Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    If you mean during this COLD month....I would take a long 
    weekend Friday through Monday and go to someplace warm like the
    Bahamas.....(you only live once) or some island.....and get a 
    really nice hotel especially if they have a large bathtub!  I 
    love bubble baths......and just relax and have romantic evenings
    together and romantic days too!  I'm sure you could use your
    imagination on this one!
    
    Have fun Bonnie!

    I like the idea of country inns...congenial hosts...fireplaces...
    other guests...New England cooking...lots of view...

    Thanks Bobbi,
    
    But our special day is not until June, we are just planning.
    (Tho I'd be big on warmth right now - our furnace went out
    we all slept with multiple blankets and taking a shower was
    a major act of courage!) The most creative thing I can think of
    right now is a weekend in Boston.
    
    Bonnie 

    how about staying in a "country inn" in a wonderful city?  that
    way, you can get the best of both worlds.  one such place is
    the "petit auberge" in san francisco...

    Bonnie, if you can't get as far as San Francisco both Nantucket
    and Martha's Vinyard are beautiful in June.  The shops will be open,
    the beaches will be uncrowded, and the off-season rates will probably
    still be in effect.
    
    Lorna
    
    P.S.  The beaches will still be cold for swimming, but not for walking.
    
    

    I would go to a place that has warm beaches and snorkling, and actually
    do those things.  Last time I had the opportunity, we ended up
    exploring on the land most of the time.

    Also, my ideal is a place that has few to no people.  As remote
    as possible.
    
    Have fun!
                        Carol   

    Boston sounds like fun to me.  Make it a long weekend and live it
    up.  There is a lot to do and see.  See a play, go to a really nice
    restaurant, visit some museums, hit the clubs (the comedy clubs
    are fun) or clubs that have music the Channel is a wild place to
    go.  Stay in a nice place.. one with a view or one with some character.
    We stayed in a place in Cambridge called the Cambridge House on
    Mass Ave.  It's an old 18 century house that was restored and it's
    furnished to fit the period.  Price isn't bad $60 or so a night
    no bar or restaurant, but a lot of character.  Our room was in the
    loft of the carriage house.  Nice..  Only thing you have a bath
    in your room, but you have to share a shower.  It's clean...  This
    was in the carriage house I'm not sure if it's the same in the
    main house.  Well what ever you do I hope you have a nice time.
    
    Pam                       

Oh, I just love getting away from it all...!

Two great places:  Block Island (RI) and Captiva Island (FL).  

Block Island
------------

    I'd never been to Block Island before last Thanksgiving.  My friend and
I stayed in the guesthouse at the 1661 Inn (401-466-2063).  We left the car
on the mainland (at Pt. Judith) as was strongly recommended.  There is 
nothing to do but lounge around and walk or cycle the island.  The taxi 
drivers will take you on a motor tour of the island for $20.  It's a very 
small island, and you can walk to any destination, but if you don't want to
walk taxi fare is a maximum of $4.00.

    Every afternoon at 4:30 or 5:00, the hosts put out (red and white) wine
and "nibbles" (could be cheese, but was more than that at least once) in 
the sitting room for the guests to get together and enjoy.  Thanksgiving 
weekend they had a full house of friendly people.  They have a very well 
behaved, very tall, yellow, shorthaired dog who roams about at will (he was
so well behaved that he didn't even sniff at the nibbles -- and he even 
managed to keep his tail in control too, with no wild thrashing about).  

    In the morning, a buffet breakfast is laid out in another little room 
off the sitting room, and it consisted of cereal(s), bread for toasting, 
muffins and/or waffles or some kind of sweet bread, orange juice, coffee, 
teas, and milk.  The hosts have 2 children (and an occasional visiting 
playmate) and though they weren't obnoxious they weren't as well behaved as
the dog!  There is no fireplace in the sitting room, which was 
disappointing, but only in retrospect.  It's probably pretty cold there 
right now.  We enjoyed unseasonably warm weather at the end of November.  
The island is very pretty and relatively undeveloped.  Most of the 
businesses are closed.

Captiva
-------

    Captiva is my idea of paradise (for what its worth, I've not been to 
many places).  Captiva Island is just off the gulf coast of Florida, west 
of Ft. Meyers (which is 40 miles (?) south of Tampa/St. Petersburg).  I 
twice stayed at a place called 'Tween Waters Inn (813-472-5161) which has 
little white-washed 2-room cottages (some with fireplaces), with screened 
in porches, complete with rocking chairs, facing the gulf.  It was very 
quiet there, but not unpopulated.

    I don't remember as much about that place because it's been so long 
ago that I was there.  But, I do remember sitting on the porch in the 
early morning with my coffee, just looking out over the gulf, which at that
time of day is a beautiful green and as smooth as glass, watching the 
mullet jumping.  I'd go back there just for that memory.  There are no 
high-rise buildings on the island -- I think the building ordinance 
prohibits buildings of more than two stories.  Captiva (and Sanibel, the 
island next to it) is supposed to be the "sea shell capitol" of the world 
(?), and the beach _is_ entirely seashell fragments.  

