Mexico is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The people, food, and beaches are just a few of its treasures. I am so grateful to have experienced it first hand and here is what I found.

1. The culture.

Mexico's traditional clothing, dance, and music, paired with its ancient history, make culture the number one reason to visit. Families are also typically very large and both immediate and extended members are very close to each other. They are a very warm and welcoming people. Parents are strongly respected by their children as family involvement and gender roles in day to day life are very important. Whenever I leave Mexico, I truly miss the people.

2. The food.

Food in Mexico is not what Americans typically think of as Mexican food. In the U.S., we tthink of enchiladas, tortilla chips, salsa, quesadilla and fajitas. Mexican food, however, is so much more than just that. The main food items are rice, corn, wheat and fish or seafood in general. Whenever I am in Mexico, I can’t help but enjoy the amazing rice, chicken and fish that they cook. It is so different than in the U.S. None of the food is drenched in butter or heavy sauces. Spices and oils are used more often for cooking. There are also no cows in Mexico, therefore there is no “dairy.” Goat's milk is used instead of cow's milk. For those of you that are allergic to dairy or lactose intolerant, there are no worries when going to Mexico! That is one of the best parts about the food for me!

From my experience desserts are typically very light, yet flavorful. Chocolate, ice cream, cookies, any desserts really, don’t make you feel weighed down and really full like in the U.S. They are all very refreshing, and just as good, if not better. As for the liquor, if you want something different than what’s available in the U.S, tequila is the way to go!

3. Beaches.

The warm and clear aqua blue ocean awaits you in Mexico. The water is warm year-round, and blue to a point where in most areas you can see the bottom. That has been my experience anyways. The waves may be big or small; however, whether you are into scuba diving, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing or sailing, there is always something to do. If you don’t want to do any water sport activities like these, laying in a beach chair and absorbing the warm sun is always just as nice, and very relaxing. It is a good escape from stress, and the reality of life at times. When we go to the beach in the Riviera Maya, I like going paddle boarding, floating in the waves, snorkeling, collecting shells at the beach and just relaxing in my beach chair.

4. Historical sites and tourist attractions.

Resorts are not the only thing you will find in different areas of the country. Ruins, pyramids, zoos, zip lining and snorkeling are a few other things that tend to draw people to different areas. Tourist attractions such as Xel Ha, Chitzenitza, Los Cabos, Cozumel, the Croco Cun Zoo, XPlore, Tulum and Ek Balam are all places to visit outside of the resorts, that definitely can make your vacation amazing if you haven’t already been. Playa Del Carmen is a great place to visit if you want to enjoy some great shopping! There are both high end stores like Nike, Guess and Bershka, and then the typical Mexican stores where you are able to barter and buy items like liquor, pottery, hand-made wall tapestries, clothing, dishes and hand-made jewelry.

5. It's affordable.

At this time for Americans, the exchange rate is very good. Eighteen pesos to one American dollar was the average when I was in Mexico. And staying at an all-inclusive resort can be fairly inexpensive. All you have to worry about is having money for excursions and some extra cash to buy something at the stores. If you are not staying at an all-inclusive, though, after a while, it may get a bit pricey. Overall though, you can have an amazing vacation at a fairly low price.