The conference and convention was hosted at Gaylord’s Grande Ole Opry Hotel. Call me prejudiced, but I had images of an animated stuffed Mini Pearl greeting us at thd door, shrieking “How-DEEE!” Needless to say, I was completely surprised. The Grande Ole Opry Hotel is a massive structure that puts an entire city block under glass, is itself a unique place to visit. The floor level is drenched in green plants and three-story waterfalls. Massive bananas and trees stretch, reaching for the glass dome ceilings. We walked through pathways to restaurants, each with its own style and theme. In another portion of the hotel are canals (and guided boats, if you care to indulge in such things – I did!) weaving through the stores and shops found on a number of levels. Meeting hall areas are antebellum in their styling, and the staff is friendly yet professional. If one wanted to, one could remain at the Gaylord for the entire visit and be well served.

Evening Unique Nashville

Nashville may be the home of country music, but it’s also home to the Stock-Yard Restaurant, one of the top ten steakhouses in the nation. I wasn’t leaving without eating there, and it didn’t take much twisting of arms to get my friend, Amanda, to join me. We spoke of business, so it went on my expense account anyway.

Aside from those two “Business” sentences, our time at the Stock Yard was spent in culinary bliss! The place has three hundred wines on its list, and even an unopened display bottle from 1776! The meal was perfect, from appetizers to desert. My steak, an incredibly thick slab of tenderloin Angus turf, was joined by a butter-soaked tail of Maine surf. Amanda opted for the specialty of the house, a grilled prime rib steak. Neither of us spoke much during the meal, except to utter guttural tones of ecstasy.

Though they’d have picked us up, we’d already been out and about, so we just hopped a cab over there, but took advantage of their complimentary transportation onward to the Bluebird Cafe, one of the remaining pieces of old Nashville’s style.

The Bluebird is a songwriter’s haunt, and the best songwriters in the business regularly drop in. Their motto is “Shhhh!” But they do serve some food and drinks between songs in this very small cafe. We had the luck of hearing Jeffrey Steele (who penned Rascal Flats’ “These Days” and “What Hurts The Most”) sharing his magic with a few special guests. It was a great way to end out our one evening off.

We ducked out early one afternoon and visited the Musicians Hall of Fame and then headed over to the Wildhorse Saloon for dinner and music. We were lucky enough to drop in to the Wildhorse during the House Band Search Contest and caught the J. C. Andersen Band. Excellent music – this band will be a household name in the near future!

One evening a group of meeting planners enjoyed the evening cruise on the General Jackson. The authentic paddle-wheel boat glides up the Cumberland River while we enjoyed the entertainment (history of country music) and enjoyed a delicious prime rib dinner. It’s about a 4 hour excursion that had us back by 10pm.

Nashville is surrounded by the beautiful Smoky Mountains. If we’d had more time, hiking around in them might have been fun, but we were all on a tight schedule this time through. I hope to return to Nashville and explore a few more of the locals’ regular haunts. From what I’ve heard, there are many more unique places to visit in Music City.

One of the aspects of Dallas that causes it to stand out above other conference destinations is the choice of quality restaurants. Texas is cattle country; you can have your steak and eat it any way you like in Dallas, from the unusual Texas de Brazil restaurant’s South American flavors and style to the classic Morton’s Steakhouse with its extensive wine list and outstanding service… and these are just a couple examples of the many steak houses in the city. While we’re talking about awesome places to eat, a new find: The Grape Restaurant! This Dallas landmark’s blackboard menu is surprisingly affordable, offering true culinary delights! Their wine list (available by the glass) was a pleasant surprise as well! What may very well be the unexpected surprise of the trip, though, was found in the Oak Lawn area. Along the very festive Cedar Springs Road, we found Buli’s, a sidewalk cafe offering fresh-grilled panini sandwiches, served in lunchboxes. That was endearing, but the gelato was pure heaven! I’ve not had that flavor sensation since the last time I was in Italy! Bravo, Buli’s!

