Miami – More than I dreamed it could be

I have to start off by thanking Paste Interactive for helping me get to Miami for WordCamp this past weekend. Also, for the invitation from the WordCamp Miami organizers, namely David Bisset. Thanks for having me. Finally, all of Miami- everyone was truly nice and helpful everywhere we went, the locals, and those providing hospitality services. We felt welcome, safe, and comfortable.

Friday

All four of our flights were great and pretty much uneventful. I took a few videos for the benefit of sharing that part of our trip with my daughters, but I haven’t had a chance to do the post-production yet. I thought I might be scared since this was my first time to fly, but it was actually a lot of fun. I got the window seat most of the time and spent the flight staring out at the world below me. I can definitely make a habit of flying. After spending a lifetime making cross country road trips in the family minivan, making what would be a 13 hour trip in about 4 hours is truly magical.

Thanks to my friend, Erin Shaw Street, and a few locals that gave me some tips, we had an incredible time visiting some really great spots. Friday night, we ate at Sushisamba in Miami Beach in the Lincoln Road Mall. Our waiter was awesome, and we would have had a terrible experience had it not been for his help. I had never eaten sushi before, and although I did enjoy it, I don’t think it is something I would eat very often.

The University of Miami Holiday Inn was very nice and comfortable. It was in a great spot for being close to WordCamp and also making it easy to get to downtown and all of the places we visited.

Saturday

WordCamp itself was really fun. I met a lot of great people, and my presentation was a success, according to the feedback I got from those I met afterwords. My “WordPress & Working with Clients” slides are available on Slideshare. I am thinking about retiring the topic soon and just converting it into a blog series. Feedback on that idea would be great.

The after party at “My Name is Eleanor but You Can call Me Lolita” wasn’t as well attended as you would think it would be, but it was fun. I got to know Aaron Brazell (@technosailor), author of The WordPress Bible. He’s a really smart, talented, and yet realistic guy. I also got to make great friends with Blanca Stella who recommended our next awesome dining experience.

We walked across the corner from “… Lolita” to an Italian marketplace and restaurant called Perricone’s. It was so beautiful and the overall experience was just amazing. The ambiance of being in a room open to the sky and trees above, plus the wonderful service from our waiter, the food that is so far unmatched in quality and presentation, and the homemade Gelato with our dessert, made for the most romantic, and wonderful dining experience Chris and I have ever had.

Sunday

Sunday morning, we visited the Vizcaya Historical House and Gardens. It was originally built by James Deering in 1915, but was designed and furnished to feel like it was a 400 year old estate. You’re not allowed to take pictures of the inside of the house, but I had the camera clicking away outside. Hands down, if you visit Miami, it is not complete until you have seen this place.

Finally we got to head to the beach! At the suggestion of a new friend we met at WordCamp, we drove out to Key Biscayne. We climbed the lighthouse and ate at the Lighthouse Cafe. Then we were able to spend about 20 minutes actually at the water. It turned overcast just as we were ready to go out, and the water was COLD! But it was beautiful and fun.

We finally made it home a bit before midnight Sunday, and we couldn’t have been more happy. However, now that I am rested up and going back through the photos and memories, I would go back tomorrow if I were able! Thanks again to everyone that made this possible. It was truly an adventure I’ll always remember.

See all our vacation pics on facebook, and my WordCamp pics on Flickr.