#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - You Say Street Style, We Say Beach Style

In the city where it's summer year-round, swimwear is like a second skin. And, regardless of where we find ourselves in the world, Miami-ans make sure our pool and beach looks are flawless. The #ThankYouMiami team's travels to Nicaragua are no exception. Check out the new #ThankYouMiami for Fashion post where we show you our favorite look from our time poolside at Nicaragua365's Fort Walker rental home. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo to read the full post.

What are your swimwear or resort-wear must-haves for this Summer season? How do you accessorize your pool and beach looks? Which designer are you most excited to see at this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - 24 Hours of Travel in Miami Style

This week the #ThankYouMiami team is in Nicaragua working on a special video project that will launch our YouTube channel. Check out the new #ThankYouMiami for Fashion post on SoulOfMiami.org for a sneak peek of how local brands like Razön and Cameri Bead Studio were critical to making our travel comfortable AND fashionable. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo below to read the full post.

What are your favorite travel must-haves? How do you travel in style? What is your go-to travel destination? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

3 Reasons Why Visitors Say #ThankYouMiami

#ThankYouMiami primarily presents the Miami lifestyle from a local's perspective. So I was intrigued when Ashley Vaccarino from travel fashion blog and e-commerce brand, Arrive Chic, asked me to view Miami from a visitor's perspective. Last week, I shared with her and her audience three reasons why visitors can't help but say #ThankYouMiami. Click on the excerpt below for the full feature.

Are you a visitor to our beautiful city? What are some of the reasons why you say #ThankYouMiami? Why do your visiting friends and family say #ThankYouMiami? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Being The Gateway to the Americas - La Puerca, Panama 2013

Miami is the perfect home-base for people who love to travel by plane, especially to the Americas. We have two international airports in close proximity, including Miami International Airport (MIA) which currently serves 56 domestic destinations and 77 international destinations in Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean (MIA, 2013). While our access elsewhere is much more limited, we make the best of it. Because, why go elsewhere when the universe has handed Miami a skeleton key to the Americas?

Since I arrived in the 305, I have taken full advantage of our easy access to that which lies beyond our borders. My latest travel exploits took me to Panama for the second time this year - this time, as the only female in an all-male surf and exploration quest along the Pacific Coast. Unfortunately for the guys, we arrived during the only week this surf season that didn't have particularly enticing waves so the trip was more exploration, less surfing.

The highlight of our trip was our one-night stay at Reserva Ecológica Privada Cerro Hoya, a privately-owned ecological reserve in the Azuero Peninsula of Panama. Locally known as "La Puerca", this 70 hectare paradise is one of only a handful of private properties inside the limits of Cerro Hoya National Park and is literally in the middle of nowhere.

Redefining remote. "La Puerca" is a private nature reserve located within the limits of Cerro Hoya National Park on the Pacific Coast of Panama and is a 6-hour drive and 2.5-hour boat ride from Panama City. Credit: La Puerca

Our 8-hour journey to "La Puerca" was purely a labor of love, fueled by a moment of insanity. The trip started with us renting a car with four-wheel drive at Tocumen International Airport and ended with a guy named Chichín beaching us in his panga on the shores of "La Puerca" in between sets of head-high waves.

Our adrenaline-fueled arrival at "La Puerca" set the tone for the entirety of our stay. Every moment of our two-day trip was riddled with danger, excitement, and adventure - everything I imagine a National Geographic exploration to be. And, while I don't enjoy fearing for my life so many times in one day, I loved every minute. Check out some of my favorite moments below.

Living with nature. Reserva Ecólogica Privada Cerro Hoya is in the process of reforesting its 70 hectares, which were previously used for grazing and agriculture. The humble accommodations, shown above, are further testament to their commitment to conservation and minimizing their environmental footprint.

Awe-inspiring discoveries. Even though the hikes were rough, every step was worth uncovering the beauty of the Panamanian rainforest and its many waterfalls.

Managing small miracles. Even though we were in the middle of the rainforest during the peak of rainy season, one of the guys managed to build a fire to dry my soaking clothes.

Rainforest necessities. Willy Palm, the manager of "La Puerca" was the only one in our group properly outfitted for the hikes we took around the property.

Bravery or foolishness? Chichín and his panga frequently take on Mother Nature to deliver visitors and supplies at "La Puerca".

Where is your favorite place to travel in the Americas? What was your favorite or most adventurous trip there? Is there somewhere in the Americas you would like to go, but have not had the opportunity to visit? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

3 Reasons Why I #ThankYouMiami: The 2 Year Review

Today, August 8, 2013, marks the 2 year anniversary of Thank You, Miami. And, looking back, I have a lot for which to be thankful. So I Thank You, Miami for these past 2 years and for these 3 reasons because no other city delivers quite like you:

1. #ThankYouMiami for terrible Miami drivers.

Terrible Miami drivers (AKA 99% of the Miami population) are high on the list of issues I rant about the most because I swear they age me 5 years every time I get on the road. If the stress of sharing the road with them doesn't kill me, there is an unfortunately high chance that another Miamian's lack of driving ability will.

But, today I choose to #ThankYouMiami for your terrible drivers, without whom driving would be infinitely basic. Without whom I would take for granted driving competence and overall common sense. And, without whom I would probably take my life for granted more often than not.

So, #ThankYouMiami for terrible drivers because, while they are a threat to our safety, they keep us on our toes. 

2. #ThankYouMiami for making me fight for what I want, but teaching me how to get it.

Before I moved to Miami, I lived by the motto of "It is what it is". I knew how to fight for what I wanted, but often allowed my interpretation of fate to determine whether or not I got it. I quickly realized once I moved to Miami that this type of attitude leads you to getting little, if anything, of what you want here. Even worse, everyone else knows how to get what they want and more for FREE.

Slowly but surely I have learned how to fight for what I want out of pure necessity. More importantly, I have learned how to get what I want - partially by taking a page from the book of other successful but morally-sound Miamians (yes, we exist) and partially by exploiting my feminine charm.

So, #ThankYouMiami for making me fight for what I want, but giving me the skills to do so. After all, I have to be able to hold my own if I want to continue to live here.

3. #ThankYouMiami for being the ultimate staycation.

Between the stress of dealing with terrible drivers and the stress of fighting to make it in this city, I sometimes ask myself why I enjoy living here. Then I look at my calendar and realize it looks like the Griswold's itinerary on National Lampoon's Hawaiian Vacation so I stop asking myself stupid questions.

We are surrounded by world-class hotels, spas, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, not to mention we have one of the best beaches on Earth according to Travel+Leisure. It is easy to forget that not everyone on the planet has it this good. And that, few people outside Miami leave work on Friday afternoons with the promise of beach days and pool parties.

So, #ThankYouMiami for being the ultimate staycation, where I can leave work at 5:30 p.m. and make it to the Mondrian in time to enjoy a mojito poolside and watch the sun set over Biscayne Bay.

Biscayne Bay and the gorgeous downtown Miami skyline as seen from the MacArthur Causeway.

I really enjoy swapping stories with others about how awesome, but often frustrating it is to live in Miami. Do you have a reason to thank Miami or a story to share? Leave a comment below or sending me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!