Chances are, your little ones won't appreciate the Toltec influence on the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza, nor will they delight in the architectural beauty of Merida's colonial buildings - but that does not mean the city has nothing to offer them.

First of all, though they might complain about the heat and their lack of interest in a pile of rocks, do not miss the chance to watch their faces light up when they see the Castillo at Chichen Itza in real life. Climbing the main attraction, checking out a real Mayan hut, and seeing the cenote where human sacrifices may have been made once are sure to interest most children. Some kids may find the huge machine on display by the bathrooms interesting when they learn it was used to dredge the cenote and take out the treasures found at the bottom.

And while the majority of kids may not appreciate the excellent museum and the peaceful ruins as much as you will, most kids cannot resist the cenote at another Mayan site called Dzabilchaltun. Bring some snorkel gear and let them see the little freshwater fish that live there. But please watch them and don't take children who can't swim. The cenote is shallow on one end, but very deep on the other. Be sure to bring your own towels, sunscreen and water to drink as well. There are no changing facilities or lifeguards.

Part of the educational value of travel is being able to see how people live differently around the world. If you can, drive from Chichen Itza to Merida on the "free" or "libre" road, you will have a chance to drive through and stop in some small Mayan towns or pueblitos (pweh-BLEE-toes). Children will learn a lot from seeing how children their own age live and play in the Yucatan. Stop in one of the towns for an ice cream or helado (ay-LA-doh) or a Coca Cola (Yucatan drinks more Coke per capita than any other place in the world!) and take that chance to interact with the local people at the store. You will all learn something!

Once you are back in Merida, the Centennario Zoo, located near the southern edge of downtown, is a wonderland of fun activities for parents and children alike. This huge park is home to hundreds of exotic animals including giraffes, lions, bears, chimpanzees, crocodiles, hippos, tigers, turtles and snakes. Each animal pen has its own placard in Spanish and Maya with facts about the creature's environment, diet and lifestyle. Patrons are also welcome to meander through the zoo's huge aviary, a tropical garden filled with parrots, peacocks and other beautiful birds. You can stroll through the park on foot or catch a ride on the train that circles the perimeter.

In addition to animals, the zoo has several playgrounds, an area for rollerblading and toy vendors galore. Entrance to the park is free, but some of the activities like pony rides, bumper boats and go-carts charge a few pesos per person. You can treat yourself to traditional carnival fare like corndogs, popcorn and cotton candy, or enjoy Mexican treats like chicharrones, tacos and panuchos. And on a hot day, all those beautiful trees provide shade for the animals and for you and the kids.

Close to the Hyatt and Fiesta Americana Hotels, Salvador Alvarado Stadium and Park features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, a softball diamond and two soccer fields, in addition to facilities for weight lifting, boxing, aerobics, gymnastics and dance. As part of the Yucatan State Sports Institute, this 65-year-old establishments serves as both a training grounds for local athletes and a recreational center for the public.

The entrance is located on Calle 62 in the Buena Vista neighborhood and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with peak hours between 3 and 8 p.m. when local sports teams come to practice. While there is no official charge to use the facilities, they do ask that patrons make an occasional donation - in whatever amount possible - to put toward maintenance costs, and use of the pool is $12 pesos per visit. Month-long courses in various sports, even including salsa dancing, are offered to the public, meeting once a week for around $150 pesos.

Never underestimate the pleasure of a swimming pool to children. If your hotel has a pool, and most do, why not take a day to enjoy yourselves poolside and really concentrate on what vacations are all about: being together with family. And if your hotel does not have a pool, then spend a day at the beach in Progreso or one of the surrounding towns. Your kids can have fun picking up shells, swimming in the shallow water or maybe even renting a boogie board or waverunner. The beach at Progreso is shallow and the waves are seldom more than a foot at most. You can have fresh guacamole with chips and a cold beer right on the beach while you watch your kids play. What could be better?

After you have enjoyed these activities, there are still several tried and true methods of entertaining kids. Merida's professional baseball team, the Leones, have home games at Kukulkán Stadium and Sports Complex with ticket prices as low as $5 pesos. The Merida English Library, located on Calle 53 (in between Calles 66 and 68) hosts a story hour every Saturday at 10 a.m. Finally, when your travels have exhausted you, enjoy a low-key evening movie. The Fantasio Cinema in Hidalgo Park downtown and the Cinerex Theaters on Calle 58 near 59 have at least one movie showing in English at all times. Take a bus or taxi to the Gran Plaza and you will have up to 12 movies available to you, including a VIP room that features barca-lounger chairs and waiters providing everything from piña coladas to sushi, as well as the usual movie fare of popcorn, hotdogs and cokes. Keep in mind, however, that PG-rated movies in Merida will be dubbed in Spanish.

Remember to always bring water when you are going outside and make sure your children drink even when they are not thirsty. Dehydration can creep up on them when they are not accustomed to the heat.

