Chichen Itza is the most iconic site in the Yucatan Peninsula for a reason—it's memorable. It's also incredibly well preserved and an easy place to wander and begin to understand the Maya civilization. I traveled there once solo, and then on a family road-trip with my nephews and they loved the grand scale of Chichen Itza, it impressed them in a way that nearby Tulum did not. Perhaps it was the shady paths that made it feel more like the ruins of an ancient city, but they could really imagine that this was once a place people lived and worshipped. 

Most memorable on both visits is the Grand Ball Court. Not only did the acoustics and the story of the sports played there impress me on my first visit, but it was the story that my nephews also most remember in the months and years after our visit. Dating to 600 A.D., the Maya had sometimes brutal games, and guides in Chichen Itza describe that the losers of the most popular game—Pitz—faced decapitation. 

There's just enough scale and drama at Chichen Itza to captivate even the youngest visitors, and it's an absolute must visit site for any travelers, including families. Since we were on a road-trip of the Yucatan Peninsula, we were seeing a lot of things, but also trying to make each day interesting. One hit was that we went to Cenote Dzitnup after Chichen Itza. It was a hot day and using this as the reward for a morning spent learning was ideal for all involved! It's a gorgeous cenote and everyone had a grand time.