Recommend May 2011 - (Page 44)

Morelia LUIS GUZMAN Sightseeing: Beautiful period buildings, glorious weather and enchant- Couples looking for colonial splendor can opt for this picturesque area. What to Expect: A step back in time framed by colonial-era buildings, shiny cobblestones and lots of history. Wedding Bells: Nuptials in Morelia are blessed with an air of Old World Europe and traditional Mexico. The elegant and serene Cantera Diez property provides a very romantic and convenient location—just steps away from some of the city’s most iconic landmarks—for a wedding reception or honeymoon with all types of creature comforts. Most enchanting of all is that it’s housed in a mansion built in 1622, with architectural details harking back to another time that are wed perfectly with more modern contemporary furnishings. Each of its 11 suites is a luxurious escape—some have their own bar, others an open-air bathtub or jacuzzi, and most enchantingly, still others have a view of the pretty-in-pink Morelia Cathedral. The latter are for the most romantic of us who don’t mind chiming bells; otherwise, clients should choose an interior-facing suite. Small wedding and anniversary celebrations are done splendidly at this member of Mexico Boutique Hotels, whether as sit-down dinners or lounge-type receptions with local musicians brought in for added ﬂair. Given its small location, it’s best to rent all rooms among family and friends for full-on customization and creativity. A Wedding Night package includes a Master Suite with romantic set-up and a bottle of Moet Chandon, along with a photo shoot throughout the hotel and a la carte breakfast in their room. Rates at Cantera Diez start at $390 dollars per night. For another view of Morelia, there’s Villa San Jose Hotel & Suites, a multi-tiered charmer with panoramic vistas that showcase the city from the hill of Santa Maria. Here, couples have a different option: gardens of color and hummingbirds ﬂitting about with the whole of Morelia behind them, as well as indoor spaces that ﬁt up to 200. Each of the 43 rooms and suites in this Tesoros de Mexico beauty is decorated differently with local art and furniture, with pink-stone sculptures and tile roofs adding to its rich surroundings. Guests can also enjoy tennis courts, hot tubs and a swimming pool around which a wedding breakfast or evening cocktails ﬁts splendidly. Rates start at about $130 per night. M18 May 2011 ing museums make Morelia one of Mexico’s most beautiful colonial cities. Its focal point is its cathedral with soaring twin spires, ﬁnished in 1744 and built with pink stone, adjacent to the always-bustling Plaza de Armas and popular open-air cafes. On Saturday evenings, the Cathedral is gradually lit up, with inspiring results; in fact, many of the city’s landmarks enjoy artistic illumination to highlight their architectural beauty. One can’t leave Morelia without also seeing its baroque 253-arch aqueduct, built upon the order of Friar Antonio de San Miguel in 1785 to provide clean water to the city. Another “must” here is the baroque Government Palace, which has different murals that depict the history of Mexico, painted by Michoacan artist Alfredo Zalce. The State Museum is housed in an 18th century mansion, with archaeological artifacts, antiques and even a replica of an 1868 pharmacy, period pieces and all. Golfers will need to try their luck at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Tres Marias course. Nature lovers, meanwhile, will want to time their wedding, vow renewal or honeymoon in Michoacan for the winter arrival of the monarch butterﬂies. MMG Tours offers a wide array of options and tour combinations for visitors. One of the most popular tours these days is the Don Vasco Route, which traces the steps of the ﬁrst bishop of Michoacan and his thriving legacy in generations of the Purepecha and other Michoacans. The route covers the towns of Uruapan, Santa Clara del Cobre, Patzcuaro, Paracho, Santa Fe de la Laguna, Cuitzeo, Morelia and Tzintzuntzan. The lakeside town of Patzcuaro is worth at least a day trip, if not a stay. This captivating World Heritage site was once the capital of the Purepecha Indians and is a picturesque escape of red tile roofs and cobblestone streets. Its focal point is the Plaza Grande, where Bishop Vasco de Quiroga’s statue stands; it’s quite close to the Basilica of Our Virgin of Health, which he built and founded in 1544. Other “must” visits in town include the House of 11 Courtyards, once a Dominican convent and now a place to buy local crafts, and the Museum of Regional Popular Arts, displaying works from the state of Michoacan. Weather: Spring-like and beautiful throughout most of the year, with winters that can get a bit chilly. ● Contact Information Cantera Diez: (800) 728-9098; mexicoboutiquehotels.com MMG Tours: mmg.com.mx Villa San Jose Hotel & Suites: tesorosdemexico.com.mx More Destination Wedding Options Hotel Los Juaninos: hoteljuaninos.com.mx La Mansion de los Sueños: mansiondelossuenos.com Tesoros Michoacan: tesorosmichoacan.com recommend.com http://www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com http://mmg.com.mx http://tesorosdemexico.com.mx http://hoteljuaninos.com.mx http://www.mansiondelossuenos.com http://www.tesorosmichoacan.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Autograph Collection by Marriott
Tour Talk: Avanti Destinations
10 Amazing Golf Resorts
Dominican Republic Greens
Tee off, Barbados-Style
Teeing Up in Bermuda
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
A Quartet of Courses
Portugal & Spain Serve Up a Banquet of Great Golf
Touring the U.K. With Rail Europe
Uniworld's New "Super Ship" Antoinette
Savoring Exotic Asia
Coming Back to Egypt

Recommend May 2011