DSP Retreat

[sssnoo]

Tara suggested a DSP retreat and I agree - a multiday scrappin retreat somewhere.

My suggestion for where? Chicago -

Relatively easy to get to for domestic and international fliers
Great photowalk territory
We've never done a crop there
Great food
Economical for a large city

In October? Beautiful weather then

[Lisa Carter]

Oh a retreat sounds soooooooo fun
we need a DSP travel agent

October may be a little too soon...Lauren has REALLY HIGH airfare and we do want her to come!!!
We need to do a yearly retreat...maybe not in the same place every year but getting together every year would be soooooo much fun

[Sharon1313]

I really love this idea. I was just telling DH yesterday that I had so much fun at the crop but I wished it was longer because I wanted time for scrapping and time for socializing, and just couldn't do it all in 12 hours! Also personally love the idea of Chicago ;) because it's just a hop away.

[Betsyfru]

Oh, I would so love to meet some other DSP'ers! I think a central spot (like Chicago) would be good, but please not in October!!! I have several major things on my calendar for October already and it just would kill me to miss another event!

[scamptx]

I love this idea! And I haven't been to Chicago in forever! I have to say that October might be difficult...but I sure am game for a retreat in that location.

[sherryva]

oh this sounds like fun- count me in- I liked Chicago last time I was there- (how cold/windy is it there in October for a photo walk?- just curious..)

[elizabethlmccoy]

LOVE LOVE LOVE CHICAGO!!!!! Great to bring the whole fam too!!!

[idtwinmom]

I would love to go to a retreat!!!! Chicago is a great city. But October would be completely out for me. Even farther for me would be New York City, but I might actually be able to go there a little easier as I have family in the area.

[bendipez]

This sounds like a reat idea!! Chicago would be nice, maybe a bit on the chilly side though. What about San Antonio, the river walk area???

[Scrapping4Him]

A DSP retreat? What a fabulous idea!!! LOL I think hubby will let me go again since my little prize sorta paid for this last trip :lol:

[Margie]

you girls! i haven't even unpacked yet! we've done a crop in chicago, did a few at a great american scrapbook convention last summer. lauren and kim both came and we had a ball!
we'll certainly see, but you must let us get over our jet lag first! :D

[shazzt]

If only I could find that winning lotto ticket..... :)

[gail0423]

Chicago, yep, yep, that would definitely work for me!

[pieohpah75]

AWESOME! My home town! I would love to meet some fellow DSPer's! October is usually good weather....in the 50's or 60's...and beautiful fall colors!

[AmberK]

Texas is an awesome place to visit and its not cold in October!!!

Just saying. :P

[elizabethlmccoy]

Mandy?? A little prize????? Hmmm I think it was one of the biggest honkin prizes you could get!!! HAHAHA


A DSP retreat? What a fabulous idea!!! LOL I think hubby will let me go again since my little prize sorta paid for this last trip :lol:

[Tina]

um OHIO?

[Lauren]

We did a DSP retreat in Auckland back in May - it was awesome - I can certainly recommend it - Sure happy to do another in Auckland too - as soon as it stops raining here which it may never do - It would be nice to see some more US DSPers over here!!

[Tara]

I with Margie about the jetlag - but for me it is more like "party lag". :) I'm all about a DSP retreat someday...and would even be up for Chicago...but not until next year. Too much traveling recently (well, not too much for me...just for the wallet).

[Lisa Carter]

We did a DSP retreat in Auckland back in May - it was awesome - I can certainly recommend it - Sure happy to do another in Auckland too - as soon as it stops raining here which it may never do - It would be nice to see some more US DSPers over here!!

oh that would be fun!!!
but the airfare to there is soooooooo high!!!
(ducking so Lauren doesn't hit me when she throws things cause she comes here all the time...hehehe)

[missaboo]

Oh my, Chicago!!!! I definitely could ride Amtrak. My Aunt lives there and she comes to visit by Amtrak...(yes, I am way too chicken to fly, but then again, chickens don't fly, do they? ;)....)

[Lauren]

oh that would be fun!!!
but the airfare to there is soooooooo high!!!
(ducking so Lauren doesn't hit me when she throws things cause she comes here all the time...hehehe)

Yeah it sure would be nice to NOT have to fork out those airfares from MY end for a change !!!!- I could have bought myself a plane on what its cost me so far - mind you i wouldnt be able to afford the gas to put IN the plane!!!!!!!!!!

