Monterrey

Monterrey needs 2 days: Cerro de la Silla, the saddle-shaped mountain that frames the city and is visible from nearly anywhere, with hiking trails at its base, on one day, and Parque Fundidora, a former steel foundry turned into an urban park with an industry museum, on the other. October-April is best, avoiding the extreme summer heat. It's mid-to-high priced by Mexican standards. It's Mexico's industrial capital, birthplace of the country's main breweries and steelmakers, with an economic clout reflected in some of the best urban infrastructure and dining in Latin America.