Around Mexico City Feature

La Hacienda de Panoaya, also known as Parque de los Venados Acariciables (pettable deer), has plenty of animals for curious kids, with ostriches, emus, and llamas as well as deer (horseback rides are also a possibility). But the menagerie is only part of the game; there are also two museums. The Museo Internacional de los Volcanes has some interesting information on volcanoes, but it's primarily a big thrill for kids, who love to scream at the recorded sound of an eruption. Meanwhile, the Museo Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz honors its namesake, a nun, scholar, and author who learned to read here and went on to produce some of the most significant poetry and prose of the 17th century. De la Cruz's intellectual accomplishments were truly exceptional in her time, as was her fervent defense of women's rights. The hacienda is a 15-minute walk out of town along the boulevard Iztaccíhuatl. Carretera México-Cuautla, Km 58, Amecameca, 56900. 597/978-5050. www.haciendapanoaya.com. $2 (access to public/green areas); $8 (to public areas and two of three attractions, e.g., petting zoo and one museum); $10 (access to everything). Zoo daily 10-5; museums weekends 10-5.