| Chances are, your little ones won't
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| | circles the perimeter.In addition to
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| appreciate the Toltec influence on the
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| | animals, the zoo has several playgrounds,
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| Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza, nor will
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| | an area for rollerblading and toy vendors
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| they delight in the architectural beauty
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| | galore. Entrance to the park is free, but
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| of Merida's colonial buildings - but that
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| | some of the activities like pony rides,
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| doesn't mean the city has nothing to
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| | bumper boats and go-carts charge a few
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| offer them.First of all, though they
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| | pesos per person. You can treat yourself
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| might complain about the heat and their
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| | to traditional carnival fare like
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| lack of interest in a pile of rocks,
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| | corndogs, popcorn and cotton candy, or
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| don't miss the chance to watch their
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| | enjoy Mexican treats like chicharrones,
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| faces light up when they see the Castillo
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| | tacos and panuchos. And on a hot day, all
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| at Chichen Itza in real life. Climbing
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| | those beautiful trees provide shade for
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| the main attraction, checking out a real
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| | the animals and for you and the
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| Mayan hut, and seeing the cenote where
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| | kids.Close to the Hyatt and Fiesta
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| human sacrifices may have been made once
| |
| | Americana Hotels, Salvador Alvarado
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| are sure to interest most children. Some
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| | Stadium and Park features an
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| kids may find the huge machine on display
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| | Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis,
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| by the bathrooms interesting when they
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| | volleyball and basketball courts, a
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| learn it was used to dredge the cenote
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| | softball diamond and two soccer fields,
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| and take out the treasures found at the
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| | in addition to facilities for weight
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| bottom.And while the majority of kids may
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| | lifting, boxing, aerobics, gymnastics and
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| not appreciate the excellent museum and
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| | dance. As part of the Yucatan State
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| the peaceful ruins as much as you will,
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| | Sports Institute, this 65-year-old
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| most kids cannot resist the cenote at
| |
| | establishment has served as both a
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| Dzabilchaltun. Bring some snorkel gear
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| | training grounds for local athletes and a
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| and let them see the little freshwater
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| | recreational center for the public.The
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| fish that live there. But please watch
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| | center is located on Calle 62 in the
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| them and don't take children who can't
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| | Buena Vista neighborhood and is open
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| swim. The cenote is shallow on one end,
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| | daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with peak
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| but very deep on the other. Be sure to
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| | hours between 3 and 8 p.m. when local
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| bring your own towels, sunscreen and
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| | sports teams come to practice. While
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| water to drink as well.Part of the
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| | there is no official charge to use the
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| educational value of travel is being able
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| | facilities, they do ask that patrons make
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| to see how people live differently around
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| | an occasional donation - in whatever
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| the world. If you can, drive from Chichen
| |
| | amount possible - to put toward
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| Itza to Merida on the "free" or "libre"
| |
| | maintenance costs, and use of the pool is
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| road, you'll have a chance to drive
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| | $12 pesos per visit. Month-long courses
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| through and stop in some small Mayan
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| | in various sports, even including salsa
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| towns or pueblitos (pweh-BLEE-toes).
| |
| | dancing, are offered to the public,
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| Children will learn a lot from seeing how
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| | meeting once a week for around $150
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| children their own age live and play in
| |
| | pesos.Never underestimate the pleasure of
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| the Yucatan. Stop in one of the towns for
| |
| | a swimming pool to children. If your
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| an ice cream or helado (ay-LA-doh) and
| |
| | hotel has a pool, and most do, why not
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| take that chance to interact with the
| |
| | take a day to enjoy yourselves poolside
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| local people at the store. You'll all
| |
| | and really concentrate on what vacations
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| learn something!Once you are back in
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| | are all about: being together with
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| Merida, the Centennario Zoo, located near
| |
| | family. And if your hotel doesn't have a
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| the southern edge of downtown, is a
| |
| | pool, then spend a day at the beach in
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| wonderland of fun activities for parents
| |
| | Progreso or one of the surrounding towns.
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| and children alike. This huge park is
| |
| | Your kids can have fun picking up shells,
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| home to hundreds of exotic animals
| |
| | swimming in the shallow water or maybe
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| including giraffes, lions, bears,
| |
| | even renting a boogie board or
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| chimpanzees, crocodiles, hippos, tigers,
| |
| | waverunner. The beach at Progreso is
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| turtles and snakes. Each animal pen has
| |
| | shallow and the waves are seldom more
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| its own placard in Spanish and Maya with
| |
| | than a foot at best. You can have fresh
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| facts about the creature's environment,
| |
| | guacamole with chips and a cold beer
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| diet and lifestyle. Patrons are also
| |
| | right on the beach while you watch your
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| welcome to meander through the zoo's huge
| |
| | kids play. What could be better?After
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| aviary, a tropical garden filled with
| |
| | you've enjoyed these activities, there
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| parrots, peacocks and other beautiful
| |
| | are still several tried and true methods
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| birds. You can stroll through the park on
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| | of entertaining kids.
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| foot or catch a ride on the train that
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| |
|
