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Museo Interactivo de Xalapa
In the city’s less intriguing suburbs, this new jack-of-all-trades museum works wonders on rainy days with hyperactive kids. There are six themed rooms (science, ecology, art etc), a planetarium and an IMAX cinema. The latter two cost extra.
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Playa Ballenas
A long, quiet stretch of beach squeezed between luxury hotels. Wave runners (M$70, 30 minutes), bodyboards and parasailing (M$700, 12 minutes) available. Free parking. Access from the dirt road on the south side of Golden Parnassus hotel.
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Jardín de la Unión
Pretty Jardín de la Unión, surrounded by restaurants and shaded by Indian laurel trees, is the social heart of the city. Here, tourists and well-to-do locals congregate in the late afternoon, along with buskers, shoe shiners and mariachis.
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Chupaderos
The unfazed residents of Chupaderos have moved right into this former film set. Big-screen-ready cowboys still ride past the village saloon here, but they aren’t actors. Big guns battle it out on Saturdays and Sundays (2:30pm and 4:30pm).
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Capilla Abierta
Just below the monastery, beside the 19th-century Plaza de Toros (bullring), is this capilla abierta (open chapel) with three unique Moorish-style arches. One of the entrances is locked, but you can access the capilla from other entry points.
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Museo Arqueológico de Comitán
This museum, just east of the plaza, displays artifacts from the area’s many archaeological sites (Spanish interpretation only). There are misshapen pre-Hispanic skulls on display – deliberately ‘beautified’ by squeezing infants’ heads between boards.
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Museo Deocundo Acopa Lezama
Zoh-Lagunas interesting history is illustrated photographically in the small Zoh-Laguna Museum, situated on the same block as Cabañas El Viajero; look for the lime-green building. Conveniently enough, its also a pizzeria with internet service.
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Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
The modern Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán was established in the 19th century by Governor Felipe Carrillo Puerto and General Manuel Cepeda Peraza. Inside youll find the university cultural center, which stages dance, music and theater performances.
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Museo Huichol
The Museo Huichol has a worthwhile display of artifacts from the Huichol people, an indigenous group known for their peyote rituals and bright-colored yarn art. Its just to the right of the Basílica de Zapopan (but inside the basilica grounds).
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Museo Mirador El Fuerte
This curiously designed museum, built to look like the towns original fort, has a moderate collection of exhibits including ceramics, Mayo handicrafts and information about the Bosque Secreto. There are some splendid views over the river from here.
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Museo Nacional Francisco Villa e Durango
The second museum to mark Durangos 450th anniversary deals with that uniquely Mexican hero-rascal, Pancho Villa, and features engaging modern displays and films about the life of the man. Its located in the impressive Palacio de Zambrano building.
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Parque Zoológico del Centenario
The large, verdant Parque Centenario, bordered by Avenida Itzáes, features lions, bears, an aviary, a playground and bumper boats. About 12 blocks west of the main square, to get here take a R-2 Herradura bus from the corner of Calles 64 and 65.
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Horsetail Falls
Six kilometers uphill from El Cercado, a village 35km south of Monterrey on Hwy 85, you’ll find lovely and aptly named Horsetail Falls , which makes a wide, thin, 25m drop. It’s most beautiful in August and September, but water flows year-round.
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Templo Expiatorio
This Gothic temple, dating from 1897, dominates the neighborhood thanks to its enormous stone columns, 15m-high mosaic stained-glass windows and kaleidoscopic steeple. At 9am, noon and 6pm, a door in the clock tower opens and the 12 apostles march out.
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Museo de Cera
Most of the motley crew at this wax museum look mildly constipated, but it’s fun anyway. Obama is the newest addition, Madonna appears to have had open-heart surgery, Michael Jackson (RIP) looks creepy…and John Lennon, yep, appears appropriately stoned.
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Museo de Batopilas
Offers a good overview of the town’s history with a mock-up of a silver mine and some interesting photos and artifacts. English-speaking director Rafael will likely embellish proceedings with his own anecdotes. Tourist information is available here.
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Museo Regional de Historia de Tamaulipas
The Museo Regional de Historia de Tamaulipas , in a lovely yellow building formerly inhabited by nuns and the army, does a good job tracing the state’s history. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, stop by to see the large collection of Huastec figurines.
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Centro Ecológico de Sonora
This lush botanical garden and zoo features an excellent array of plants and wildlife from Sonora’s mountains, deserts and prairies, including the endangered, antelope-like Sonoran pronghorn (berrendo): North America’s fastest-moving land animal.
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Baños Termales de Ojocaliente
Despite the citys name, these charming if slightly shabby thermal baths are the only ones near the center. The restored 1808 architecture truly turns back the clock; the waters are said to help all sorts of ailments. Take bus 23 or 25 from Mateos.
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Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto
Dating from 1697, this was the first permanent mission in the Californias and was the base for the expansion of Jesuit missions up and down the Baja peninsula. Alongside the church, the Museo de las Misiones chronicles the settlement of Baja California.
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