Merida and the Yucatan provide you and your children a place to go that is exotic and probably vastly different than your home town, but it still has the comforts of home. If you need to help your child feel comfortable, there is a McDonalds or Burger King nearby. But when your child is feeling adventurous, there is much to explore and learn about. It is a place none of you will ever forget.

By: Ellen Fields and Jim Fields
Ellen and Jim Fields are expatriates who write Yucatan Living http://www.yucatanliving.com, a lifestyle website about living, working and traveling in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

1) La Quebrada Cliff Divers

A visit to Acapulco is incomplete if you do not make the time to visit the famed La Quebrada Cliff Divers. This is a group of professional sky divers who put on daily shows for the public. In each of these shows, they will dive 45 metres from the cliffs into the sea. Their stunts will literally take your breath away. Night shows are also held, and are even more fascinating to behold. The divers bring torches with them as they make their dives and look like bright lights streaking into the dark sea.

2) Nightlife on La Costera

Acapulco's nightlife is known the world over and any visitor looking to let down their hair and enjoy themselves must make it a point to visit La Costero. This is a street in Acapulco with a variety of pubs and clubs that will allow you to hop from club to club without having to travel long distances. Three clubs frequently visited by foreigners include Disco Beach, which features a dance floor directly adjacent to the Condesa beach, Barbarroja, a club in the shape of a pirate ship, as well as Andromedas, which features a real mermaid in a tank by the wall! (The mermaid is actually a scuba diver, but it is still a pretty cool sight to behold!)

3) Coyuca Lagoon

Coyuca Lagoon is a breathtaking fresh water lagoon and is a gorgeous sight for the eyes to behold. Surrounded by palm trees and a variety of flora and fauna, framed by blue shallow waters, and teeming with wildlife, Coyuca Lagoon is the stuff that stories are made of. A variety of lagoon tours are offered. Visitors can enjoy a cruise along the Lagoon before hopping off and enjoying the food at the local beachfront restaurant. Or, you can simply find an empty hammock and de-stress. Either way, Coyuca Lagoon is a must-see for visitors.

4) Acapulco Botanical Garden

Acapulco Botanical Gardens is a beautiful piece of greenery located in the picturesque Southern Sierra Madre Mountains. Visitors will find themselves entranced by its two creeks, its tropical weather and its mind-boggling range of flora and fauna. The animals also feature prominently among the Garden's many attractions. Have fun trying to spot the iguanas, lizards, snakes, possums and racoons as you trek through the Garden.

5) Fort of San Diego

The Fort of San Diego is Acapulco's most revered historical monument. The Fort attracts a steady stream of visitors who are not only interested in seeing its unique star shape design, but who want to visit the Acapulco History Museum, which is housed within the Fort. The museum features several collections which portray Acapulco's general history and the role of the Fort in Acapulco's past. The Fort also has beautiful gardens and provide countless phototaking opportunities.

By: Orson Johnson
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Holiday accommodation in Acapulco & Holiday apartments Mexico

You are laying in a hammock, watching one of the most spectacular sunsets you have ever seen. Softly,it swings as your toes dig into the soft warm sand and you reach for your favorite drink. It is hard to tell where the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea start and the shimmering sky ends.

Iguanas sun themselves on the pavement and mangroves grow on either side of the road. Familiar scenes like this one above happen every day on Mexico's Peninsula. From Cancun to the Belize border.

But where is Costa Maya and why is it so special? Costa Maya is a 57-mile long stripe of the Caribbean Mexican coastline that is unspoiled, relatively convenient, eco-friendly, culture inspiring and full of profitable excitement. The beautiful beaches are what sets Costa Maya over other areas. The barrier reef, the Chinchorro Reef is one of the best diving and snorkeling in the Western Hemisphere. With most divers every day choosing Cozumel, Cancun, or Belize...you can enjoy 20 miles of unexplored reefs and shipwrecks to yourself.

Costa Maya has one draw back with their beaches, being to close to the barrier reef. The water is shallow, there is little surf, and the existence of sea grass makes the water look darker. You have to have someone rake up the sea grass daily if you want a clean beach.

This is the first Western Caribbean port designed exclusively for the cruise industry, but their stop at the port only allows its clients one day at the port. You can drive from Cancun or Playa Del Carmen but it is a long and expensive drive in a private car. Tourism has caused the area around the pier to be just one shop after another and three cruise ship can dock at the pier at the same time.

With acres of unspoiled coastal land, vast natural resources and rich historic and cultural influences Costa Maya offers tourists a view into the Mayan History. Costa Maya is the largest concentration of Mayan archaeological sites and existing Mayan population.

By: Kathi E Jacobs
http://www.kathijacobs.mtravel.com
I am a certified TRAVEL AGENT and also the Vice President of an oilfield instrumentation company. I love to restore artifacts, paint, cruise and antique cars.

