Monterrey

Dear Monterrey, you have always been so good to us! the people are always so welcoming, your food is sooo delish (#tacosforlife), and your views are stunning (when there is not smog or fog ) but your drivers are so...freaking..wild!! lol

We spent 10 days in Monterrey; however, this was more of a family oriented visit more than a tourist one so we did skip a few tourist attractions.

If you like to see the sunrise or sunsets then head off to el Mirador del Obispado, this is the place where you can get amazing 360 degree views of the city. The Obispado used to be a Bishop's palace that nowadays is a museum, it is also one of the oldest buildings in the city. From here walk up to the mirador, this is by far one of the best attractions because you can get great views of El Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Hill) another icon of Monterrey.

This used to be a steel mill years ago, now it is a recreational park with entertainment centers such as museums, a cultural movie theater, and more. You can rent bikes for $30 pesos an hour, we commend doing this instead of walking at it gives you an opportunity to see more in less time. You can also go up the old melting plant for views of the city, we did not do this as there was a pretty big school field trip at the time and since we were in the back of the line we opted out.

The plaza is in the heart of the city, in here you can see some government buildings and monuments, as well as very good small restaurants with comfort food, you can’t forget the street tacos of course!

If you want to go shopping other than at a mall then head over to Calle Morelos in downtown. This is a well known avenue among locals for good and cheap shoes, clothes, etc.

Time spent: 2hrs to full day

Location: Santiago, Nuevo Leon. About 1hr away from the city by car

This is one of the top day trips from Monterrey. Really you just cannot say you visited Monterrey without visiting this natural monument.

Entrance is $40 pesos per person, once inside the park you will need to walk about 10-15mins to the waterfall. Along the way you will find souvenir and food/drink vendors (we recommend getting a Vampiro- it is a drink made with tequila, a mix of Viudade Sanchez, Grapefruit soda, and lime)- its pretty good, and what is better, a liter will cost around $80 pesos, roughly $5 bucks! Other than seeing the waterfall, you can also do activities such as ziplining, photoshoots with snakes and parrots, bungee jumping and horse riding. The park also has a designated area for picnics which get pretty crowded with locals on the weekends.

Time spent: 3hrs to full day

Location: San Pedro Garza Garcia about 30mins from Monterrey

If you like to hike then this is a must. There are 4 levels of difficulty, from easy to expert. We went up to level 3 and boy were we out of breath, but if you come this high then you will be rewarded with amazing views of the city. (ok maybe a bit polluted views but still pretty nice lol). Also at this level you will find picnic areas, a kid's playground, and a small concession store.

Other Day trips include: la Huasteca which is a bit like Chipinque, Grutas de Garcia (caves), and if you are adventurous then we recommend going to Matacanes where you will hike, rappel, and swim through canyons.

Other places to consider visiting:

Planetario Alfa (Planetarium)

Barrio Antiguo: Historical quarter known for its many local bars, restaurants, and spanish colonial houses.

Mercado Juarez:  Here you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, house items, and really good 'homemade' food.

Museo de Historia Mexicana (Mexican culture museum)