Mexico is a big country with a lot to offer. You can't take it all in on one trip. Here are some suggested itineraries that focus on particular areas. You can travel each in approximately seven to ten days, or you can shorten or combine them according to your needs.

Mexico City Solo

Take the time and concentrate your trip on Mexico City. Explore its historic area, visit its museums, especially the Museum of Anthropology, and take in the Ballet Folklorico. Take a day tour to the ruins at Teotihuácan.

Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey

If you like exploring cities, then you'll love visiting Mexico's three largest. There's plenty for your family to do in each. Begin in Mexico City, taking in its historic district and a museum or two, then it's off to Guadalajara to explore the huge downtown plaza and pedestrian mall. While you're there, browse through the Libertad Market. Last stop on this tour is Monterrey, a city with lots of things to do — rock-climbing north of the city, visiting Fundidora Park on the site of a former steel mill, or exploring Barrio Antiguo in the old part of the city.

Copper Canyon — Los Mochis to Chihuahua

To see one of the natural and man-made wonders of the Western Hemisphere, you can ride the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway through Copper Canyon country in northern Mexico. It's been called the world's most scenic train ride. You'll ride through the Sierra Tarahumara, home of the Tarahumara Indians, traversing thirty-nine bridges and passing through eighty-six tunnels. The trip from either Los Mochis to Chihuahua takes approximately thirteen hours, with a stop about halfway at Divisadero so that you can get off the train briefly and take in the view.

Beach and City Combo

If your family likes the beach but also likes to delve into the history and culture of a place, why not split a week between the beach and Mexico City? Convenient flights make it possible to combine a stay in Mexico's capital with a stay in either Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Mazatlán, Los Cabos, Acapulco, or Cancún.

Colonial Cities — Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Located in Mexico's rich Bajio region north of Mexico City, these three colonial cities are rich in history. In Querétaro, visit the State Regional Museum, housed in a former convent, to get a glimpse of what life was like in the sixteenthth century and browse through jewelry shops showcasing locally mined opals. Next stop is San Miguel de Allende, home to a large U.S. expatriate population. This town bubbles over with charm. Why not take a Spanish or art course at the Intituto Allende while you're there? Your final stop is Guanajuato, a city built on the riches of silver mines, and a political hotbed during Mexico's fight for independence from Spain. Be sure to see a performance in the Teatro Juárez, a beautiful theater from the Belle Epoque era.