After a month of soaking up time with family back in the States, we felt the itch to migrate to a warmer location—at least that was the hope. Mexico happened to be colder than we would’ve liked due to the higher elevation we chose to stay but despite this, we had the opportunity to experience what felt like a piece of heaven on earth. Hallie learned about monarch butterfly migration in one of her homeschool lessons, and we knew we had to experience it for ourselves.… and wow! We’re so glad we did! Standing in a forest filled with thousands of butterflies drifting past you in their natural sanctuary was straight-up magical.

Monarch butterflies basically invented the ultimate group road trip. Every fall they flutter from southern Canada and the northern U.S. to central Mexico, clocking nearly 3,000 miles, letting air currents handle a good part of the workload. But get this, it takes four generations in one season to pull it off—the first three, short-lived crews, begin the journey when the temperatures start to get cold. Then the last “super generation” (they live up to 8 months) swoop in to finish the journey. When they finally arrive, they crowd into the oyamel fir forests of Michoacán inside a protected reserve, clustering on branches like living ornaments to stay warm all winter. It’s incredible that they somehow know exactly where to go year after year… and even more awe-inspiring to be standing right there among them. 🦋

We started out on horses to help make the steep climb much easier. Once at the top, we were invited to take a trail that would lead us to where the butterflies were clustered in the pines. Because it was nearing noon by the time we arrived, we found ourselves surrounded by butterflies all along the trail. It was a worthwhile experience that we will always remember and highly recommend!

But butterflies aren’t the only things we enjoyed while staying in central Mexico-the real authentic, Mexican food was outstanding! From flautas, moles, huarache, tinga, pechuga empanizada, and empanadas. Mmm… we love us some ‘”deliciosa cocina Mexicana”!

One fun thing about the place we stayed is its interesting mining history. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, El Oro de Hidalgo hit the silver‑and‑gold jackpot and suddenly became one of the most prosperous mining spots in the country. European investors showed up and built elegant little palaces, a theater (dating back to the early 1900’s and still used toay), and chapels inspired by French architecture — a bit fancy for a mountain town. The local miners were left doing the hard work in a toxic environment, underground, for very little pay. Eventually the metals ran out, the mining days faded, and now the town depends on tourism instead. Honestly, it’s a pretty charming place.

Our host tipped us off about some nearby hot springs and a little lake we could check out, and since we’re total suckers for pretty water views, we were all in. Phil took Gavin and Claire to the springs while Hallie and I snuck in some quiet time together. Later, we all wandered down to the lake to feed the ducks… except the ducks in Mexico apparently missed the memo. They couldn’t have cared less about the bread, but the local dogs were very interested. They trotted along behind the kids, hoping for a snack, and the kids thought it was the best thing ever.

The locals were incredibly warm — the kind of people who genuinely want to share what they have and make you feel at home. One man even stopped Phil and me on a walk to offer some ground rabbit patties he’d made. We paid him for them, took them back to our place, and cooked them up that night. They were surprisingly tasty and made for one of those fun little “only‑on‑this‑trip” memories.

With the itch to see more of Mexico — and maybe thaw out a little — we wrapped up our time in El Oro a week early and made our way toward Mexico City. To break up the drive, we stopped at a spot where the girls and I got in a little extra horseback riding, while Gavin and Phil had a blast four‑wheeling. That evening we celebrated Phil’s birthday at a fancier restaurant, complete with some of the best and worst desserts we’ve ever tasted.

Exploring the Teotihuacan Pyramids was incredible — this ancient “city of the gods” built way back between 200 and 450 AD, abandoned long before the Aztecs ever found it. Since no one really knows who built it, you’re basically walking through a mystery layered in stone. And the Aztecs didn’t just move in; they built right over some of the pyramids, often recreating the same designs on top.

Visiting the Anthropology Museum and the Palace of Fine Arts helped everything click even more. We learned just how many different cultures have shaped Mexico — Indigenous groups like the Maya and Zapotec, the large mestizo population, Afro‑Mexican communities, and families with Asian, Middle Eastern, and other immigrant roots. All of those influences blend together to make Mexico the colorful, vibrant place it is today.

Before we left the city, we squeezed in some time at the Mexico City Temple and one more fun stop — a free public zoo right in the heart of Mexico City. The kids were over the moon because they finally got to see a real‑life axolotl, which instantly became the highlight of the day.

After soaking up so much history, culture, and color — from ancient pyramids to museum halls to unexpected zoo finds — we wrapped up our time in Mexico feeling both full and curious for more. Overall, our time here was so worth it. We left grateful for everything we got to see and learn, from the food to the people to the stories tucked into every place we visited. We’d love to come back someday and explore even more of what makes this country so special.