There are some natty theme parks in Monterrey that kids will find lots of fun, including the Sesame Street Amusement Park and the Magic Forest, which both have rollercoasters and games. There is also a fantastic park up in the mountains, complete with playground and hiking trails, and brilliant hands-on museums in town.
Alpha Arts Museum and Planetarium
The Centro Cultural Alfa Museo y Planetario is one big cultural attraction and good for inquisitive kids and parents. A futuristic facade and fountains harbour a slew of floors with all types of fun exhibits, representing everything from space and the sciences to computers and antiques. There are interactive exhibits here as well as an Omnimax cinema, a planetarium and the Museum of Science, Art and Technology.
Phone: +52 81 8338 0002
Chipinque Ecological Park
Monterrey has several chunky mountains in its midst and the Chipinque Ecological Park occupies one of them. It is the best place in the city to take kids owing to its picnic facilities and playground. In addition, the views are superb as is the hiking and mountain biking, while a mountain lodge can accommodate families and has its own restaurant.
Phone: +52 81 8303 0000; http://www.chipinque.org.mx/webchipinquenvo/index.html
La Casa de los Titeres
This fun puppet museum in the old town (Barrio Antiguo) features a large collection of old and new puppets from around the world and is a real boon for those with kids, especially on a rainy day. Included in the vast collection are Vietnamese water puppets and European marionettes (stringed puppets). Be sure to visit on a Sunday at 16:00 for the puppet show.
Phone: +52 81 8343 0604
Magic Forest (Bosque Magico)
Located in Pastora Park (Parque La Pastora), just outside the heart of Monterrey near the zoo, the Magic Forest theme park is also a fun place to take kids to. It has 30 or so rides, including a rip-roaring rollercoaster, as well as lots of fun side stalls and shows and several gift shops. Cafés and restaurants are also onsite.
Phone: +52 81 8367 4622
Matacanes
The nearby Matacanes is perfect for the outdoorsy type visiting Monterrey, with its gushing whitewater river, thundering waterfalls and miles of hiking trails. The whole area is beautiful and even otherworldly in places. The cool pools are a welcome relief during the boiling hot summers in this region of Mexico.
Sesame Street Amusement Park (Parque Plaza Sesamo)
The Monterrey Sesame Street Amusement Park has all the main characters from Sesame Street, including Big Bird and Cookie Monster, as well as a host of fun rides. The park appeals to kids of all ages and comes with white-knuckle rollercoasters and more sedate rides for the little ones. There is also a water park onsite.
Phone: +52 81 8354 0390
Cultural activities and historic sights are aplenty in Monterrey and range from interesting historical museums to rated art galleries and stand-out monuments. To get a good view of town and learn about the bishopric here, check out the Cerro del Obispado, or perhaps the Museum of Mexican History for some local insight. The Cuauhtemoc Brewery and Heroes Promenade are also popular.
Bishopric Hill (Cerro del Obispado)
One of Monterrey’s most significant historic sites, Cerro del Obispado was originally the home of the Bishop de Monterrey and features a small, yet interesting regional history museum. A huge flag of Mexico stands outside the complex while views from here of the city are outstanding. The area is also a popular recreational haunt.
Cannery Row
Apart from the old quarter of Barrio Antiguo and Zona Rosa street, the best people watching in Monterrey can be had along Cannery Row, Monterey’s waterfront street. It is a trendy area of cafés and hotels and is a far cry from its days of hosting fish factories. Cannery Row is also home to numerous sea lions at the sanctuary.
Contemporary Art Museum (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo)
The Contemporary Art Museum can be found in the old quarter on the corner of Zaragoza Plaza and has well thought out exhibitions. The most interesting involve the clever use of water and light. Soriano's huge black dove is one of the highlights. Check out the Sala México for local works and book ahead for English tours.
Phone: +52 81 8342 4820; http://www.marco.org.mx/index_eng.htm
Cuauhtemoc Brewery (Cervecería Cuauhtemoc)
Established in 1890, Mexico’s oldest brewery is a popular Monterrey tourist attraction for those interested in learning about the makers of the likes of Bohemia, Tecate, and Dos Equis beers. Visitors get to taste free beer as well as tour the delightful onsite grounds, complete with pleasant garden. There is also a museum on Mexican baseball onsite.
Phone: +52 81 8328 5355
Heroes Promenade (Explanada de los Héroes)
Located in Gran Plaza, the Explanada de los Heroes is one of the main architectural highlights of Monterrey. It is well decked out and features the early 1900s neoclassical Palacio de Gobierno to the north and statues of Mexico’s various heroes in every corner. This formal space in town is both Spartan and grand at the same time.
Museum of Mexican History (Museo de Historia Mexicana)
Located in the Gran Plaza Area, the Museo de Historia Mexicana takes a good delve into Mexican history, yet is easy to get through for the average history buff. The museum is pretty unique and covers all the main events well and even includes an Earth section with mounted animals. Unfortunately all displays are in Spanish although you can arrange for an English guide.
Phone: +52 81 8345 9898
Monterrey has a pretty good dining scene, which ranges from Mexican fast-food places to authentic Northern Mexican cuisine in traditional restaurants and a slew of international eateries. Those with a love of hot and spicy food will particularly enjoy Monterrey’s restaurants, and the Barrio Antiguo has the best dining in town.
The popular entertainment area of Zona Rosa of Barrio Antiguo is the busiest area for eating, and although somewhat awash with fast food joints, its also has some excellent international restaurants. For cheap tacos, head for the bus station. There are also a few breweries in town that do beer and food, namely the Sierra Madre Brewing Company, with its freshly brewed beer and brick-oven pizzas.
Monterrey has a string of upmarket shopping malls that feature international designer boutiques as well as souvenir markets. The top malls in town are fully air-conditioned and have all types of stores and eateries. The Galerias Monterrey and Plaza Fiesta San Agustin are two of the most popular in town, having the likes of Sears and JC Penny department store chains.
The pedestrian-friendly Zona Rosa street (Morelos) in the town centre is most popular with tourists owing its bustling atmosphere and craft shops. There are arcades and street vendors galore here as well as musicians and other crowd pleasers. Just out of town near Santiago is the popular shopping street of Carretera Nacional, with its open-air shops and marketplaces.