[webfrau]

We did a DSP retreat in Auckland back in May - it was awesome - I can certainly recommend it - Sure happy to do another in Auckland too - as soon as it stops raining here which it may never do - It would be nice to see some more US DSPers over here!!

If we don't drown first - I'd be up for another retreat - it was a blast! Meantime I'll be hunting for that winning lotto ticket with shazzt!

[kydeb]

How about a DSP cruise retreat? They have cruises for all kinds of things!!

[shazzt]

Yes - we will have to have another Auckland retreat (don't you love that word - it sounds so fancy!!) - maybe try for a long weekend. The last one was far too short!!! And it would be fantastic if some US people could come (although technically we had one last time - the lovely Terryl!!)

[littlekiwi]

Next time I will try and attend too - sounds like I missed out on a great weekend away back in May!

[Marriedin79]

Naples, Florida, in the early summer (June and beginning of July) is beautiful, with pretty good hotel rates. I'll go find the information that I recently posted for someone else. BRB

[Marriedin79]

I knew I would find it! You might want to consider Naples, Florida, located in Collier County. We are on the Gulf of Mexico; the weather here is beautiful during the fall, winter and spring. Summer is hot and humid ... but our (almost) daily thunderstorms put the humidity at rest, followed by a nice evening. There's almost always a gorgeous breeze off of the water.

During the "season" (Thanksgiving to Easter) prices at hotels can be high. If you are considering renting something like a condo or going to a timeshare, more than one family might be able to share a unit. We could do that ... several stay in one condo and make one of the condos a crop room. Plus, if you go the condo/timeshare route, you can prepare your breakfasts and lunches, thus saving some money. Dinner can be "at home" or out at one of our many many many restaurants. There are some time-share units that I know of that are right on the beach ... my friends rent at least three units every year in the early summer and have a mini family reunion.

Collier County is the golf capital of Florida (bring the DH and he can golf!), with more holes per capita than any other city. In the spring, the Red Sox and the Twins both have spring training camps in Fort Myers, about an hour drive away; the Florida Marlins have regular season games on the east coast, an easy drive as well. If you are here in February, Fort Myers has a fantastic parade and several-week-long festivities to celebrate its favorite citizen, Thomas Edison, whose house laboratory is open for public tours. Shopping runs the range from flea markets to very high end upscale department stores and specialty shops. Airboat rides through the Everglades, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and big game fishing on the Gulf are other exciting things to do if you tire of the beach.

Southwest Florida International Airport is within an hour drive from Naples, or you could fly (if you are flying) into Fort Lauderdale, which is about a two hour drive directly east across Alligator Alley.

The beaches are beautiful, the water is calm almost all of the time, the weather is beautiful, our community is clean, and the crime rate is very low compared to other areas of Florida.

It's been great to introduce you to my town ... I hope that you'll consider Naples for your vacation. Please feel free to pm me if you have any more questions.

[GabbyGee1976]

ohhh...I'd love to go to Chicago again :) Haven't been back there in 10 years - though I like Texas too ;)

[canay]

I've never been to Chicago so that would be fun. Auckland....I'm there for that one too. Think I'll bring hubby with me to Auckland. Heck maybe to Chicago too. I am all for a retreat!!!

[Lisa Carter]

Florida would be GREAT
Never been to Naples but i have a timeshare in Orlando and i LOVE IT
hey maybe Marcee could come if it were in Florida...hmmmmmmmmm
I have gotten to see her 2 times now with our visits to florida and i look so forward to seeing her...she is so amazing!!!

Now Lauren if we did do it there I would love to do it in the winter months...well your winter our summer. I have never been skiing and that would be fun to do.

Texas is great but would be funner down south near San Antonio. There is so much to do there. You can go to the River Walk in San Antonio, GREAT shopping in San Marcus, or we could float down the River in a tube (that is FUN). There is also a little town out there called Gruene....wonderful town. It is an old town. They have caverns and Drive thru zoo's...oh so many things to do down there...oh and of course the Alamo is there.

[Lisa Carter]

oops forgot....
a cruise...
that would be AMAZING!!!!
I have NEVER been on a cruise. But those poor people working would not know what to think of us.....(hehehehe)

[Leea]

We went to Disney in Florida in the 2nd to 3rd week of December and it was wonderful...the travel books said one of those weeks was one of the least busy times of year there, and we must have got it right, because the lines weren't long, the weather was nice and Disney was already decorated for Christmas :) and there's lots to scrapbook at Disney...characters, landscaping, parades. We stayed at Disney (Music Resort-one of the least expensive) and it was the one of the best vacations ever for fun and value...but then I like Disney and plan to go to Disney in December again in the next few years :)

[Janet]

I vote for a week long cruise - where husbands and kids are welcome and can not only have their own fun, but provide a wealth of photos for scrapping! And, hey, we can reciprocate with the Adobe folks and invite them to join us! :yahoo:

[Sharon1313]

Cruise... Cruise... Cruise... :)

[sherryva]

I've never been on a cruise... sounds like a great idea- we are all together in one spot- no parking, driving etc... plenty of ways to relax.. but I am in wherever you decide in the US- cant do overseas- (I've never bothered to get a passport- oh my- would I need one for a cruise?)

