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[spederhome]

I believe that most of the topics discussed in this forum are informative.

So, I think it is OK for me to post a serious question here.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary and see my family for the first time in 7 years, my family has decided to travel from South Korea to the USA. We decided to stop in as many places as we could. One of which is Mexico City. We will travel with our 6 year-old son.

We will be in Mexico City from June 27th to June 30, a short trip.

However, while there, I will also celebrate my 37th B-day (6/29).

At any rate, I have a few questions I am sure you will answer sincerely.

1) Where should we stay? We are looking for a "native" like experience and not something too much like a typical tourist. I've been offered this at Casa Gonzalez: $695.50 pesos per night.

2) Where should I celebrate my birthday? I'll be 37 and have left my "hard-partying" days behind me. But, I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination.

3) Where are good places for us to eat?

4) Do you think a bull-fight would be too much like a tourist? I would really like to attend one. Would you help arrange tickets?

5) What is the weather like at the end of June?

6) Suggestions.

We are not wealthy and have really not been able to take a vacation in quite a while. So, please keep that in mind.

Thanks in advance for your information/opinion. I really appreciate it.

Scott

[Aabra]

I haven't really spent very much time at all in Mexico City so some of the others will be able to answer your other questions but as for suggestions go you can't miss Teotihuacan. (Extremely impressive Mayan ruins. The temples of the Sun and the Moon etc.) It's just north of Mexico City and well worth the visit. Yes, it's very touristy but that's no excuse to miss it.

[MikeySaid]

[Guy Courchesne]

Mmmmmmexico City for an anniversary! Have to admit, I'm surprised...most would head to the beach. But, you won't be disappointed...

[Aabra]

[samizinha]

I went to Cafe de Tacuba for my bday this year... mariachis, traditional food, reasonable prices, and set in an ex-convent downtown, with old murals on the walls... a family sort of place. I would highly recommend it! I've been told that every Mexican president has eaten there as well.

[MikeySaid]

[Aabra]

Hrmmm.... from wikipedia:

[thelmadatter]

You got the same birthday as me... Im just slightly older.

May I suggest Garibaldi, in the daytime. (At night it can be a little ahem, dangerous). Mariachis and little restaurants that serve the best birria Ive had here in Mexico so far.

[MamaOaxaca]

There is an awesome "kids" museum in Chapultepec park called El Papolote with loads of great interactive exhibits, though not all with a Mexico theme. The Museum of Anthropology is also great, but don't try to see it all, especially not with a 6-year-old. Go straight to the Oaxaca room!
Or maybe the Aztecs, there are some must see stuff there if you are into that sort of thing. An alternative is the Museo de Plaza Mayor just of the Zocalo, it's also a very good museum, but there are ruins on site as an added plus, so you can see the stuff in context. I can't remember if there is any explaination in English...
In addition to Cafe Tacuba, which I also recommend as a place to eat, have breakfast at the Sanbourne's that is located in the Casa de los Azulejos. That building is beautiful and has major good vibes, that not even Carlos Slim can knock out of it. I haven't looked a the calendar to see what days your dates fall on, but if you can wing it money wise, I suggest you see the Ballet Folkorico at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, I think your six-year-old and you will like it, its full of colors and swirling skirts and sounds. But I love folk dancing myself. That might be an alternative to a bull fight, which is really more of a Spanish heritage thing than something really "Mexican".
If you want to go on a day trip outside of Mexico City, I would suggest Taxco, Guerrero, especially if you can go on Saturday for the Silver Market, or if your family enjoys hiking, Tepoztlan, Morelos.
Enjoy!

[Phil_K]

[M@tt]

i also think cafe tacuba, while interesting, is nothing special in the food department.

i second garibaldi, on a friday or saturday evening. maybe my favorite spot in the city.

the zocalo itself is not very interesting. it's a giant asphalt field. there are a few interesting buildings though: the cathedral, and the gardens in the palacio nacional (close at 5, i think).

teotihuacan
maybe coyoacan
the metro
a ride in a combi, maybe down reforma...
a million little restaurants.

i think it's impossible to make better recommendations without knowing the OP. there are so many different places that might appeal to different people. the city is pretty endless, although giant swaths of it are essentially the same and should be skipped entirely.

i miss just getting on the metro, riding somewhere, and walking around side streets, looking at buildings and people, etc.

[eclectic]

Well, I would suggest doing whatever you would normally do in ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH. How does one choose a hotel, a restaurant, a club, an entertainment? One normally chooses based on how said items appeal to one, no?

I've never been to Korea, but I would just walk around and look, and when it got dangerous or threatening, if ever it did, I would turn down another calle. Make sense? There's really no formula. Just common sense.

If you want to avoid tourists and touristy areas, look around. If you see Yankees with Mets shirts, or even Mets with Yankee shirts, you're in the wrong place.

[M@tt]

there is nothing outrageously touristy in mexico city. if by touristy you mean foreigners in hawaiian shirts with fanny packs. (sorry to anyone from the UK, i can't remember what you call them). nothing along the lines of Disney World, or the beach towns. so, go see whatever you want. most of the tourists in mexico city are mexicans.

there are certain very popular tourist areas that border "dangerous" zones, so i wouldn't rely entirely on my own intuition. everything north and east of the blue line is considered dangerous. i've walked around some of those areas in the daytime and nothing happened to me, but i still wouldn't recommend a tourist who is unfamiliar with the city and maybe doesn't speak spanish to go explore the barrios north or east of the zocalo. you know, you could wander around those streets for days and have nothing happen, or you could spend 5 minutes there and get stabbed. there are plenty of gems and interesting things to see without heading into problematic zones of the city.

[MamaOaxaca]