There's a big party in Mexico next month…and you're invited.

You stroll along a cobbled street shaded by old colonial mansions and come to a sun-dappled square where a guitarist plays to a small crowd. You get a homemade ice cream and sit on a green, wrought-iron bench. There’s plenty of time for partying later—after all, it’s not every day Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence…and here you are where it all began…

Mexico’s Colonial Highlands have attracted expats for years—and that’s no surprise. It’s got some of Mexico’s finest colonial architecture, a host of vibrant and dynamic expat communities and a temperate climate. And if you visit this year…it’s got something else.

The bicentennial of Mexican independence is this year, and the highlands are where it all began. The biggest celebration will be the night of September 15 when President Felipe Calderon re-enacts the famous “cry of Dolores,” El Grito, that launched Mexico’s fight for independence. This marks the beginning of parties and parades all over the country and you can expect some blow-outs this year.

[Ed. note: This part of Mexico will be covered in detail at our Live and Invest Overseas Conference in Las Vegas. But if you want to attend, the Early Bird discount expires in just two days—get the full details here. ]

If you can’t be in Mexico on the big day, don’t worry; activities are planned for the whole year, from concerts and fireworks to museum exhibitions and library talks. An entire publicity campaign is dedicated to this special year.

Mexico’s war for independence started in the state of Guanajuato and so should you. The colonial town of Dolores, where Father Miguel Hidalgo first raised the cry for independence, is here, today known as Dolores Hidalgo in his honor.

It’s a tranquil town with some beautiful colonial buildings and a truly Mexican feel. It’s relatively small—about 55,000 people in the 2005 census. You can visit a reproduction of Father Hidalgo’s home—the original burned down—and visit the church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (Our Lady of the Pains); Hidalgo gave his famous Grito from the steps out front.

Dolores is not just for history buffs. You can soak up the atmosphere in the main square…and be sure to buy a homemade ice cream. The town’s ice-cream vendors are inventive with flavors. Tropical fruits like mango and papaya, avocado…corn—even foods like shrimp and pork rinds are turned into ice cream flavors.

Many expats make the town a daytrip from nearby San Miguel de Allende, just a short drive away. Famous for its picture perfect mountain setting and well-preserved colonial look, San Miguel is considered one of the most beautiful small cities in Mexico. Today 10,000 or more expats live here. Many of them are in the arts, adding their talent to the pool of local artisans and craftsmen. Take your camera—you’ll want pictures of this city.