Please help me with a wide-open question. I'm planning on taking my 8-year-old to Mexico City in April. She loves to swim so I figure we'll spend half of our time in MC and the other in some sort of beachy paradise. The question is: Where do we want to go that is reasonably easy to get to from Mexico City and doesn't cost and arm and a leg? The ideal destination:

Requires no driving (no driving to get there, no driving once we are there)
Offers swimming (calm beach and/or pools)
Has decent food on site or within walking distance
Is not overflowing with a million kids

What do you think?

Puerto Vallarta is a "beachy paradise" and offers what you ask for. It is a 1.5 hr plane ride from Mexico City.

Fly to Cancun and take the ferry over to Isla Mujeres, Playa Norte is very calm and shallow (and beautiful), you can walk out a long way before reaching chest deep. Rent a condo at Nautibeach (or maybe Ixchel). No driving needed unless you want to rent a golf cart for the day to tool around in (lots of fun). Well over 100-125 restaurants in all price ranges and the island is only 5 miles long.

I would agree with Jamie. It's tough to beat Isla Mujeres for being able to just walk out of whatever hotel you might be in and be on the beach in minutes, if not right on the beach. A couple of other cheaper options instead of Ixchel and Nautibeach might include Posada Del Mar and Cabañas Maria Del Mar. Absolutely no need for a taxi unlike PV. Everything is within super short walking distance or a fun drive with a golf cart if you want to get to the south end of the island. Plus the beaches and water are far superior to those on the Pacific.*

Thanks, everyone. Isla Mujeres looks incredible but I am kind of overwhelmed by how much there is to see and do and that area. I think we'll save the Yucatan for a separate trip and stick to Mexico City, Teotihuacan, and maybe even Oaxaca this time.

So no "beachy paradise" this time???