• I loved visiting Mérida, Mexico, which feels more laid-back and less crowded than Cancún.
• Mérida has beautiful architecture and excellent cuisine for a range of budgets.
• There's nothing like exploring the area's cenotes, which are unique fresh-water chambers.

Mexico is a really popular spot for tourists.

One of its most-visited cities is Cancún, with its famous nightlife and beautiful beaches, which make it an especially popular spot for college spring-breakers from the US.

I wished I could have afforded to go there in college with my friends. But now that I'm in my late 30s, I'm not looking to party hard when I visit Mexico — I want history, adventure, and culinary delights.

Luckily, I found all of the above in Mérida, which is about 200 miles inland from Cancún. With millions of fewer tourists annually, Mérida also feels less crowded and more relaxed than Cancún.

I adore the city so much, and I think it's perfect for anyone looking for laid-back adventure in lieu of nonstop beach parties.

I still dream of the city's historic architecture

Located on the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and founded on the site of an ancient Mayan city, Mérida is both historic and beautiful.

With its distinct blend of Mayan design and 16th-century Spanish colonial architecture, the city's history can even be felt as you walk around it.

It has an array of beautiful churches and arches that made me want to stop in my tracks — and its brightly-colored homes in shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow look straight-up dreamy.

In addition, the city has a range of impressive museums dedicated to topics such as Mayan culture and Mexican music.

Mérida has culinary delights to accommodate a range of budgets and dietary preferences

No matter your budget, you'll likely eat very well here. In my experience, Mérida's casual restaurants are just as fantastic as its higher-end contemporaries.

Local watering hole The Negrita Cantina is not to be missed. It feels like the special kind of place where you'll know everyone's name by the end of the night.

Its scrumptious food, like ceviche and aguachiles, and wide selection of tequila and mezcal always impresses me — and it frequently has live music that keeps visitors dancing through the morning.

La Chaya Maya is my go-to stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It serves some of the best chilaquiles and margaritas — and many meals cost under $10.

If you're willing to spend more, Museo de la Gastronomía Yucateca (also known as the Museum of Yucatecan Gastronomy or MUGY) is a solid choice.

The restaurant offers a great selection of craft cocktails and local cuisine, as well as many options for people with a range of dietary restrictions.

Lastly, the area has incredible cenotes

Mérida and the area around it are famous for its cenotes, which are sinkholes or pits filled with fresh water that's often swimmable. Seeing one of these unique chambers has long been on my bucket list.

I especially enjoyed going on a cenote-seeing journey with Magic Cenotes + Hacienda Tour through Airbnb Experiences.

My day trip included a visit to two separate cenotes, a well-rounded guided historical tour, and a homemade lunch in the home of a local resident. I had a fantastic time and made many international friends I still keep in touch with.

The tour was definitely a highlight of my time in Mérida — and I can't wait to go back to see even more of the wonderful city.