In such an eclectic city, there are myriad attractions, both common and uncommon. Sure, the Six Flags and Medieval Times are there (Go Green Knight!,) but there are some truly enriching experiences that don’t cost a fortune to visit as well. The Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art is one such noteworthy place. This museum preserves over 700 scrolls, paintings and art objects from China, India, Japan and Southeast asia. Display pieces include rare jade ornamentals from China, and a huge sandstone facade from 18th century India, amongst the 300-plus works one can view. This rare view of Asian art made a huge impression on me, and admission was free!

When it comes to nightlife, Dallas is one hopping town, no matter how you like to move your groove! Rock & Roll, Salsa, Country, Jazz or Disco, live music or dancing — you name it, there’s at least one place that shares your tastes. We were pretty exhausted most nights, but did manage to hit a couple clubs on Friday night. No Dallitude while we were there! Everyone seemed to be there to have fun. We all had a blast!

Though Dallas is a relatively new growth town, you’ll want for nothing there. From the cultural diversity and rich new architecture, from the Tex-Mex to the down-home Howdy, Dallas is a really enjoyable place to visit! I’ll be looking forward to our next conference in D-town!

As you may have noticed, Portland has developed quite a micro-brewery industry — so much so that, in 2006, Mayor Potter made it official: Portland is now also known as Beertown. Even if beer isn’t your thing, it’s fascinating to see what all is involved in the making of these small batches of brew. With at least 28 microbreweries to tour and sample from, you’re sure to find something that suits your fancy. You may even find yourself sending on souvenirs — strictly for medicinal purposes, of course!

The delightful restaurants are a large part of Portland’s appeal. There are so many unusual and unique places to visit! One that I make a point of going to as often as possible is a truly peaceful glade called The Tao of Tea. With their waterfall and tranquil vibe, it’s an ideal place to get some down-time, and enjoy one of the vast array of teas available. You’ll probably want to take some of them home with you, and maybe a few brewing accessories as well! Another unusual spot is the Elephants Delicatessen. An eclectic and divers menu of gourmet coffees, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cheeses, home-made pasteries and breads… salads, sandwiches, deserts (bet ya can’t eat just one!) Await, and one can even take some of the entrees home to eat later. Even the cost is diverse; there’s something for every budget at the Elephants Deli, so make a point of putting it on your must-do list for Portland!

Portland is called the City of Roses, and I’d be amiss in my duties if I didn’t tell you about the International Rose Test Gardens and the Hoyt Arboretum. Imagine the 6800 rose bushes that adorn the IRTG, some 557 varieties of them! And the Hoyt is a living museum of trees! It covers some 187 acres and includes a thousand species of trees! Some of their important work includes producing seeds used to reforest destroyed habitat — a very noble mission, and an extraordinary exhibit!

Portland, Oregon has so much to offer, so many things to see and do and enjoy! This is just a tidbit sampling of all that the city has to offer. But dont’ take my word for it — visit and find out for yourself! Keep your fingers crossed that a Portland, Oregon meeting or convention is on your schedule this year.

Video: Twitter Portland Oregon Visitors and Convention at #inpdx

There are several convention centers in Denver. Ours was at the Qwest Learning & Conference Center, a scenic location in Lakewood. We visit a lot of convention centers throughout the year. The Qwest remains one of my favorites. The clear, crisp feel of the place is both modern and comfortable, and the facility lives up to their motto, “Where Nature Meets Technology.”

One day when we broke for lunch, one of the locals suggested a Brazilian restaurant called the Rodizio Grill. Gauchos carry platters and skewers of freshly cooked meats to your table, where you take your pick from the many delicious dishes. When you want more to choose from, turn your “cue” green-side up. When you want a break, turn it red-side up — or they’ll keep on showing up and offering you more! A definite must-go.

The Denver Art Museum is a truly eclectic experience. Temporary exhibits to compliment their permanent collection. We caught “The Psychadelic Experience,” which displays some 300 posters, album covers and such from the 60′s and 70′s. It was really amazing to see what was popular at the time. Of course, the static collection is fascinating as well. One could easily spend several days there checking out the African, Asian, American Indian and Oceanic collections. Be sure to visit this extraordinary Colorado museum!

Another rare treat in Denver is the U.S. Treasury’s Mint, one of three in the country. The tour (free admission) includes both the current technologies involved in minting our money, and the history of the Mint. How often do you get to see money being made? Reservations are highly advised, and the facility is wheelchair and handicap accessible. People with special needs are encouraged to visit, and accommodated.