[Tara]

LOL - cruises? We dream big, don't we! They do have cruises for all sorts of things - scrapping, quilting, etc. Personally, I would rather do them separate - - if I'm on a cruise, I want to focus on that - shore excursions, exploring the ship, eating, etc. and if I'm DSPing, I want to do that! I know it would be fun...but I know I wouldn't scrap much at all!!! (Poor Margie, still recovering from jet lag and we've already planned 500 DSP retreats and cruises for her!)

[Erica]

I'll hang my hat anywhere if someones up for paying for me ;) otherwise I'm with Julia and Sharon - waiting for my numbers to come up... Another Auckland 'retreat' is a must for us Antipodeans’ though.

[gram2nic]

CHICAGO!! YES YES YES! I am originally from Chicago and my family still lives there so I could make it look like I was going home for a visit but in reality my objective is to go to a retreat....what ever that is...never been to one or a crop!
Cruise sounds good too, never been on one of those either! Geez, I lead a sheltered life...:rolleyes:

[sunhappy]

Well, I'm up for almost anywhere Southwest flies as they usually have the best rates of the major carriers. AND, I was just telling DH recently that Chicago was on my list of places to go.

I used to attend cross stitch festivals--they were huge affairs with lots of classes and a gi-normous sales floor. Not so sure we need/want the sales floor unless vendors like Epson, HP, Canon, Nikon, etc., could be persuaded to set up booths and give LOTS of prizes. But I, for one, kind of like the idea of concentrated classes sort of like the month-long DSP classes but structured for half-day or full-day presentation.

But, like a lot of others, I'm happy to wait awhile for the next event. There's always such a lot happening on the site that I stay pretty busy already!

[emandlivsmom]

A cruise would be amazing...but I agree with OrangeSue, I think I would want to enjy the cruise and not get much scrapping done. Texas, Florida, and Chicago all sound great to me. Time to start saving my pennies....

SCrapping4Him...what did you win anyway? I missed it. (O:

[doda]

We did a DSP retreat in Auckland back in May - it was awesome - I can certainly recommend it - Sure happy to do another in Auckland too - as soon as it stops raining here which it may never do - It would be nice to see some more US DSPers over here!!

Now THAT would be fun! Wish I could swing it!

[willjenni]

Throwing my vote in for Chicago!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!

[doda]

I have to agree Chicago is the way to go for USA. Centrally located, and like Sunhappy said, Southwest flies there! :clap:

And there are lots of things to see and do.
But....I will need to save up some $$$ and unpack from my last trip.

[Scrapping4Him]

But....I will need to save up some $$$ and unpack from my last trip.

LOL - me too! I just now downloaded my pics from the photowalk :rolleyes:

Jennifer - I won CS3 at the crop. I'm still learning how to use it after having used my beloved PSE5 for the past 1-1/2 years. Just a few subtle differences :lol:

[SeansNonnie]

Cruise? Great choice! All inclusive (except for shore excursions) is a great way to go. Plan your scrapping for those "at sea" days and you can still do shore excursions. Family members will have fun too! Many children's activities and things to do for non-scrappers. Prices can be very reasonable for Mexican Riviera or Alaska...especially with a group.

San Antonio? Another great place...Riverwalk and The Alamo just to name a couple.

Disneyland? Another great choice for families. Who doesn't love Mickey?

[reneeshannon]

I'm all for San Antonio... I'd offer to lead the photo walk... so many beautiful things here and no matter what time of the year it doesn't get very cold! But I'm okay with Chicago.. I have family close to there. But either place have great shopping nearby.... Gurney Mills (Chicago) and San Marcos Outlets (literally it's own exit on the interstate... it's massive!)

[carolat]

My vote is for San Antonio! Riverwalk is an awesome photo op :)

[doda]

Oh yes, the San Antonio riverwalk is great! and Remember the Alamo! LOL

[Crafts]

I vote for San Antonio, too. I might have a chance of coming to the retreat. :)