The truth? This trip wasn’t “perfect,” but it was everything we needed.
Ever have one of those vacations where nothing goes quite as planned but somehow ends up being exactly what your family needs? That was our spring break in Mexico City. With my teen daughter who’d rather be anywhere else, my energetic 5-year-old who demanded pool time daily, and a meticulously planned itinerary that quickly unraveled, this trip taught me more about embracing the journey than any “perfect” vacation ever could.
Being a veteran traveler with kids, I was prepared for the moping, eye-rolling, and resistance from my teen who didn’t want to try something new. I was ready for my 5-year-old’s disappointment about not swimming every day. What I wasn’t prepared for? Altitude sickness that knocked us all down, a taxi scam that nearly cost us over $2,400, and the surprisingly beautiful moments that emerged from our chaotic reality.
Our Mexico City Adventure: What We Planned vs. What Actually Happened
My type-A personality had crafted the perfect Mexico City itinerary: Chapultepec Park and Zoo on day two, Frida Kahlo Museum and Coyoacán explorations on day three, Anthropology Museum on day four, ancient pyramids and Lucha Libre on day five, and a guided food tour on our last full day.
Here’s what actually happened…
Related: Mexico City Family Travel: Why Rest First Saved Our Vacation
Wednesday: Welcome to CDMX (and Our First Lesson in Flexibility)
We kicked off our adventure at the Chapultepec Zoo, which was thankfully free and less crowded on a weekday. My youngest was happy to see all the animals, her eyes wide with wonder at each new discovery. Meanwhile, my teen surprised me by actually engaging with the exhibits — especially the reptiles — capturing photos and videos for her social media. Her biggest concern? How dangerously low some of the animal enclosure fences seemed. “Mommy! I swear that lion could just jump right out if it wanted to,” she exclaimed, half-terrified and half-thrilled by the possibility.
Our first real “welcome to Mexico City” moment came as we tried to leave the zoo. With zero cell service in the area, calling an Uber was impossible. So we reluctantly climbed into one of those pink and white taxis (“taxis rosas”) that looked innocent enough. Big mistake. As we navigated through traffic, I noticed my husband growing increasingly concerned, watching the meter climb at an alarming rate. When we finally asked to be let out near the Angel of Independence, the driver suddenly “couldn’t accept pesos” and insisted on a card payment. He then attempted to charge my husband’s AMEX $25,000 pesos — TWICE. That’s over $2,400 USD! Thank goodness for AMEX’s fraud detection. Once at the Angel, we finally found enough cell service to call an Uber back to our hotel for a much-needed shower and rest.
Despite this chaotic introduction to the city, we managed to regroup and make it to our dinner reservation at Entremar. Though the notorious Mexico City traffic made us fashionably late, the stunning view of Plaza Uruguay and the fresh seafood made us quickly forget our earlier misadventure. Nothing like a good meal to reset the day’s energy.
Thursday: Culture, Cotton Candy Cravings & The Beginning of Illness
Our visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum went surprisingly well. Even my teen was impressed by Frida’s colorful home and powerful story, lingering in the studio where the artist created her most iconic works. We grabbed coffee at El Jarocho (a local favorite) before our lunch reservation at Los Danzantes, where we enjoyed contemporary Mexican cuisine in Coyoacán’s vibrant atmosphere. The highlight? Convincing everyone to try the guacamole with chapulines (grasshoppers), a culinary adventure that ended with mixed reviews but plenty of laughter.
No trip to Mexico City is complete without something sweet, so we made a necessary detour to Churrería El Moro Coyoacán after lunch. My teen, who had been stoically enduring our “boring museum day,” suddenly transformed into an excited kid again at the sight of perfectly crisp churros dusted with cinnamon sugar. Amazing how fried dough can instantly improve a teenager’s mood.
Back at the hotel, my 5-year-old immediately started the “when can we swim?” campaign that had been running since we arrived. We compromised on a quick 30-minute pool session while my husband and oldest rested in the room. My husband was saying he wasn’t feeling well. What started as a slight headache had escalated to dizziness and nausea. The altitude sickness had found its first victim, and our carefully planned itinerary was about to get a serious reality check.
Friday: When Mexico City’s Altitude Wins the Day
Friday was supposed to be our Anthropology Museum day, but altitude sickness had other plans. It hit my husband first, then my 5-year-old, and finally me. We spent the entire day in the hotel room, taking turns in the bathroom and sipping electrolyte drinks. Not exactly the cultural immersion I had planned. The only one who wasn’t affected was my oldest daughter.
We managed to rally enough strength for our dinner reservation at Huset, which thankfully offered outdoor seating in their beautiful garden. The fresh air helped, and the farm-to-table cuisine was exactly what we needed after a day of feeling terrible. Believe it or not, my oldest only ate bread and had a Coke; she pouted the entire meal.
