9 Things To Do In Mexico City

With over 300 museums in Mexico City, it can be a daunting task to narrow down the ones you want to visit during your stay. Why not start at the beginning? The National Museum of Anthropology starts at the peopling of the Americas in 30,000 BC and goes all the way up to the Fifteenth Century. Short on time? I really enjoyed the Mexica room, which had a diagram of Tenochtitlan before the lake was drained and Mexico City was built on top of it, as well as some amazing sculptures. In the Maya room, you'll find tombs and some reproduction temples outside. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round and costs only $64 MX pesos to enter.

Anything on the menu at J&G Grill will please your palate. For an extra special treat, book the Chef's Table with the new chef de cuisine, Olivier Deboise Mendez. Appointed on August 1, 2015, Mendez brings with him 14 years of experience in highly-esteemed restaurants in France and Mexico. Fans of J&G Grill need not worry — the famous avocado pizza will remain on the menu, to be accompanied by new dishes created by Mendez.

Take some time for yourself and relax with a treatment at the Remède Spa on the 15th floor of The St. Regis Mexico City. With a menu of options including manicures, pedicures, body wraps, massage, and body treatments, there's something for every client—and budget. I received a 2-hour experience with a Pearl and Diamond exfoliation and facial treatment, plus an anti-stress massage, and I left actually glowing as in, my skin was sparkling from the scrub. I was also utterly relaxed. Be sure to show up 30 minutes before your appointment to leave yourself enough time to shower first and get in the mood. Or make it an afternoon and grab a light, healthy lunch at the juice bar while you're there. Pampering yourself is worth every minute.

I say this as someone who has an extreme fear of heights: you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not experience the pyramids at Teotihuacán from a hot air balloon at sunrise. I awoke at 5 a.m. in order to make it to Sky Balloons in time for a sunrise soar and it was absolutely worth it. There is nothing like floating over the largest city of the pre-Columbian Americas as the sun emerges, bathing the landscape in a golden glow. Balloons fill the sky, creating an other-worldly scene. You will forget your fear of falling. You will never forget the feelings you have witnessing this miracle. Follow it up with a climb up the Sun and Moon pyramids for the full experience.

Or just about anything at King Cole Bar, but most especially the Sangrita María, the signature drink of this bar fashioned after the original in New York City. Enjoy some live music or the DJ on the terrace, socialize with friends, and plan out your evening. It's a great spot to start the night with a most courteous staff who cannot wait to assist you.

Health is in right now, especially in Mexico City. On Sundays, the Paseo de la Reforma is shut down in order for the public to enjoy it by bike, by foot, or even with some good ole yoga stretching in the circle. Modeled after famous European boulevards, like the Champs-Élysées in Paris, there's plenty to see and do along this lifeline of the city. A quick bicycle ride will bring you to Chapultepec Castle; head in the other direction and pass the Diana the Huntress fountain, the Angel of Independence, the monument to Cuauhtémoc, down to the statue of Columbus. There are even road races held here! Paseo de la Reforma is a happening place!

Take a saunter through the Palacio Postal, one of the most opulent post offices you'll ever see. Stop by the Casa de los Azulejos, where legend has it that a spoiled son, in an act of defiance to his father—who had told him he'd never amount to anything (or "build his house of tiles") — covered the facade of the house he inherited from his father with blue tiles, to show his worth. Witness how the buildings undulate along la calle Francisco I. Madero, settling after being built on the former lake. Explore the National Church of San Felipe de Jesús on, built in the late Nineteenth Century. And don't forget to walk around the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (Sagrario de la Catedral Asunción) on Zócalo (Constitucion Plaza): construction began in the 1570s, but wasn't completed until 1813, eventually replacing the cathedral built by the Spanish when they took over the city in the early 16th Century. Ruins of the pyramids knocked down for its construction have been discovered below the church — and behind it. Just about every block in this area of the city has something worth discovering, especially on foot.

La Table Krug — a partnership between The St. Regis Mexico City and Möet Hennessy Mexico—offers the most exclusive French dining experience in the country. With seating for up to 12 people, and an 11-course menu created by Chef Sylvain Desbois, the experience is downright decadent. Guests are treated to delicacies, such as: king crab, Sologne caviar, Wagyu prime cuts, Kumamoto oysters, black truffles and Maine lobster, paired perfectly with glasses of wine — and Krug, of course — to accentuate the flavors. In fact, if you'd like to sip Krug Vintage 2000, the only place you can get it in Mexico is at La Table Krug. 

Want to be in the center of it all? Then you must book a room at The St. Regis Mexico City. Situated perfectly for all your pursuits, you'll find yourself soon addicted to their service catered to you. It starts at check-in and never ends — you are number one when you stay at The St. Regis. Where else will you have your own butler, ready to deliver all your desires? (Heck, my butler knew my schedule better than I did and checked up on me to ensure I had everything I needed!) In your room, you'll find: calming, neutral decor; a more-than-well-stocked mini and snack bar; one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in; a rain shower that had me making excuses to shower; and, surprise of all surprises, a television embedded in the bathroom mirror — so you don't have to miss anything while getting ready for the day. With 189 guest rooms, 5 restaurants, a grab-and-go dining option in the works, a spa, fitness center, and calming lap pool, just about everything you need is under one roof. And if you can't find it there, the concierge will be more than happy to assist you in finding just what you need — and ordering car service to get you there. I felt truly special during my stay at The St. Regis Mexico City, something everyone should experience in their lives.

This is just a small sampling of all that Mexico City has to offer, if you only give it a little time and an open mind. I know one thing: I'm looking forward to returning to see more of its wonders!