Zacatecas was once a rich silver mining town that produced one third of all the silver in México.   The wealth that was derived from the mines shows up in the many ornate buildings that make up the city center.  Many of the colonial buildings are constructed of unique pink sandstone, including the distinctive Cathedral de Zacatecas, which is considered to be one of the best examples of México’s flamboyant baroque architecture.  The cathedral, which was finished in 1752, is a masterpiece and one whose exterior detail could be studied for days on end.  The cathedral is the main focus of the area around the Plaza de Armas, which is an excellent place to start your tour of Zacatecas.

Other significant attractions around Plaza de Armas, all within walking distance, are the magnificent Templo de Santo Domingo, Ex-Templo de San Agustín, Teatro Calderón, Palacio de Gobierno, the Palacio de Justicia or “Palacio de la Mala Noche”.  The old central produce market, Mercado González Ortega, just south of the cathedral, has been renovated into a charming mall with trendy shops and eating establishments.  Other notable stops should be the Museo Pedro Coronel which contains hundreds of works by famous artists, the Parque Enrique Estrada where the remains of the city’s aqueduct may be seen along with an incredible mansion once owned by an ex-governor.  

The city center also contains numerous museums, parks, squares and gardens, all begging to be explored.  Don’t miss a chance to ride the cable car, Teleférico” in Spanish, that goes from one side of the steep valley to the other, affording great views and photo opportunities of the city.

Tours of the Eden mine take you into the tunnels and mine shafts that brought the all of the wealth to Zacatecas.  At night a lively disco occupies a section of the old mine.  To see all there is to see in the incredible city you will need a few days.  Get some maps, wear comfortable shoes and remember to bring your camera.  If you get tired of walking, take a taxi, they are very inexpensive here.

The citizens of Zacatecas are proud of their city; they are very friendly and helpful with tourists.  They also go out of their way to keep the city clean and it shows…you can help them with this task. The tourist office is located at Hidalgo 403 (on the second floor - Tel: (492) 922-3426), one block south of the Cathedral, on the opposite side of the street.  There is usually someone there who speaks English.  They will be glad to provide maps and pamphlets and schedules of the many cultural events presented on a regular basis.

 
Airport code for Zacatecas: ZCL

Ixtapa, once a coconut plantation is now an ultra-modern resort with all of the amenities any suave tourist would expect.  Zihuatanejo, once a sleepy fishing village, is just a few miles from Ixtapa but has managed to retain the atmosphere of that has always made this a great place for a quiet vacation.  Ixtapa is comprised of high-end hotels, golf courses, a modern marina and the stylish restaurants, bars and nightclubs that go hand-in-hand with a trendy resort.    Zihuatanejo, although it is a bit more crowded than it used to be, has not changed that much over the years.  The town itself is small, covering a few square blocks, and filled with souvenir shops, reasonably priced hotels and restaurants. 

The beaches of Zihuatanejo are spread out on the smallish Bahía de Zihuatanejo and are great for swimming, snorkeling, water sports and relaxation.  There is a small pedestrian walkway that leads form the town square, to the bay beaches of Playa Madera, Playa La Ropa and Playa Las Gatas out near the point.  The bay is lined with a few hotels, many palapa style restaurants and the ever present beach vendors.  The feeling very laid back and you could easily imagine the you are somewhere in the South Seas.  Ixtapa, on the other hand faces the Pacific Ocean and although it is usually safe for swimming here, some large waves may bring with them a fierce undertow, mostly in the summer.  The palm lined beaches of Ixtapa are extremely beautiful and they are flanked by luxury hotels and restaurants.  There is some great snorkeling at Isla Ixtapa just offshore, boats leave from Playa Linda at regular intervals. Parasailing, wind surfers, kayaks, banana rides and jet skis are available all along the Playa del Palmar, the main beach in Ixtapa. 

Sportfishing is available from the main pier in  Zihuatanejo and also from operators based in the marina at Ixtapa. There are two golf courses in Ixtapa and both are very enjoyable courses.  Tennis courts are also available at both golf courses.  Water sports dominate the activity scene in both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo although there are horses available for rent at Playa Linda and sunshine and sunset cruises are also popular.  Ixtapa has an aquatic park with the usual slides, rides and fast food for the kids and also separate facilities where you can swim with Dolphins.  Sunsets seem enjoy a special significance in Ixtapa and there is even a cable car at the south end of the beach to take you up to Restaurant El Faro for the ultimate sunset experience of your vacation. 

These two resorts compliment each other and give vacationers a lot of options.  They are close together and each is easily accessed from the other, so that you really can have the best of two different worlds in one location. 

Airport code for Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: ZIH

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