Denver’s restaurants seem especially fond of making unusual environments to dine in as well. No matter what your favorite kind of food is, you’ll find it in the Mile High City, served with rare flair! The Adams Mystery Playhouse is one such place. A true treat, it starts off as a cocktail party and takes the guests on a wild romp that includes singing, impressions and a whole slew of hilarious improvisational acting that you’re as much a part of as you like! I can’t remember when I had so much fun!

There’s so much to see and do in Denver! It really is impossible to take it all in during one trip. I’ll be making a point of getting back soon to continue the grand tour!

Video: Business Meetings Denver

Sunny Miami, Florida, is the nation’s southernmost metropolis, and home to an unusual and eclectic melting pot of cultures. Cubans and Jamaicans are amongst the diversity, of course, but there are many others to be found in the most exotic city in the U.S. Miami truly is a unique place. (Over 100 businesses in the Miami area with the word “Unique” in their name.) Not to worry; You can count on the Itinerant Attendee to slice through the swath and bring you what’s truly worthy in Magic City.

To really appreciate Miami, you’ll have to know why it’s called the Magic City. Officially incorporated by a mere 300 people (and one woman, Julia Tuttle) in 1896, the city has known some truly magic growth since, and is now home to nearly six million people. It’s skyline is ranked 3rd in the nation (after Chicago and New York,) and it serves as a global trade center. Miami is also the 3rd richest city in the nation, 22nd in the world. Yet it maintains the deserved Forbes Magazine designation of “America’s Cleanest City.”

One of the most unique aspects of Miami is the way that it integrates magnificent architecture and the great outdoors. It would be a shame not to simply bask in the flow and form. In many ways, just being in Miami is a truly unique experience! We all enjoyed just walking around and taking in the sights. Even cab rides are fun and exciting in a place like this!

To give Miami a fair shake would take weeks. One weekend day, my friend David and I took an airboat ride into the Everglades. Remember to bring ear plugs and mosquito repellent, and you’ll have a great time! Biscayne National Park was also beautiful, fun and relaxing way to spend a day. We took a tour in a glass-bottom boat, saw the amazing colors of the reef and undersea world, and even had dolphins frolicking alongside us for a while! The Gulf Stream keeps the waters warm all year long, making for some great snorkeling and diving opportunities, too! There are many fun ways to take in the ocean in Miami!

Miami’s literal score of museums are true mind candy. Most are located in the downtown area, offering fascinating exhibits to expand one’s mind and horizons. It was more than a little tempting to call in Sick after the convention was over and stay another week or two to visit them all! Luckily, we’re booked there at least a couple times each year, so eventually I’ll see them all. My personal favorites so far are the Frost Art, and Miami Art Museums and the Museum of Contemporary art.

Foods and Clubs in Miami are another unparalleled experience. Lunches are uniformly delicious, from the Cuban sandwiches to haute cuisine. Then the sun sets, and it’s “buenos noches” time! Even if you’ve got no rhythm, you’ll still find yourself out there having fun at the exclusive Set Nightclub. Nothing like it! For a milder flair, we all enjoyed the Tobacco Road and the Mango’s Tropical Cafe. Very different in their styles, they each offer daily dinner specials and (if you’re so inclined,) the clubs are open until 5 am!

Miami is the kind of place that takes years to truly know. With our hectic schedule, it may take a little longer, but we’re having a great time finding out along the way!  

Discover all Miami Convention Center Meeting Location on Unique Venues

One of the things that marks Seattle as unusual is the plethora of small shops and the very fact that they’re all so… specialized! The Gargoyle Statuary’s common thread is gothic trappings. Who wouldn’t want a gargoyle watching over you? Browsing through shops like this are part and parcel of the Seattle experience.

The Asian Art Museum is not to be missed. The richness of color and style, and so many elements that we don’t often consider (not to mention the history) make this a great way to spend a few extra hours and leave with vivid images!

The Seattle Aquarium, too, is extraordinary. They’ve got an underwater dome that places visitors amidst it all, the fish all around and overhead. There are several inconceivably vast tanks, marine mammals, an Oddities Exhibit. Some aquariums are just fish tanks. This one’s a fascinating afternoon adventure!

