I go to three or four retreats a year. One I go to is from Noon on Wednesday to Noon on Sunday, four nights and 12 meals for $240.00. We have about 80 people and a lot of fun. I also go to a smaller retreat of about 8 to 10 people from Monday through Friday and the cost is about the same. Both are in the mountains of Tennessee and Alabama, So peaceful and productive.

I just went to my first retreat last week. We were there from Mon. afternoon to Thurs Afternoon. The cost was 238. It included a beautiful, huge building, 3 meals a day, water in the refrig., twin beds with beautiful quilts on each, everything needed to complete our own projects, a fireplace, and wonderful hospitality. We weren't allowed to take our plate to the cabinet. :lol: I think I was spoiled. We really had a good time. I hope to do it again.
The website, if you would like to look where we went, is www.ourhouseinmilford.com.

I live in Illinois now, but my friends from NY and I get together for a retreat usually a couple of times a year. My friend did own a quilt shop, so she 'sponsors' it...which means, she sets it up with a local hotel. We have a banquet room (holds around 18 of us)...they provide the tables, etc...usually only 2 of us to an 8-ft. table. We start Fri. mornings and go thru Sun. afternoons. We have rooms at the hotel, and they provide dinner on Fri., 3 meals on Sat. and a brunch on Sun. I think the cost if about $135. I think it's really cheap. We all just do our own things, but usually play a few games, have shown and tell, etc. Many times one of the ladies that attends is a massage therapist. She brings her table and offers massages at a discount! (She also sews, but just takes a break when someone wants a massage). We have LOTS of fun, and you can get a lot accomplished! I'd love to do a couple more throughout the year...I highly recommend!

These are some places that I or friends have attended. The sites give full info
http://www.quiltingbythelake.com
http://www.fletcherfarm.org
http://www.henryfarminn.com
http://www.quiltinginvermont.stronghouseinn.com

My guild runs a retreat annually: arrive 9am Tues leave after lunch Thursday. Costs near $400. all meals provided, full kitchens in suites, private rooms w/bath in suites of 3 or 4. I went for many yrs., loved it, now way too expensive for what amounts to 2 days.
Four friends and I meet annually for a week (7 days) at my son's 2nd home. Separate bedrooms, each cooks one dinner - wonderful time, alot cheaper. Costs us each about $100 for food, wine etc. And, there are two quilt fabric shops in next town (the week costs more as a result)

I did a quilter's cruise to Alaska 5 years ago and it was wonderful. The teachers were Kaye Woods, Sue Hausman, Betty Cotton. It was an so much fun!! Wish I could afford to do it again.

I would be interested in a retreat, but most of the local ones here in Washington you bring your own group 6-8 people. I understand that it is alot of fun and you rent the house next door to the quilt shop. I don't know 6-8 quilters who want to do it here and they don't open it up to single participants.

I was involved for a few years with a group and I hosted a quilters get together at our cabin in Eastern Washington. We had about 10 people (a little crowded), but lots of fun

I also would be interested in doing something again.

I've been on tons of retreats ranging in price from $140-$500. Most of them are Thurs-Sun.

Some don't have classes, some are very structured. You bring your food to some, others have all meals prepared for you.

The $500 one is in a very nice hotel with a well known restaurant that makes excellent food. It's put on by a quilt shop and they bring items to vend. They also do some raffles and games and will teach one class if you want to learn that project. The sewing room is huge and you can easily lay out a king size quilt on the floor with all 40 of us working in the same room. This is a really nice retreat, but expensive.

I'm going on one this fall for $140 from Thurs-Sun. They provide breakfast, we're on our own for the other meals. Many of us bring crock pots for dinner meals or go out to eat. We quilters bring so much food to share with everyone, that you can easily graze the goodie table for "lunch".

Another one I really like is in a Catholic Retreat house. That one is $300 from Thurs-Sun. We each have our own sleeping rooms with a full bathroom and a nice room for us all to sew in. They cook all our meals. The workers there (including the priests) love to come see what we're working on.

Retreats are awesome!

Where is the Catholic Retreat House?

I've been to a couple of different places for retreats. My small guild in Kansas has one every year. It's $100 if you come on thursday or $80 if you get there on friday. The other one I've been to is for a yahoo group and it has been held at a hunting lodge during the off season and it was $120 for friday thru sunday. None of them had big name teachers though. We just had local quilt store owners give classes for whatever was the latest thing and you could participate or not.

Oh, a retreat sounds like so much fun.

I have never been to a retreat, sounds like a lot of fun!