Saturday: Finding Our Rhythm (Finally)
By Saturday, we were beginning to adjust to the altitude. We made it to the Anthropology Museum in the afternoon, though we only had enough energy to explore one room: the Mexica exhibit. But what a room it was! The Aztec Calendar Stone alone was worth the visit.
For lunch, we returned to Ling Ling, which had become my husband and teen’s favorite restaurant. With its stunning city views and excellent food, I couldn’t blame them for wanting a repeat visit. My 5-year-old even stayed awake this time!
The highlight of our day was Lucha Libre at Arena México. There’s something universally entertaining about watching masked wrestlers dramatically fling themselves around a ring. My kids were completely entertained, cheering and booing alongside the locals. It was one of those rare moments when my teen and 5-year-old were equally entertained; a parenting win I’ll treasure forever.
Sunday: The Great Cotton Candy Quest
Sunday morning brought the disappointment of canceling our Food Hood bike tour that I’d been looking forward to for weeks. But after our experience with altitude sickness, a long bike ride through the city no longer seemed wise.
Instead, we embarked on what will forever be known as “The Great Cotton Candy Quest of 2025.” My 5-year-old had been asking for “algodón de azúcar” since day one, devastated when Lucha Libre didn’t sell any. She had cried herself to sleep the night before, and my husband nearly took an 11 PM Uber to find some.
So on Sunday, we made it our mission to find the perfect cotton candy in Coyoacán. When we finally found a vendor with the most beautiful, colorful swirls of sugar for only 60 pesos ($3 USD), you would have thought we’d discovered buried treasure. The joy on my daughter’s face was worth every step of our quest.
We finished our day with a boat ride through the Xochimilco floating gardens. For 750 pesos (about $38 USD), we enjoyed an hour on our private trajinera, floating past other colorful boats while mariachi bands played from vessel to vessel. I enjoyed my favorite: esquites (Mexican street corn in a cup) from a vendor boat for 90 pesos and a Corona.
Highs & Heartbeats: The Moments That Made It Worth It
Despite all the setbacks, we experienced magical moments that reminded me why we travel in the first place:
- Ling Ling’s City Views: Our first night at Ling Ling was a comedy of errors (my 5-year-old throwing a tantrum over not playing with the octopus sculpture in the lobby, then sleeping through the entire meal), but those nighttime views of Mexico City’s sprawling landscape were breathtaking. No Instagram filter needed.
- Lucha Libre Family Bonding: Watching my normally disinterested teen and my wide-eyed 5-year-old both cheering wildly for their favorite masked wrestlers was pure magic. Though I spent the evening silently praying my youngest wouldn’t try those moves at home during playtime. (A mom can dream, right?)
- Unexpected Connections: At the Anthropology Museum, two young women from California complimented our family and offered to take our photo. We returned the favor, and this small exchange of kindness between travelers made me feel connected to something larger than our family vacation.
- Coyoacán’s Charm: We fell in love with this neighborhood because of its vibrant colors, historic buildings, food, and atmosphere. Knowing one of my close friends grew up here made exploring its streets even more special. It’s always fascinating to see the places that shaped the people we care about.
Lows & Lessons: What I’d Do Differently
If you’re planning your own Mexico City adventure, learn from our mistakes:
- Beware of unofficial taxis: Always use Uber; they are super cheap. Those pink and white taxis might look cute, but can come with a hefty surprise.
- Respect the altitude: Mexico City is 7,350 feet above sea level. Give yourselves at least a day to acclimate before planning major activities. Drink tons of water and electrolytes, limit alcohol, and consider bringing altitude sickness medication.
- Don’t overschedule: I tried to pack too much into each day, not accounting for Mexico City’s traffic, the time needed to truly appreciate museums, or the energy levels of two kids and two adults adjusting to altitude.
- Have backup plans: Always have a Plan B (and maybe C and D) when traveling with kids. Our cotton candy mission wasn’t on any itinerary, but became one of our most memorable adventures.
Related: Mexico City Family Travel: Finding Balance When Your Prep Time Disappears
The Beauty in the Bump: Finding Meaning in the Chaos
After years of family travel, I’m learning that the most Instagram-worthy trips aren’t always the most meaningful ones. The beauty isn’t in the perfect execution of a planned itinerary; it’s in how we navigate the unexpected bumps together.
When altitude sickness forced us to spend a day in the hotel, my teen surprised me by keeping her little sister entertained while my husband and I recovered. We were disappointed when we had to cancel our food tour, but realized it was for the best.
Mexico City is an incredible destination with its lush parks, world-class museums, and amazing food scene. We barely scratched the surface of what this vibrant metropolis has to offer. Not being able to check everything off our list doesn’t feel like a failure; it feels like the perfect excuse to return.
This wasn’t the Pinterest-perfect family vacation I had envisioned. It was messy, unpredictable, and at times uncomfortable. But watching my daughters experience a new culture, try new foods, and adapt to circumstances beyond their control taught them more about resilience than any flawless trip ever could.
And isn’t that what travel is really about? Not just seeing new places, but growing through the experience, bumps and all.