If you’re not genetically opposed to touristy stuff (as I am – my coworkers had to drag me kicking and screaming) Seattle’s Space Needle is both a neat piece of history and one great way to take in a view of the city from the unique perspective of height. From that vantage point, you really get a feel for how the city’s laid out, how much of a part water plays in the city’s design. It can also be fun to spot the places you’ve been, from the sky.

One other thing about Seattle is the eclectic nature of the restaurants. Lunch takes on entirely new dimensions at some such places. Crepe De France, for example, in the downtown section, qualifies as unique. Nobody will ever accuse them of being affordable, but even while we complained that they were outrageous, most of us were eying desert crepes, and pondering future visits. Crepes for Breakfast, lunch and dinner! Located in the “must see” Pike Place Market.

Seattle has its own “Chinatown,” called the International District (ID,) where Asians off several nations gather. With gift shops as well as restaurants to fit most budgets and palates, an afternoon and evening spent in the ID is sure to be a treat!

Listing all the great restaurants would take us all day. One that I simply cannot go without mentioning is the Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Columbia City. Between the incredible pizza and the gelato, I didn’t want to leave! Needless to say, they get a lot of repeat business.

When the gear was finally packed away, we got a chance to take in some of the local clubs. Grunge and alternative rock are still very much alive, but so are jazz and most other live music scenes. If you want to dance, check out the Last Supper Club. Open Wednesday through Sunday, each night has its own theme, and some very affordable adult libations. Wednesday through Saturday, you can head over to Venom as well. One sure thing about Seattle is that there’s always something new in store, so be sure to ask around when you get to either of these!

At once vibrantly alive and surprisingly laid back, Seattle has to be one of the most truly cosmopolitan places I’ve been to. If the proof’s in the pudding, then I guess you can go by that I’m always glad to be there.

VIDEO: Seattle Tours

Or would I? Normally, anything as touristy as a driven tour — duck or otherwise – would send me running in the other direction. But there’s something unique about seeing these places from the water, and that difference is the start of a surprisingly exceptionally good time. The “Think Unique” selection this time is the Boston Duck Tours.

While the Charles River portion of the tour is only 20 minutes, the remaining hour is also a surprisingly enlightening experience. Amongst stops are the Scientology headquarters, the city’s public gardens, the Robert Gould Shaw Civil War Memorial, the Beacon Hill area, where Paul Revere and Sam Adams laid the cornerstone for the nation’s oldest State building in 1795. The Museum of Science is always good for the grey cells. Then we pass onto the water, and a spectacular view of the Boston and Cambridge Skylines. Then back to land, to visit the U.S. S. Constitution, a triple-mast tallship launched in 1797, and the oldest warship still afloat in the world. You’ll see the beautiful and amazing Bunker Hill Bridge, the Old North Church (“Two if by sea!”), the Quincy Market, with a wealth of stores for shopping… What makes this unique isn’t just the richness of history, but also the style with which the tours are conducted. A little zany, a lot fun, it’s a great way to get Beantown under your belt in an hour and a half. From there, you can pick the areas you’d like to go back to and explore in greater depth. Visiting a place so steeped in national history, your time may be best spent exploring those places, taking them in and making them your own.

The North side of town being the oldest, when it was time for dinner, a few of us managed to sneak off and explore, ending up at the WaterFront Cafe. This Italian restaurant and pizza joint may not be your first choice (and there are more formal restaurants in the area,) but for a relaxed good time with great music and awesome food, WaterFront Cafe is the place for a unique Boston evening. If you’re still feeling adventurous, hit up one of the more formal restaurants (or an Irish establishment) for coffee and desert.

As conference towns go, Boston is a good one. It was relatively easy to get around, and if you flag down a cabbie, you’ll even be able to ask him to say “pahk ya kahr.” Yeah, he’ll have heard it before, but that won’t make it any less fun, and it seems appropriately rebellious to be just a little irreverent in the place where the U.S. patriots first showed us how to do so.

Photo: Down the river on a Duck Tour

Notes:
Venues Visited: Boston Convention Center
Videos: Business Meetings Boston Massachusetts