Landing at General Francisco Javier Mina Intl Airport in Tampico puts you at the center of a region, where nearby cities and scenery are close by. Tampico is a Gulf port city at the mouth of the Panuco River, with a downtown of wrought-iron balconies and pastel buildings that owe more to New Orleans than to central Mexico. It made its money on oil in the early 20th century, and its proud, slightly faded grandeur, plus a lagoon full of crocodiles in the middle of town, give it real character.

Standout experiences around Tampico: - Admire the ironwork balconies and the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas - Watch the crocodiles sunning on the banks of the Laguna del Carpintero - Eat a torta de la barda, the layered sandwich invented beside the old railroad fence - Order jaiba, blue crab, prepared any way you like it, from stuffed to rellena - Visit the Museo de la Cultura Huasteca in nearby Ciudad Madero - Spend a beach day at Playa Miramar, the long Gulf beach just east of the city - Admire the French-style ironwork around the Plaza de la Libertad - See the old customs house, the Antigua Aduana, near the docks

Tampico shares its metro area with Ciudad Madero and Altamira, so the beach and the museums are about 20 minutes away, and the Veracruz towns of Tampico Alto and Panuco sit just across the river. The Huasteca region begins inland, and its cooking shows up in Tampico in the form of zacahuil, a giant tamal baked in banana leaves. Carne asada a la tampiquena, a thin grilled steak served with enchiladas, was named for this city, and it is the right thing to order on your first night.