Retreat question?

for me, it would have to be drive rather than fly and driving distance would depend on the road quality and whether I could share driving with someone. If I was just going alone, I think 2hr drive would be the max, I expect I'm on the low end though. It may also depend what kind of area it is, I live in an urban area, I expect if I lived in a rural area and couldn't easily pop to a shop or a quilting day, I'd travel further for a retreat.

Anne

An hour and a half.

Betty in WI

I traveled from Ames, IA to Gibbon, MN for a retreat. I went with my mother, who won it as a prize which helped with the drive. We did however go a second year as well. They were weekend retreats, but had they been during the week I would still have gone as long as DH could have the time off or someone else were available to watch my kids. I wouldn't think most people would go that far though. It was about 5 hrs. for me and the middle of the summer so no snow or ice to deal with either. I also would not have gone that far if not for my mother and some of the others from her area going which is about half way in between.

Charlotte

Our retreat always lasts from noon on Friday until noon on Sunday. We pay $165.00, and that includes dinner on Friday, 3 meals on Saturday, and a wonderful brunch on Sunday and our lodging. We travel around 120 miles each way for this. We don't have any classes, we just all work on our own projects, and play games. I would go farther than 150 miles.

Sherry Starr

I've done one at 3 hours, one at 4 hours, so anywhere up to 6 hours-if I really wanted to go. Gen

On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:40:16 -0500, Anne Rogers wrote (in article ):

Like Anne, I'd drive and I think 2 hours would be my max as well. The 4-day retreat I was just on is about 1 hr, 45 min. away from home.

Maureen

are you from Ames? I have friends there... and on one visit I visited your LQS. Quite nice!

Kate in MI

I was. This past fall we moved from Ames to a near by town about 10 miles away. DH still works in Ames though. It is a nice LQS. When I started quilting about 4 years agao they were in a different location. Their new one is much nicer. They now have more room for their merchandise and for classes.

Charlotte

For myself, I wouldn't go more than 2-3 hours away, unless the location featured great quilt shops nearby or other attractions as a sweetener.

Jane in NE Ohio Shirtsleeve weather today but supposed to be back below freezing on the weekend.

My friend's hubby works for the university. The live up on Cameron School Rd. We've been there a couple of times. It's really a nice little college town. When I visited they were in what was like a "historic district" I think. We entered from the back if I remember correctly.

Kate in MI

Halfway between Ames and Gibbon? Would that be the Albert Lea or Blue Earth area?

Julia > I traveled from Ames, IA to Gibbon, MN for a retreat. I went with my

She's not exactly half, but close. She is is just south of the IA/MN border- about 30-45 min. from Albert Lea IIRC. Many that went on the trips were from the Mason City area since it was organized by my mom's LQS, the Mason City LQS and one other area LQS that just closed in Jan. One year we had a gal from Austin, and I beleive one from Albert Lea.

The retreat house in Gibbon is so nice!! That said, I'm not going back this year. She has gotten quite expensive since the first time we went and for me the retreat Mason City done in a hotel serves my needs. Not fancy, but I get time away from the kids, house work, etc, and have time to just sew and enyoy being with other quilters. It is also less of a drive for me which is an added bonus in addtion to the cheaper price.

What area of MN are you from, BTW? I'll be up there on a bus trip organized by the LQS in Hayward. The stops on the list are Stillwater, Lake City and Eau Claire, WI. I've been to the Haywrd LQS a few times and even on one of their other bus trips, but not the others on my list.

Charlotte

If you're looking for "other attractions as a sweetener" (in addition to many quilt shops)... sounds like a retreat in Lancaster County Pennsylvania is for you! After all, Hershey, PA -- home of Hershey Chocolate is nearby! Quilts and chocolate... what more could you want???

Kate in MI :-)

If you entered from the back that would be their new location. The old one was IIRC, about half of the size. Plus they now also have a basement for holding events etc. There is a member of the group that doesn't post much that I belive works there - Lisa Caryl. I haven't meet her in person, just read her posts here. Next time your in town you'll have to let us know!

Charlotte

One of my local Ben Franklin stores has a Hershey's chocolate bar panel on sale. It could be a costume, or they even show it as a wall hanging! I think you have just inspired me to go back to get it.

My Aunt Margaret used to have a crystal dish on her buffet filled with Hershey's Kisses. My mom never kept candy in the house, unless someone gave her a box of Russell Stover's. So when we went to visit Aunt Margaret, I could get a Hershey's Kiss out of the dish. That was back in the 50's. Aunt Margaret and Uncle George have since passed on. I have their dining room furniture, along with the candy dish, in my dining room now. And the dish needs a refill.

I drive ~3 hours (~200 miles) to a retreat twice a year, but it starts on Thurs and goes thru Sunday. Most of the time I shop my way to the retreat area the day before, making it a 5-day adventure and a good break from everything else...I spend the night with friends before heading to the retreat.

I'm not sure I'd drive much more than an hour or so for a shorter retreat or one in midweek unless it was a special class/ teacher....just my 2 cents worth.

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Yvonne Stuchell

Quilting snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

I live in Rochester. I grew up in Hutchinson, so I'm familiar with the Gibbon area. I go to retreats at Good Earth Village, near Spring Valley, MN; it's about 30 miles south of Rochester. It's a beautiful spot and nice -- though not fancy -- accommodations.

Julia > She's not exactly half, but close. She is is just south of the IA/MN

The prices on the website look pretty reasonable and it looks like a great setting too. I can see why you'd retreat there.

Rochester huh? Well, then I have a question you may or may not be able to answer. Do you know where the Bernina dealor up there is? Apparnetly the place my mother used to take her machine for repair is no more (or at least in that location). She hasn't as of yet found out were the dealer now is. For now she has been using my dealor, but Rochester is about as close and she likes to shop up there from time to time.

Charlotte