From the blare of the trumpets to the lavishly adorned suits of the players, nothing says Mexico like mariachi. The big Mexican band — an assembly of five to 12 musicians playing acoustic guitars, trumpets, and violins — became prominent following the 1910–17 Mexican Revolution as the Mexicanidad movement boosted pride in native traditions.

Though mariachi has roots in African-tinged Spanish rhythms and instruments, it is a uniquely Mexican creation, according to Daniel Sheehy, curator and director of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and also a mariachi trumpet player. The uniform of short jackets and matching pants seamed with embroidery or silver emblems, Sheehy says, expressed “the country gentleman look, the head of the hacienda who ran things when it became cool to be Mexican instead of French. The Mexican Revolution lit a wildfire and newfound passion for all things Mexican.”

Although the music that became mariachi likely flourished throughout Mexico’s central west coast, it became associated with the town of Cocula, near Guadalajara, state capital of Jalisco. “People came from the coast with goods to Guadalajara and rested overnight in Cocula along the way,” says Cornelio García Ramírez, a Mexican radio and television host and mariachi musician. “People drank and listened while resting, which is how mariachi really flourished.”

Today the mariachi tradition thrives on both sides of the border. In Jalisco, the bands are most commonly found on the Plaza de los Mariachis in Guadalajara, where patrons pay about 70 pesos (roughly $6.50) for a song and any visitor is free to enjoy the music. An annual Guadalajara event, Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi, draws mariachi bands from around the world for 10 nights of concerts in early September.

But arguably the best place to listen to mariachi bands day in and day out is Tlaquepaque. The colonial arts and crafts town southeast of Guadalajara is home to an entire block of restaurants and bars devoted to mariachi and is also known for its shopping. Follow your ears to El Parián, a city-block-size plaza surrounded by restaurants and bars tucked into columned arcades. One group of mariachis plays on a central stage and later, other groups wander table to table, offering romantic serenatas on the pay-for-play system.

Welcome to the Jungle

Chichén Itzá is one of the most famous archaeological attractions in the world. Less famous, though just as significant, are the ruins of Comalcalco. It is believed the inhabitants of this pre-Hispanic site, an hour’s drive outside Villahermosa, Mexico, went on to found Chichén Itzá. Comalcalco is the site of the only pyramids in Mexico constructed of fire-baked bricks, and it was in this region that the first cacao beans were refined into chocolate. Only partially excavated, the nearly three-square-mile archaeological site displays what more than half a millennium of neglect can do to a city — most of the area’s undulating hills are now covered in lush grass and dense jungle. — Andrew Eitelbach

Oh What Heights We’ll Hit

Climbing to a knee-buckling height of 443 feet, the London Eye lets intrepid view seekers spy the city from above. Built to commemorate the new millennium, the Eye opened with a ceremony held in the waning hours of December 31, 1999, presided over by then prime minister Tony Blair. The Eye was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it opened, and it’s been heralded as London’s Eiffel Tower, revitalizing tourism and adding a unique feature to the city skyline. The 32 compartments can each hold as many as 25 passengers, meaning up to 800 people at a time can jump on for a bird’s-eye view of the English capital. Just as cool, the Eye never stops while in operation; it moves slowly enough that people can enter and exit without it slowing or stopping — one circuit takes about 30 minutes.

If you were to take a ride on the Eye this month, you might see something new up there in the clouds with you. That’s because Continental, in addition to its daily flights to and from Gatwick, has started twice-daily nonstop service to London Heathrow Airport from its Houston and New York/Newark hubs. Continental started service to Heathrow, its 31st transatlantic destination, on March 29. Flying Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 767-200ER aircraft on these routes, Continental can accommodate as many as 1,828 people in both directions daily — more than double the capacity of the London Eye. — A.E.

