Why One Summer in San Miguel Was the Best Thing We Did as a Family
- Amber Nieto
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
A magical return “home” with fresh eyes and full hearts
After 16 years of living in San Miguel de Allende, we left for the U.S. a few years ago — but last summer, our family came back for two months. And let me tell you: it was magic.
Coming back felt like returning home, but also like discovering the city for the first time all over again. We fell in love in a whole new way — and if you’re considering spending your summer here with kids, I hope our experience inspires yours.
Here are my tips:
✨ Stay in the Magic
Choose a walkable home near El Jardín
If you’re staying for more than a few days, location is everything. We used to live outside of town, but this time, we stayed in Centro — just a few blocks from El Jardín — and it changed everything.
Mornings began with a slow stroll to the El Jardín for breakfast, coffee, and camp drop-offs. Evenings ended with dinner outdoors and sometimes a sunset ice cream run right back to where we started.
Being able to walk everywhere brought us closer together, let us live in sync with the city, and made the experience feel like vacation every day.
Tip: Make sure your rental is within a flat walking distance to El Jardín — those cobblestone hills are no joke.
🚶♀️ Embrace the Walking Life
No car, no problem… eventually
When we lived in San Miguel full-time, I drove everywhere. I had a big SUV, my husband had a motorcycle, we had a driver, and we avoided Centro like the plague on weekends.
So imagine my panic when we landed back for the summer with no car, and I realized how much we were going to have to walk. I texted everyone I knew begging to borrow one. I even tried renting one (spoiler: rental cars are crazy expensive and hard to find in San Miguel).
Eventually, we gave in and leaned into it. And — I can’t believe I’m saying this — it became one of the best parts of our trip.
We turned walking into a game:
Step challenge: Who could hit 10k steps first? Who walked the most in a day?
The Guadalupe Game: Once you spot the Virgin of Guadalupe… you see her everywhere. We started taking pictures and keeping score.
TIP: What to Pack for All That Walking
Comfortable walking shoes (sneakers > sandals)
A wide-brimmed sun hat
Lots of sunscreen
A compact umbrella and a light, packable raincoat (afternoon storms are real!)
📚 Rediscover the History
Even if you’ve lived here… there’s always more to learn
Here’s a little embarrassing confession: even though we lived here for over a decade, there were plenty of historic places we never truly explored.
This summer, we started to really dig in — especially with the kids. We’d pass a statue and play “who is that?” (Ignacio Allende? Let’s look him up later!) The kids were into it, and so were we.Learning together became part of the adventure.
TIP:
Google some fun factas about the history of San Miguel or book a tour (we list our favorite family-friendly ones in our Ultimate Family Guide). Let your kids lead the way with questions!
🎨 Sign Up for Summer Camp
San Miguel has the best summer camps — and they’re affordable
This long trip actually started with a parenting dilemma: what am I supposed to do with my high-energy six-year-old all day in 90° heat with 100% humidity?
Back in the States, summer camps can run $800+ a week. In San Miguel? We paid about $100/week for incredible programs that filled her days with art, cooking, language, field trips and more. She made friends. She practiced her Spanish. She connected with her culture. Win-win-win.
TIP:
The Mexican school calendar is different from the U.S., and camps may start later and end sooner.
I post updated summer camp dates on my site every year — check it before you plan!
🌮 Taste Everything
Mexican food is not just tacos — it’s everything
Another embarrassing admission? I used to think Mexican food was… kind of overrated. Like, how excited can you get over a taco?
This summer proved me so wrong. From birria to molcajetes to open-air markets and tiny quesadilla stands, we ate our way through the city. I planned our meals like a full-blown project and we were never disappointed.
After months of bland, overpriced food back home — every bite in San Miguel tasted like gold.
Our Favorite Spots:
Los Burritos (Hidalgo 23, Centro) – Simple, delicious, quick lunch spot
Birria Xalisco (Calzada de la Estación153 ) – Best birria in town
Raíces (Salida a Celaya) – My favorite restaurant in San Miguel (and possibly anywhere). Elevated traditional Mexican.
Brasimix (Salida a Celaya 49) – Tacos, tacos and more tacos. Our favorite? Pastor.
💛 Family Comes First
The warmth of San Miguel will hold your heart
One of the most powerful parts of our summer was reuniting with our former nanny and her family. They were such an important part of our lives when we lived here, and seeing them again brought tears — and so much joy.
Her entire family welcomed our daughters into their home without hesitation. They refused to let me pay for anything. It was just… love. That deep, generous, unconditional kind of love that San Miguel does so well.
This place loves children. Strangers wave. Servers smile. The culture honors families — and especially children — in a way that’s both comforting and humbling.
We were reminded of the village that helped raise our girls, and how much love they were surrounded by here.
TIP:
Get to know the locals — not just fellow expats, but also Mexican families. You’ll learn how warm, generous, and family-loving this community is.
📝 Final Tips to Make It Magical
Stay for at least 3-4 weeks if you can. San Miguel is best enjoyed slowly.
Let go of schedules: Embrace “Mexican Time.” Things start late, last longer, and somehow… it all works. No pasa nada.
Don’t over-plan. Magic happens in the unplanned moments — the sunset in El Jardín, the street musician your kids can’t stop dancing to, the taco stand you wander into by accident.
💌 Ready to Spend the Summer in San Miguel?
I’ve gathered all my favorite spots, local secrets, and real-life parenting tips into one easy, super-helpful resource: The Ultimate Family Guide to San Miguel de Allende.
Inside you’ll find:
🌮 Where to eat (yes, even with picky kids)
🎨 The best activities — from hands-on art and culture to outdoor adventures and hidden kid zones
🏕️ Summer camps + cultural events you don’t want to miss
💦 How to score day passes to the best hotel pools and hot springs
✨ Real insider tips you won’t find on TripAdvisor.
Whether you're visiting for a week or soaking up the whole summer, this guide will help you explore San Miguel like a local — and keep the whole family happy (and cool).
👉 Click here to get your copy!
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