Why You Should Ignore All the Urban Legends high line rental cars los angeles Take The Kids to Mexico | BootsnAll Travel Articles Home Articles Why You Should Ignore All the Urban Legends Take The Kids to Mexico Why You Should Ignore All the Urban Legends Take The Kids to Mexico By Rachel Denning | April 2nd, 2012 | Comments (10) Do you Like BootsnAll? Get daily travel inspiration Feature Article Like this article? high line rental cars los angeles Please share!
Preparing to cross the U.S./Mexican border along a road trip our family of seven was taking from Alaska to Argentina (in a veggie powered truck), the comments and concern for our safety didn t come as a surprise. high line rental cars los angeles We knew what the media was saying, and what was common knowledge on the current state of affairs south of the border.
We didn t know what it was really like in Mexico. We had driven the entire Pacific Coast before, on our first road trip from the U.S. to Costa Rica (when our kids were 4, 3, 2 and 2 mos). But that was in 2007. Had things really changed that much?
We suspected that most of it was media hype, but we were also a little curious. Was Mexico more dangerous now than before? Were average citizens high line rental cars los angeles living in fear? BootsnAll is your source for the best indie travel tips and inspiration. Are you indie? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and you won't miss a thing! Follow @BootsnAll
Crossing the border once again in October 2011, for four months we traveled from the Arizona border through Chihuahua, Durango, to Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and most of the Yucatan Peninsula before high line rental cars los angeles crossing high line rental cars los angeles into Belize.
high line rental cars los angeles More than once, we laughed to ourselves about the danger in Mexico, as we sent our kids on errands to the local tiendas , walked through the centros at night as families gathered, or watched a sunset while camped in the countryside.
Yes, there are people being killed in Mexico. Yes, there is a drug war going on. Yes, regular precautions should be taken, just as you would if you were taking a trip to the United States for the first time. You probably wouldn t pick a known gang neighborhood in L.A. as the place you would spend your time.
The truth is that every country has a vast diversity of culture, climate, and other variables. Some parts of Africa get cold, even snow. India has immaculately clean locales. Much of Mexico is very, very safe.
This was our experience as we traveled through fields, mountains, high line rental cars los angeles farms, cities, and towns. The vast majority of it was completely, entirely, undeniably safe. So safe, that during our time there we never once felt threatened, frightened, or afraid high line rental cars los angeles in any way. 2. Tourists are being targeted and killed, even in the safe areas. Anyone could get caught high line rental cars los angeles in the crossfire, even your children.
Individuals who have been in known drug cartel territory, high line rental cars los angeles nightclubs and up to no good are the most common victims of these attacks. high line rental cars los angeles These violent episodes high line rental cars los angeles aren t usually happening mid-day in your average cities and towns.
We ve found the local villages and towns to be the safest and provide the most rewarding experiences. The local people live simply and honestly; there is very little crime, and almost no violent crime; and they re more down to earth, open, and genuinely interested in your welfare.
If you do go to Mexico with your kids, get out of the tourist areas, and have a safer, richer high line rental cars los angeles experience in real Mexico. 4. Mexico is just a poor, third world country. There s not much to see and do anyway, especially for kids.
I ve been to Mexico before. But after our last expedition, I ve developed a real love for the place. Mexico has a lot to offer. It s rich in history, culture, and custom. It has great infrastructure and modern conveniences. It s clean and refined. It also provides an abundant variety of landscapes, climates, peoples, languages, arts, traditions,and high line rental cars los angeles food.
From pine forests to tropical beaches; fresh water lagoons and sparkling rivers; booming metropolises and sleepy indigenous villages; adobe huts to towering skyscrapers; ancient ruins and high speed internet; handicrafts and fine art; tacos to tlayudas; high line rental cars los angeles snow capped peaks and humid rain-forests; Mexico has it all. And it has a lot to offer for kids.
Our family high line rental cars los angeles lived in India for 5 months in 2010. When we crossed into Mexico in 2011, my children said, Mexico s not anything like I thought it would be. I thought it would be dirty with cows wandering around, like India. It s not like that at all. It s more like Utah!
The largest lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala has several towns along her shores, which seem to have perfect weather year round. A lovely place to take the kids for boating, fishing, and raspberry picking.
An attractive city that makes you feel more like you re in Europe than Mexico, Morelia is a great place to visit for holidays. We were there for Dia de los Muertos and enjoyed their traditional gazpacho (finely chopped mango, pineapple, and jicama, topped with cheese and pepper sauce.)