Music History 101

A city renowned for its music, New Orleans is the fitting host for the musical heritage tribute event to beat all. The 7th Annual Ponderosa Stomp celebrates the unsung heroes of blues, garage rock, soul, funk, rockabilly, swamp rock, and New Orleans R&B. Dedicated to recognizing the architects of New Orleans’ rich musical legacy, the Stomp exists to pay tribute to, and spread awareness of, the roots of American music. The festival has become legendary in reviving careers and giving a new lease on musical life to performers as it exposes rarely seen musical icons to both adoring fans and new audiences alike. This year’s roots romp features performers like Eddie Bo, Zigaboo Modeliste, Lil’ Buck and the Topcats (with Buckwheat Zydeco), Little Freddie King, and Jay Chevalier (pictured) and takes place April 29 and 30 at the House of Blues in the French Quarter, which has good music almost every night of the year. ponderosastomp.com — Megan Robershotte

Block Party

The La Villita National Historic District, an 18th-century neighborhood on the banks of the San Antonio River, is the setting for A Night in Old San Antonio. This vibrant annual festival, often referred to as NIOSA (pronounced “knee-oh-sa”), takes place April 22–25. This year marks the event’s 60th anniversary, and just as in years past, some 100,000 visitors will savor a variety of ethnic foods and wares from more than 250 booths. The grounds feature 15 distinct areas celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of San Antonio — including Main Street, Sauerkraut Bend, Chinatown, the French Quarter, and the Mexican Market. In between the snacking and shopping there’s an array of musical entertainment to enjoy. Performers include the Giant Three (Dixieland jazz, on Main Street), 3 Stepz (jazz/pop, in the French Quarter), and the Sabas Trio (flamenco/Latin jazz, in Villa España), among others. niosa.org — Jenn Snively

Fill Your Cup

This month, for the fourth consecutive year, the tanned bodies of Miami Beach make way for the FedEx Miami Beach Polo World Cup. From April 10–13, the city plays host to eight international teams that will battle it out on horseback — right on the beach — for the championship. Following the opening Horse Parade, attendees can enjoy three days of competition culminating in an award ceremony. The festivities wrap up with the Farewell Beach Party. For a break from the sun and saddles, the Angler’s Boutique Resort, not far from the tournament grounds, offers a stunning array of cocktails — many designed by celebrity mixologist Alex Ott — in its restaurant, Maison d’Azur. Built in 1930 and once frequented by notables such as Ernest Hemingway, the newly renovated boutique resort now includes luxury tower suites featuring elegant spiral staircases, a private spa, and private gardens. It’s an ideal place to kick up your boots and retreat from the city, while never being too far from the action. miamipolo.com; theanglersresort.com. — B. J. Sims

Where the Wild Things Are

One of the last things a traveler might expect to find in an urban public space is a lion roaming free — let alone 25 of them. But in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park, one of Asia’s most visited attractions, that’s just what more than 2 million visitors see annually. The 41-square-mile park is well known for its flora and fauna, but the main attraction is the lion safari. Six days a week, visitors can take a tour in a heavily protected vehicle that comes as close as six feet from the big cats. A half dozen tigers are also on the prowl, and a separate tour visits their area. borivlinationalpark.com — Kristina Wong

A Resort by Any Other Name

We can all appreciate a little clarity. Like when a name means what it says. Exhibit A: Topnotch Resort and Spa, a has-it-all-and-then-some resort that sits on a 120-acre wooded estate in Stowe, Vt. Located in the heart of the Green Mountains, 45 minutes east of Burlington and just two miles from Mount Mansfield — the state’s highest peak — Topnotch is heaven for activity-focused travelers. With activities ranging from premium skiing and hiking to tennis and even in-line skating, no one will be twiddling their thumbs. Youngsters visiting the resort get special attention with kids-geared activities and the resort’s Teen Center.

Visitors can scale things back a notch with one of the spa’s exotic offerings. Envelop yourself in a Vermont Woodspice Herbal Wrap, or bask in almost any treatment you’ve heard of, or one you probably haven’t (craniosacral therapy, anyone?). Acupuncture, lifestyle consultants, even massage therapy for pets — it’s all here. No wonder Topnotch has earned Condé Nast Traveler’s ranking as 10th Best Resort Spa in North America, and No. 1 in service. topnotchresort.com — Louise Flaig