    The Inn has a marina where you can rent fishing gear and buy bait.  
I'm sure they also have a charter boat service.  You can also rent canoes 
and paddle out across the bay to some islands which are laced with water 
paths.  I did this and it wasn't much fun -- canoeing is too much work for 
me, which I never remember till I'm 5 miles from shore and I want to scream
from the strain in my arms -- the canoe trails are festooned with spider 
webs.  I spent alot of the ride with my paddle held in front of me, while 
my navigator barked at me (I think he was yelling "paddle!").  I think the 
islands are mangrove islands -- at any rate, it's impossible to beach the 
canoe and go exploring.  There's no "beach."

That's about all I can remember...

Well, have fun wherever you go!

CQ

    	How about a Windjammer cruise off the coast of Maine. You can
    find info in Yankee Magazine. 

    	Depending on the financial position, I would opt for a week-end
    trip to Paris (leave Logan Thursday evening and return on the following
    Monday afternoon and you'll have two and a half wonderful days in
    one of the world's most beautiful cities - Paris is for lovers).
    Second choice would be Montreal or the old section of Quebec.  Both
    have a strong French flavor, which equates to excellent food!
    
    	New York was a great place for a week-end some time ago but
    it has gotten too expensive for my taste and much too dirty, though
    it still offers the best reataurants and theatre in the U.S.
    (subjective !!). 
    
    	I've just about given up on New England Inns.  The food has
    not been up to my standards and the 'family' atmosphere tends to
    be too friendly.  A 'special' week-end should be intimate (also
    subjective).            
    
    Douglas

    If I had the $$$$$, my husband and I would take a long weekend and
    go wherever our train ticket would take us.  But I would insist
    on having a sleeper, and go in style!  I have a small inheritance
    coming in soon, and after paying some of my bills I want to stick
    some cash away and do just that........ maybe after the kids have
    gone to visit their father this summer.  Sounds like fun to me!
    
    Mary-Lynn

    I agree with .11. If I/we had a week (or ten) we'd go to Paris (and
    other parts of France, time allowing). I talked my honey into going
    overseas for our honeymoon. I had been to about 16 - 20 foreign
    countries by then. He had been to Barbados. He was pretty uncomfortable
    with the idea of going to a foreign country, particularly one where
    english was not spoken. I convinced him that this might be our only
    chance (and if he didn't like it, I wouldn't pressure him again).
    
    Needless to say, we had the most wonderful time. Paris really is
    a beautiful place to see art, or eat like crazy (for very cheap,
    or very much, or a little of both), or just walk around and look.
    If someone told you Parisians/French people are rude, they were
    probably acting more like ugly americans than they care to admit,
    or they were expecting "friendly native" treatment. Everyone was
    reasonable, and most people were downright helpful (and these are
    people in their own very large cosmopolitan city, going to or from
    or at work).
    
    We're going back someday (when I can save up enough vacation, or
    when the project is in a lull [hardy-har-har]). Do it!
    	Mez

    You know, it's really interesting to read all the nice places and
    fun things people have been talking about. But to tell the truth,
    I would opt for something completely different. My 10 year anniversary
    is fast approaching and my wife and I are planning a re-aquaintance
    trip. We want to get to know each other again after 10 years of
    careers, children, in-laws, the whole fullness of family living.
    
    We feel that there was a damned good reason we got married in the
    first place and it seems that, somehow, we forgot. So we're going
    to Eluthera (sp?) in the Bahamas in May to be alone, talk, laugh,
    fight, argue, make love and all the things that being in our day
    to day situations prohibit us from. I only feel bad it took this
    long to realize how much we take each other for granted.
    
    Rich
    

I would choose somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of society in which
we usually find ourselves.  Somewhere where we can be alone, surrounded by
Nature, and enjoy each other...

On the practical side, take the above paragraph and add the word "almost"
before the word "alone".  :-)

We've taken day trips to the Maine Coast (Ogunquit), and to the upper MA coast
(Plum Island).  All off-season, of course. :-)  You could probably combine
a couple of day trips into a long weekend, or go further up the coast.

I'm looking forward to Sanibel/Captiva.  Bill spent a lot of time down there
when he was a child, and vacationed by himself there a few years ago.  Sounds
nice and peaceful and beautiful.

Is it vacation time yet? :-)

Jill

Ah, the joy of coming into work on a Sunday and being able to NOTES to my
heart's content (in severe homework avoidance!! :*)

On December 30th of 1983, my then boyfriend and potential live-in
partner Patrick, and I climbed onboard the Eastern shuttle for NY city.
It cost him about $29. An hour later we were in a taxi bound for
Manhattan and our room overlooking Central park.  Room for the evening
was near $100.  We had dinner at a wonderous restaurant and then
made our way to Broadway for a performance of CATS (tickets, purchased
4 months in advance, were a total of $96).  