The best part is that it was all so cheap. Subway rides are 3 pesos (~$0.25USD) each to anywhere in the city. And a world famous museum was free for kids 13 and under (adults were only 51 pesos -$4USD- each). You can t beat that!
Have you been to Mexico before? Were your impressions vastly different than your preconceived assumptions? Have you ever been to a country or city that was the opposite of how it s portrayed high line rental cars los angeles in the media? high line rental cars los angeles Comment below to share your thoughts.
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Photo Credits: All photos belong to the author high line rental cars los angeles and may not be used without permission. Get daily travel inspiration Feature Article Like this article? Please share! Tweet Do you like BootsnAll? Chiapas , family high line rental cars los angeles travel , Guadalajara , Mexico , Mexico City , Oaxaca , Rachel Denning , Travel with Kids Leave a Comment Jennifer Harvey said at 2012-04-02T15:02:11+0000: We go to border towns in Mexico all the time and have none of the media hyped bad experiences but I do know a man who says he was held up while bringing in a trailer of dental equipment and has a horrendous story to go with the claim. high line rental cars los angeles I ve traveled some in Mexico (with and without children) and Baja and look to act appropriately and visit appropriately. So far so good! I even take my pets and dogs of friends to the vet. The rules posted on the internet for border crossing are not enforced. Some borders seem to be stricter than others but aside from US customs taking their time and prolonging discussions to create long crossing lines, there s never a problem even going through secondary inspections. Rodolfo Ramirez Tirado said at 2012-04-02T18:36:36+0000: Thanks SOO much for sharing this great article! I was born and raised in Mexico City and now live in the US (Hartford, CT) for over 13 years...my heart and soul get hurt when I hear people talking bad things about my home country. I always tell people that NYC is not that different than Mexico City in ALL meanings...and that they should take precautions high line rental cars los angeles in both places...and as far as crime goes, Many parts of Florida are more dangerous than some parts in Mexico. Regardless, This article really highlights the beauty of Mexico...Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Davide Cirino said at 2012-04-02T23:53:46+0000: Thank you so much Rachel! My family is stressing out way more over my road trip through Mexico high line rental cars los angeles with my boyfriend than they did me traveling by myself through Africa and parts of the Middle East over the past two years. And all because of gross generalizations in the American media! Colleen Friesen said at 2012-04-03T06:36:27+0000: Great article. high line rental cars los angeles I just returned from a fabulous (and very safe!) trip to the Baja and the month before I spent some time in the gorgeous city of San Miguel de Allende. Unfortunately, the news loves to adhere to the motto of, If it bleeds, it leads! There is so much over-hyped high line rental cars los angeles hysteria about the crime. The majority of people are just making a living and trying to raise a family. Thanks high line rental cars los angeles for this great piece. I love Mexico! Leslie Jaremchuk replied at 2012-04-03T21:39:41+0000: Well me too, and I took a 4 year old and an 8 year old to Cabo and we had a great time and came back alive!! Nannette high line rental cars los angeles Enriquez said at 2012-04-03T17:10:05+0000: I think that little by little word is getting out that Mexico is a safe place so I say let s enjoy it before the Ugly American high line rental cars los angeles returns. They definitely are gone from Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada which is fine with me because of the excesive noise and alcohol consumption and abnoxious behavior. Carrie Cameron said at 2012-04-04T18:42:19+0000: so many reasons to love Mexico...that s why I moved here! DiscoverWithAndy said at 2012-04-10T14:55:08+0000: Went to Mexico last year and had a great time. There was no threat to our security at all. I think a lot of people don t realize that most parts of Mexico are still safer than most parts of the US. It all comes down to perception and what you re used to. Angelica Perez said at 2012-04-19T16:57:10+0000: Mexico has always been a kaleidoscope of experiences and one of the most beautiful places on earth, For the most part her people are noble and hard working. People behaving badly is not exclusive to Mexico and using your common sense does not stop when you cross a border. For too long Mexico has been viewed as the backyard playground of a kind of tourism that never really looks to learn and experience the true essence of her complicated existence.Instead it s been the spring break receptacle for people who want to party, do drugs and act like fools. I believe it s this group of folks who are the most freaked out about the situation in Mexico. They can t get their cheap thrills and don t care what is happening to the people but simply are upset that their week in Cancun is not available. Travelers like Ms. Denning and her family will help to shape a different perspective. This was a good article and I m
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