Diving and snorkeling in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is an absolute wonderful activity for the whole family to do together on a family vacation. There are some great places to dive and snorkel in and around Playa. Safety first though, make sure that every family member wears a life jacket when snorkeling. It is an activity for both beginner and expert swimmers as long as you are provided with life jackets and snorkel equipment.
Should you want to venture off yourself and not take a tour with a guide OR should you like to go with a tour guide, either way, there are 3 great places to snorkel around Playa del Carmen.

Xel-Ha - A beautiful outdoor water theme park (ecological park) located 33.5 miles south of Playa del Carmen. At Xel-Ha, you will be amazed by the exotic flora and fauna that the park treasures. For your convenience, there are several stands to rent snorkel equipment where you can get full equipment rentals, mask rentals, flippers and wet suits.

Akumal (Yal Ku Lagoon) - Akumal is a small town located 23 miles south of Playa del Carmen not far from Xel-Ha. You may want to go on a tour provided by one of the two dive shops in town. It is about $40 USD per person. Or, rent or buy your own equipment and swim out alone. The coral reefs are not too far from the shore and can be easily accessed by swimming, especially with the help of a life preserver. Much of the bay is not more than five feet deep. Be very careful to stay away from the "fire reef" marked with buoys and a distinctive red colored coral. It stings and excessive contact can be fatal. Since coral dies on human contact, you should avoid touching coral at all costs. It is also illegal to touch the wildlife, such as the sea turtles.

Marina Maroma - Maroma is the site of the world's second largest barrier reef and just offshore, you will find world-class Playa diving-snorkeling with your own guides. The marine life there is absolutely delightful, and the colors are vibrant and exciting. Maroma Beach is located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, only 20 minutes by car fron Cancun International Airport.

By: Deanna Robinson
Playa del Carmen, Mexico is the site of the world's second largest barrier reef. The diving and snorkeling in Playa is outstanding!
For more information regarding Diving and Snorkeling in Playa del Carmen, go to Mayan Riviera Family Vacations.com.

This large country whose capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest countries in the world and also boasts of a lot of wonders. If you are a nature-tripper who would love to spend your time on the beach or on the green, Mexico will appeal to your taste. If you fancy ancient architecture, you would be pleased to know that Mexico is just the right place for you.

1.) Rio Grande Rivers

Rivers are abundant in Mexico. The biggest of the Mexican rivers and of all the rivers in the world is the Rio Grande. It serves as a separator between Mexico and the USA, and it is also known as Rio Bravo in Mexico, a river that is popular for thrill-seeking tourists.

2.) Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental

There are two mountain ranges that run across Mexico, and these are Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. Both are known for their majestic height and beauty. While here, make sure that you take a visit to this place for you to see these mountain ranges.

3.) Oaxaca Plateau

Situated in Oaxaca in Southwest Mexico, the Oaxaca Plateau is more than just a wonder of nature. It is also where the early Zapotecs, one of the predecessors of the Mexicans, built an ancient city. As such, Oaxaca Plateua remains to be one of Mexico's greatest treasures.

4.) Isla Mujeres

You will be excited to know that the Caribbean Sea is actually a nearby neighbor of Mexico. Isla Mujeres is one of those beautiful islands whose beauty is partly thanks to the Caribbean seas. Aside from a perfect place to sunbathe, Isla Mujeres was also actually part of the Mayan civilization.

5.) Internationally recognized beaches

Beaches are aplenty in Mexico. You will definitely want to visit at least one of the Mexican beaches - prided by the Mexicans for its pristine waters and precious sand. These beaches are good places for you to hang out, sunbathe or swim in.

6.) Bull fighting

The Mexicans have this rich cultural heritage that has been remarkably well preserved. Until now, traditional practices such as the bull fighting are still being exercised. You will do well to witness at least one of these cultural events.

7.) Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos

Mexicans love to celebrate, and one of their most cherished celebrations is the El Dia de los Muertos, a day meant to commemorate the people who have passed over. The celebration is marked with a festive mood. Colorful costumes, food and flowers mark this event.

8.) Nuestra Señora del Carmen

The cathedrals in Mexico are of high value, just as much as religion is a big part of a Mexican's life. Your visit to Nuestra Señora del Carmen will grant you witness to the "Doorway of the Archangels." This is a world-famous altarpiece that is alluded to as the doorway of the angels.

9.) Maya City of Tulum

Marvel at the beauty and glory of Mayan civilization through the ruins of their city. You can find this in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Aside from ancient and well-preserved structures, the Maya City of Tulum is also where you can find preserved objects and tools used by the ancient people of Maya.

10.) Pyramids of Teotihuacan

A few minutes drive away from Mexico City will bring you to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, one of the ancient ruins of early Aztec civilization in the place. In here are some of the largest buildings and pyramids built by the ancient Aztec people. Some of the most noteworthy parts of Teotihuacan, aside from the pyramids, include the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Moon.

By: Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.DestinationGuide.tv/Mexico to view or share Mexico travel videos.