We had to work in one last thing before we boarded our flight today. We can’t leave Miami without exploring a grand mansion and gardens. Think Hearst Castle but with a tropical flair and a little bit of Venice thrown in for additional atmosphere.

Our chosen mansion was Vizcaya in Miami’s Coconut Grove. James Deering, Vizcaya’s creator, used old family money to the tune of $433 million in today’s money to build an 180 acre estate…..that he used during the summer….for only 9 years…and most of that time the estate was still under construction.

I counted 10 complete sets of china in the butler’s pantry – two of which were solely dedicated for use on the yacht. A nearby information sign asked us to consider the practice of using disposable dinnerware on boats. In essence saying, “If James can use real dishes so can you”. What they failed to mention was that James had his china rimmed in silver to prevent chipping while on the sea.

One other thing that struck me was the utilitarian decor of the bathrooms next to the opulence of the furnishings, knick-nacs, and wall decor. I guess they really didn’t spend as much time in the bathroom as we do.

Now Miami-Dade County owns it and is currently renovating many rooms in the main house, and many of the garden spaces.