Taking the kids to two of the seven new world wonders

Introducing kids to history through travel beats reading a textbook, but oh, some of that travel can be painful. I easily recall blistering summer heat while walking down the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and trying hard to make artifacts at the Alamo interesting without an interactive computer game in sight.

When I first heard about the naming of the new Seven Wonders of the World in July, my first thought was "let's go," but the list can be a travel challenge for some adults, not to mention having children in tow.

I know my kids would love to see the Great Wall of China and India's Taj Mahal, but elephant tranquilizers couldn't get me through the interminable flights and the schlepping and food issues for them to say, after just one peek, "OK, awesome. Now what'll we do?" Petra in Jordan, Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer, Peru's Machu Picchu? Ditto.

However, visiting a couple of the world's top human-built wonders with kids is a definite possibility. Pack your bags for Mexico's Chichen Itza and the Colosseum in Rome.

Call me a wimp, but I like the Chichen Itza option because it's easy to get to Mexico. Cancun's popularity means there are a variety of nonstop flights at competitive prices and the kids won't squawk about spending a day or two playing on the white-sand beaches at the beginning or tail end of your journey. It's a very 21st-century town, a stark contrast to what you'll see at Chichen Itza, the most famous of the Mayan temple cities. In Cancun, kids will love snorkeling, diving and glass-bottom boat tours that net views of more than 500 species of sea creatures. Most hotels boast spectacular pools.

If you have the means, you might want to look into a short flight from Cancun directly to the ruins at Chichen Itza via subsidiaries of Mexicana airlines: Aerocaribe and Aerocozumel (www.mexicana.com). Mexicana also offers a day trip from many Cancun hotels to the capital of the ancient Maya, which is perfect for families. You'll get round-trip bus transportation from the hotel, a bilingual guide, entrance into the sites and lunch for around $57 for adults and $28 for children. Go to www.mexicanavacationpackages.com; you can book the excursion before you leave.

The kids might not get excited by the fact that archaeologists consider Chichen Itza to be one of the most advanced communities of the ancient Americas, but their ears will perk up when they hear about the spectacular Cenote Sagrado, a large sinkhole that measures nearly 200 feet. Among the extraordinary treasures found at the sinkhole are jewelry, gold and jade objects and the bones of young victims thrown into the sinkhole as sacrificial offerings to Chaac, the Mayan rain god.

You'll see the glorious pyramid of Kukulkan, standing more than 75 feet high, the temple of the warriors, the ball court and observatory, too. For more ideas on a family vacation to this new Seven Wonders of the World, visit www.visitmexico.com.

With the right parental attitude, the entire city of Rome can become a colossal interactive museum with kids. In addition, you can preface your trip with screenings of kid-friendly over-the-top movies, such as "Ben-Hur," "Spartacus" and even "Ocean's 12" for the older kids, all starring the city of Rome. The arena opened in A.D. 80, saw its last battle in 523 and was brilliantly reconstructed, according to historians, for the movie "Gladiator," another good slice of cinema pre-trip.

Get yourself a good guidebook, such as Fodor's compact "Around Rome With Kids," or an indispensable "Rome With Kids: An Insider's Guide" by J.M. Pasquesi. The author is a former Rome resident and has been visiting the Eternal City with her own children for more than a decade. You'll get a brief brush-up on your Roman history to use when the inevitable questions come up and glean essential information, such as which entrance usually has no wait when buying tickets to the Colosseum.

Pasquesi cites plenty of ways to engage young minds. For example, have them stand in the middle of the arena and imagine being gladiators (rock stars of the ancient world) getting ready to fight another gladiator or a wild animal. Come on, did you know that the word "arena" is Latin for "sand," the stuff that covered the Colosseum floor to soak up spilled blood?

All that imagined combat gets a kid hungry, so Pasquesi tells you where to find fine wood-fired pizza, quick snacks and drinks near the ancient site. Get your copy at your favorite bookstore, amazon.com or www.romewithkids.com.