I am taking a week off without family this March, just to relax and get to know Guadalajara. Does anyone have suggestions as to what to see or do? I am a 65 year old female and speak just a little Spanish. I will be staying in the centro historico in the city. Suggestions welcomed!

Hi maile,
eventhough I am not from Guadalajara, GDL, my mother and lots of family is from there, and I still some family members that live there. I do go visit them at least every two to three years, and I am also planning on been there this april.
From my past experiense I can tell you that staying in downtown is the place to be. I've only staying once in a hotel call Aranzazu, only a block from the main Plazas or squares. Most time I stay with relatives. But, the Aranzazu it is very economical with a little flare of luxury. Nevertheless, there are wonderful hotels in downtown that are very economical or a little expensive with lots of luxury. The Camino Real it is very much sought after, I am not really sure if it is downtown, but from reviews, it seems to be one of the best of all of Mexico. You might want to check Tripadvisor and click under Guadalajara hotels.
As far as activities, there are tons, but my very best is going to the main plazas, I believe there are seven that are connected in a type of circle. It is very pedestrian friendly with lots of museums, theaters, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. You can also pay about 3 to 5 dolars for a horse carriage ride that will take you thru out downtown and give you a tour of all of the buildings. Not to far from downtown you can go shopping to one of the largest flea markets in the continent, mercado San Juan de Dios, a shopping gallore of anything your heart desires with inexpensive food stands. If you want a great shopping experiense go to towns of Chapala and/or Tlaquepaque, only 15-20minutes from downtown. These towns have great pedestrian friendly galleries of bronze, glass, and other mexican artifacts. In tlaquepaque you also have the Parian which is an open air meeting place with mariachi and great food. On the outskirts of GDL you will great visiting towns like Chapala, Ajijic were you will find other compatriots of US and Canadian citizens that have built great mansions and wonderful art galleries. These towns are located by the largest lake in Mexico. You will also find some of the best dining experienses in all of Mexico, restaurants that face the lake that are luxurius and with wonderful elagant food. Also, another great town is the town of Tequila. You can actually either book a tour thru your hotel or book the Tequila train. The train takes you from GDL to Tequila, and it is accompany by festive music of mariachis, there is food and drinks (lots of tequila) all the way to tequila, don't get drunk before you get there because you are going to have a chance to visit the plantations where they cultivate the blue agave, and you might have first experiense in taking one from the ground and cutting it in the shape of a large pineapple. Then they will lead you to their distillery and show you how is fermented, age and proccess. At the end they will take you to one of their mansions and give you a taste test with more tequila. It is a great experiense. Last but not least, there many other wonderful side trips, but I am not sure how much time you have, so I will not mention anymore with exception of what is call, Los Altos de Jalisco, which means the North towns of Jalisco, I have not been to any of them yet, but I hear from my mom and many relatives that the town up north are wonderful colonial towns, you have Lagos Moreno, San Juan de los Lagos, and I forget which other ones. I belive if you are going to search in the map, look for all the towns that head to Leon, Guanajuato.
I hope I've been very informative, and do wish you a wonderful Trip.
P.S. If you have a lot of time plan for this vacation, also go to Guanajuato City, San Miguel de Allende, the state of Michoacan and its wonderful cities of Morelia, Pazcuaro, and Uruapan. And if you are looking for a beach resort, you are only hours by bus to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

Good Info from Jurbe31 However the Carriage ride was 200 pesos the last time we took it. still reasonable by US standards. Also Two good location hotels are The Mendoza about $100 US for a standard room or The San Fransisco a real bargin for under $40 US per double.

make sure you go to ballet folklorico, Tlaquepaque and the mercado in Tonala on Sunday

Many thanks for all your help, especially to juribe31. I've booked the Mendozo hotel for the week in Guadalajara and have already sorted out the market places. I've traveled a great deal in Europe and the States but is there anything in particular to be aware of in Mexico? For example my usual modus operandi is to hit museums around 10am, have a late lunch and be back at the hotel around 7pm unless there is something to see (dance/opera/play) in the evening. Any problem in going around on my own?

Be sure & spend a few hours at Mariachi Plaza not far from the Mendoza but still take a cab. Possibly you could hook up with some others at the Mendoza, The Lobby is basically a Bar/social setting so who knows? Some great restaurants including our all time Honeymoon favorite is the Sacramonte, Pedro Moreno #1398, But take a cab as it's a ways.

If I had a week, I would leave the weekends for shopping and eating in Tonala & Tlaquepaque, and in Mexico, Sundays are for the family to gather in the plazas/squares, so I after shopping in Tonala or Tlaquepaque I would head back to the main plazas of Guadalajara for people watching and taking slow strolls thru out the plazas. During the week I would book a tour to Tequila, Chapala, and/or Los Altos de Jalisco. As far as Museums and Theaters the best ones are by the Plazas. You can look into the theater as far as what is playing once you walk by there. Also, safety, I like only an hour or so from Chicago. I believe Guadalajara is not any worst or better than Chicago. I love going to Chicago, but I know there are places I will not take my wife and children to. Chicago has a wonderful Mexican neighborhood, but I would not walk thru these streets late at night on my own. But, downtown Chicago is gorgeous and lively, and I've gone on my own either late at night or super early in the morning and left my wife and kids sleeping and wonder thru Michigan Avenue, magnificent mile, and gold coast. Guadalajara is the same. You can walk thru many of the downtown areas with no problems and many other expensive or medium class neighborhoos with very little incident, just use your common sence of your surroundings just like I would in Chicago, San Diego, New York, or any other big city that I have seen so far. Have lots of fun and don't let the misconception of what ignorants tell you about Mexico. Good Luck!