Options for children in Guadalajara are good and there is some good walking and hiking in and around town. The top attractions in Guadalajara for children are the Selva Magica amusement park and Guadalajara Zoo, while hikers should head for the Barranca de Oblatos gorge. There is also a fine park in town as well as bullfighting and rodeo rings.

Barranca de Oblatos
The Barranca de Oblatos is a stunning forested gorge not far from Guadalajara. It was formed by the Rio Lerma-Santiago and comes with fine walking and hiking. Those who simply want to marvel at it can do so from the Parque Mirador, at the northern end of Calz Independencia, as well as from Guadalajara Zoo, East of Calz Independencia. For hiking, the former is the best launch point.

Bullfighting and Rodeos
If you are in Guadalajara over the wintertime—October to March—then you will be able to catch a bullfight as this is bullfighting season. They are held on Sundays and during the popular October fiestas. Head for the rodeo ring behind Parque Agua Azul on a Sunday to take in a rodeo (charreada).

Guadalajara Zoo (Zoologico)
Guadalajara Zoo is great to take the kids to, with its good collection of animals and its many side attractions. Highlights of the zoo are the reptile house, the nocturnal exhibit, a tropical forest, and a huge collection of birds. There is also a safari ride and fine views over the spectacular Barranca de Oblatos. 
Phone: +52 33 3674 4488

Selva Magica
Selva Magica is a children's amusement park next to the zoo on Paseo del Zoologico and is loaded with fun attractions. There are fast rides galore, including rollercoasters and a huge Ferris wheel, while fun shows including dolphin and seal performances are also highlights. Passport tickets allow access to all parts of the park. 
Phone: +52 33 3674 1418

Walking in Parque Agua Azul
Located on Calz Independencia Sur in the south of the city centre, this huge park offers the perfect respite from the bustle of the city and comes with some well done walking paths and numerous seating areas. Highlights of the park are an orchid house, an aviary, a butterfly house, and a children's playground. 
Phone: +52 33 3619 0328

Cultural activities in Guadalajara range from taking in the town’s myriad museums and monuments to seeing the theatre and tasting some locally made tequila at the Tequila Factory. If you only get time to see one museum, make sure it is the Museo de la Ciudad to learn more about Guadalajara. The Expiatory Temple is one of the town’s most interesting landmarks.

City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad)
Guadalajara's Museo de la Ciudad resides in a former convent and covers the city’s past well. The museum features eight rooms and you need to start with the one of the right to follow-on chronologically from the founding of Guadalajara to today. There are some intriguing artefacts in the museum including Spanish armaments along with an obvious love for horses. Unfortunately, all displays are in Spanish. 
Phone: +52 33 3658 2531

Degollado Theatre (Teatro Degollado)
The Degollado Theatre is impressive enough in its own right, even without taking in a performance. On the outside is a neoclassical facade, which, although it has been renovated several times, dates back over 150 years. The theatre’s columns were built to depict Apollo and the Nine Muses. The décor is opulent with red velvet, gold, and fantastic murals. 
Phone: +52 33 3614 4773

Expiatory Temple (Templo Expiatorio)
The 19th-century Expiatory Temple is one of Guadalajara’s most interesting landmarks, with its distinctive Gothic look and feel and its huge lofty towers. The structure was decades in the making and also features a mechanical clock complete with parading Apostles. The interior boasts a collection of striking stained glass windows.

Pantaleon Panduro Museum (Museo Pantaleon Panduro)
Pantaleon Panduro was the main man in modern ceramics in the Jalisco region and the museum dedicated to him displays some of Mexico’s finest and most diverse collections of ceramics. You can see some of the prize-winning pieces that feature in the Panduro Museum’s yearly ceramics competition. Book an English-speaking guide to better discern the place if you don’t do Spanish. 
Phone: +52 33 3639 5656

Tequila Factory (Tequila Sauza) and Tequila tours
Tequila is made from the blue tropical agave plant and has helped put Guadalajara, and especially the nearby town of Tequila, on the map. The Tequila Factory is located in Guadalajara itself and a tour of the facility is the ideal way to learn more about the national drink. You could also go on a distillery tour where you get to see an agave farm and distillery as well as do some tasting.

Guadalajara is not like other touristy climes in Mexico where American fast food and international dining is all about. It has that authentic Mexican spirit and dining aspirations to go with it, yet you won’t find the best eating in the centre. Many restaurants mainly serve traditional 'mestizo' food, combining Mexican and Spanish cuisines, and one Guadalajara speciality to look out for is pozole.

Downtown Guadalajara and the historic city centre have a pretty decent collection of restaurants in the tourist sense, although suburban Guadalajara has the best eateries. Be sure to check out Storico and Avenida la Paz, the latter of which has that endearing colonial character. Avenida Mexico and the Avenida Vallarta are also good for eating as well as for nightlife, while large hotels are also an option.

The shopping in Guadalajara mainly focuses on locally and nationally produced handicrafts, which make perfect souvenirs and ornaments. There are shopping centres galore where the cover and air-conditioning make a welcome relief from the late spring heat and summer rains. Do your shopping in the morning or late afternoon if you prefer it less busy.

Central Guadalajara is the place to head for just about everything. Street vendors line the pavements in all parts of the city centre. Casa de las Artesanias de Jalisco near Parque Agua Azul is the best bet for handicrafts, while the suburbs of Tonala and Tlaquepaque also have interesting shopping options.