I love our retreat. It is at a tennis ranch in central Texas. We take all our sewing supplies and (our personal belongings)which if we are taking a class are furnished to us a head of time. There are about 30 of us every year. We sew in one big room. All our food is furnished and our beds are make up for us everyday. All we do is Sew, shop, eat, and Sleep. We can sew 24 hours a day if we want to. We usually have a well known quilter attend and take her class, but no one has to. You can just sew on what you want to or read a book. We learn so much from each other. You do have to be a member of the quild in order to attend. I attend every year even though I don't live where the quild is located anymore, I just pay my dues. I love this quild and I sure do miss them. They have about 95 members and the quild where I live now only has 30 members, but I enjoy it also. I can't say anything about other retreats as I have only attended this one, but I have heard about another one but they have to take their bedding and their food and even cook it, that is not for me, I want to just sew, sew, sew.