The next day, in the *bitter* cold of December 31st, we window shopped
on the Avenue of the Americas.  My sole purchase was an autographed
copy of Gloria S's then new book ".... Other Rebellions..".

Late that afternoon, we climbed back aboard the Eastern shuttle for
Boston.

He spent $300 and won my heart for life.  First of all, it wasn't until
we were sitting on the plane that he looked at me and said," You're
REALLY going with me, aren't you?  You're keeping your promise to go..
and we're going?"

Secondly, he wasn't TREATING me... He wanted to go AND he wanted me
to go with him.  It was OUR trip!

He was romantic and funny and spontaneous, and filled me up with
every emotion that was ever dear to me... until I was so full
and happy I could have burst.

After a 2-year relationship where I starved to death, it felt like
Heaven.

So, do it!!!  We still do this (he packed up and met me in San Francisco
during DECUS last year) and it still makes me feel wonderous, but that
first special time is incomparable!!!!!

Karen

    hhhmmm...
    
    if you have money to spend, go to Calistoga (Napa Valley) , California
    and stay at a BED'N'BREAKFAST. Get up early the next morning and
    take a hot air balloon ride, then visit Sattui Winery (bring some
    cheese and crackers) buy some wine and have a picnic on their land.
    Continue wine tasting. Go out for dinner then go to a mud bath.
    Next day get up and go to St. Helena and window shop, take a drive
    down to San Francisco and run around the town!!
    
    sounds great to me!!!
    
    toni

    Re: .17
    
        Or if you like gliders, go soaring in Calistoga!  And don't
        forget to ride the gondola up to Sterling Vineyards!!!!!!!!
    
    							...Martin

    oy yes, i forgot about that... the great winery in the sky!!  one
    would think that was Robert Montalvo's home!!!
    
    toni

    Think about Cape Cod.  It is beautiful anytime of the year.  In
    June you may be ahead of the tourist crowd and the weather and water
    will be warm. Go all the way to Province Town and walk along the
    beaches at Race Point, they are breath takingly beautiful.  Also
    many of the national seashore beaches are wonderful for watching
    sunsets.  There are many biking paths, lots of nice restaurants and 
    shops and a variety of places to stay.  Lots of room for romance and 
    intimacy as well as interesting day time amusement, whale watches,
    sunning, shopping, and walking around in the beautiful early summer.  
    
    Enjoy.
                                                                       

    What about Pikes Peak country. Colorado Springs is a beautiful town
    and in the summer the days are lovely. There are mountains to climb,
    streams to fish and all manner of inns from very expensive (the
    Broadmoor and some others) to bed and breakfast places. We have
    many attractions here such as the Air Force Academy , Garden of
    the Gods, a whole slew of lesser tourist traps, and of course the Digital
    Customer Support Center :*). A half days drive will take you to
    Aspen and the continetal divide (to the west) or Messa Verde (to
    the south). Liesl

    Liesl!!  This is supposed to be a well-kept secret!
    Do you REALLY want to share with all those Eastern folks? ;-)
    
    

    A good friend of mine asked me to revive this note for her.
    
    She is looking for suggestions for a 3 or 4 day get away weekend
    here on the east coast with her new and wonderful SO. She'd
    like some place that isn't too expensive.
    
    Bonnie
    
    (oh and we went and spent a weekend in Boston to celebrate our
    20th anniversary last June.)

    if they're coming in the off-season, how about a weekend on "the
    cape"? there are lots of ads in sunday's boston glob (probably
    available in major libraries around the country). i'd also suggest
    finding some books on bed and breakfasts in new england (library,
    bookstore, friends). 
    
    e

    If they want to get away from it all, I can recommend two
    different bed-and-breakfast places in New Hampshire: The Inn at
    Crotched Mountain (at Crotched Mountain Ski Area) and The
    Monadnock Inn in Jaffrey.
    
    The Inn at Crotched Mountain is up on the shoulder of the mountain
    and looks out over about 40 miles of rolling hills and New
    Hampshire mountains.  In the summer it has a pool and tennis, but
    at this time of year it would be mostly hiking. 
    
    The Monadnock Inn is on the edge of Jaffrey; the most popular
    thing to do there is take a day hike up Mount Monadnock.
    
    Both Inns are nicely furnished in New-England-Country style, will
    run about $45/night for a double room with shared bath in the off
    season, and have good friendly service plus all the country
    inn amenities like a fireplace downstairs.
    
    The Monadnock Inn is a little more elegant, and the food was
    a little better, but we thought there was something special
    about the Inn at Crotched Mountain -- something cozy and
    welcoming.  
     
    If you think your friend would be interested in either of these
    places, I can look up the phone numbers and addresses for you.
    
    --bonnie
    

    How about "the other Cape?"  They could stay at an inn on the water
    in Gloucester go see the artists and shops in Rockport.  There are
    lots of pretty beaches, boat rides to take, pretty roads to take
    rides over...and not too far from more active things to do.  They
    could go to Salem for a day of sightseeing, Boston for dinner if
    they must, and (if they go in the summer) theatre in the round at
    the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly.