There is something for everyone in Merida, Mexico. Now, how many times have you heard that hard-sell when researching vacation spots?
But it's true. The capital city of the Yucatan state has just about everything for any kind of tourist - architectural beauty, archeological and historic wonders, shopping, gastronomical pleaures and the beach.
There's much more to see, but here are five "must-do" things to hit in Merida.
1) Cathedral of San Ildefonso. 'Imposing' is an understatement. The cathedral is the second oldest in the New World, begun in 1561 and completed in 1598. It was constructed over the top of Mayan ruins and some of the stone from an ancient Mayan temple was used to build the church. In fact, Mayan carvings can still be seen etched into the stone at various places in the cathedral.
Behind the altar is a 25-foot tall crucifix made of birch wood known as the Cristo de la Unidad (Christ of Unity), which is supposed to represent the reconciliation of the indigenous Mayan people and the Spanish settlers who first colonized the area.
BONUS: Literally one block from the Cathedral of San Ildefonso is the Church of the Third Order of Jesus, built in 1618 by the Jesuits. Mexico is very, very Catholic and the churches, especially in Merida, are magnificent.
2) Paseo de Montejo. Think Rodeo Drive, Fifth Avenue, the Champs Elysee and the Magnificent Mile all rolled into one.
The Paseo de Montejo is Merida's main drag. It was formerly a residential area for the city's elite families who lived in elaborate mansions, many of which remain but have been turned into restaurants and shops.
You can walk the street or take a tour via horse-drawn carriage if you're into a sense of romance and history. Obviously, taxis are all over the place to take your spoils back to the hotel room.
But the Paseo de Montejo is more than just shopping and food. Merida's Monumento a la Bandera (Flag Monument) and Museo Regional de Antropologia (Regional Anthropology Museum) are both located here as well, giving you a chance to soak in culture and history as well.
3) Progreso Beach. Look, we've said it before that the one drawback of Merida is that the hotel infrastructure is located in the heart of the city, closer to culture and shopping and restaurants and museums. There is little by way of lodging at Progreso Beach, and it's a 30-minute, 18-mile ride from the center of Merida.
But it is so worth the trip. It's absolutely gorgeous. Progreso Beach has emerald green waters, the requisite beach-side cafes and shops, a boardwalk running parallel to the ocean and its famous four-mile long pier jutting out into the ocean.
If you're willing to pack up for the day - remember, this isn't Cancun where you can walk out of your hotel room door with a room keycard, a towel, some sunscreen and some pesos - you won't be disappointed. There are numerous places to eat, lots of handcrafted tsotchkes and enough sand and sun and heat.
4) Peon Contreras Theater. While here, pray that the Theater has an attraction, or that the in-residence Yucatan Symphony Orchestra is holding a performance. To see the ornate theater is one thing; to experience it is another.
As with many mansions and other structures in Merida, there is a distinctive European influence in its architecture - the frescoes and marble staircase give it away. Built in 1908, the Peon Contreras Theater is named after noted poet Jose Peon Contreras, who died a year before it opened.
You won't miss this, by the way - the theater's lobby is home to the Tourist Information Center.
5) Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Frankly, although Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can't see one and not the other. Both are spectacular and awe-inspiring in every sense of the words.
Uxmal is about an hour from Merida and an extraordinarily important part of the Mayan culture. The important ancient architecture includes the Palace of the Governor, the Temple of the Magician and the House of the Turtles.
Chichen Itza is about 90 minutes, give or take, from Merida and as of 2007 the town now boasts one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - El Castillo.
El Castillo is the main pyramid among the many in Chichen Itza. At around 810-to-1,000 years old, it is not the oldest pyramid among the ruins, but it served as a temple to the god Kululkan and stands 98 feet tall and 118 feet wide, impressive by any standard.
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