Originally Posted by Gabrielle's Mimi
Here is an idea that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet...a friend and I are planning to go on a 2-day bus trip in February sponsored by a local travel agency. The trip is about $200 and goes from AZ to San Diego, has stops at 2 LQS and then a workshop with Eleanor Burns, plus overnight in a motel and some meals. We are treating ourselves, but it might be fun to ask family members to contribute toward a trip like this or a shop-hop in your area. Nice to have a trip to look forward to, and to meeting new quilters. Just check online or with local travel agents or charter bus companies.
For my 60th birthday ( a long time ago) my kids wanted to pay for me to have a flying lesson, or race a formula 1 car. I persuaded them I was too long in the tooth for that sort of thing and convinced them that a weekend quilting retreat was more my thing. This is what they did, and it was the best. Still not better than my 70th, as my husband took me to Singapore to stay at the famous Raffles hotel. On my birthday we went to the long bar to have a Singapore sling, and guess what? all my children where sitting in there, they had come over for my birthday to surprise me. The best birthday present ever. I even told them it was far better even than my 21st. I will never ever forget that, better than any present.