It has officially been just over a month since our very first USA Meetup happened in Key West, Florida. I can still smell the salty air and feel my spirit vibrantly dancing down the infamous Duval Street. If there were ever to be an “unofficial” meetup to feel as if it were the “real” deal, it certainly happened on that island in the Keys.
I can see why the conchs who live there call it home. The entirety of Key West was very welcoming and inviting. While meeting other Local Guides there, it truly brought together our group as if we were all one big family– reuniting from past connections (Connect LIVE) and also welcoming newcomers. No one was left out or left behind. Everyone was included and there was space for each person to feel safe and heard.
It is not every day you can meet up with total and complete strangers that come from all corners of the nation (some even, internationally) but we did it. By the end of the weekend, it felt as if we had always known one another.
Being a part of the Local Guide community, I have learned, here, you’re not just a number or statistic, but rather, you’re a real true living being (no, your’re not just a “screen” name either), that is a part of something great. At the center of this community, everyone is treated like family.
While in Key West, this Local Guide family showed up and showed out! I am beyond proud and grateful to be a part of such an awesome group of people. No one set person did it all to make this event happen, everyone, as a whole worked together. From the organizers to the attendees– none of it could have been possible without the accompaniment of the other. While mentioning that, I would still like to give a special shout-out to the other organizers I was honored to be able to work alongside with: @JustJake, @SoniaK, @jayasimha78, @Rednewt74, @Denise_Barlock and @AdrianLunsong!!! ALL OF YOU ARE THE REAL MVP’s!!! I would also like to give a special thank you to @Kristen_NYC for joining us. I know we had a fully loaded itinerary; you stuck it out like a rockstar! It was great to sit and visit with you over breakfast on our last day!
Now here is a photo dump from my personal pictures and the group album 
We scavenged the island, we mapped the storefronts, we toured the museums and even pet the polydactyl felines.
This place was a tropical paradise with clear blue water, palm trees all around, and you’d never know when you would come across a rooster or an iguana. It certainly kept you alert at all times for anything that was just a tad quirky.
We danced in tutus, we backpacked across the island in the pouring rain, we took group photos anywhere and everywhere that was picturesque, we indulged in Affogato (still dreaming of that delicacy), until, alas, we had to say our farewells.
This was certainly at a time written for the history books. In this day and age, it was such a breath of fresh air to be alongside like-minded people who carry the same morale of inclusivity with respect, trust, integrity and friendship.
Soo, if you are ever wondering what a USA Meetup would be like, trust that it is not something you are going to want to miss out on. It is a gathering of individuals who you may not even know at first but by the end of the event, you are going to miss terribly. During this time, you’ll realize it is not about the place you are at or the things you even go to do but rather making the memories and spending the time with the people around you.
Overall, I am already looking forward to the next big USA Meetup, and I cannot wait to be a part of the future endeavors Team USA Local Guides have in store!!! Cheers to new beginnings, making Local Guide history, and continuing to grow as we move forward! What an exciting way to kick off 10 years of Local Guides Connect!
Please check out these other USA Meetup Post Recaps as well:
@JustJake: Key West Vibes & Community Ties: The First USA Local Guides Meetup
@JustJake: Part 2 - Key West Vibes & Community Ties: The First USA Local Guides Meetup
@jayasimha78 : Making History in Paradise: A Look Back at the Key West USA Meetup
@SoniaK: From Surveys to Sunsets: The Story of Our First #USAMeetup
@Rednewt74: Key West Meetup 2026: Lonesome no more
@JessicaBerg: From a +1 to LG6
@BrittanyShae: Introduce Yourself — June 2026 - #135 by BrittanyShae
@Denise_Barlock : From Welcome Hugs to Rainy-Day Adventures: #USAMeetup2026 Part 1
