NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Check out Padmasambhava Peace Institute aka Black Mountain Preserve. It's about 5 miles along Fort Ross Road from Cazadero. [link] . And I'll think about some more places.

How about ClareTappan lodge owned by the Sierra Club off of 80 near Tahoe - rustic but with bunks and private rooms large main room. I think in Soda Springs? I stayed there once or twice and loved it. [link]

Chaminade in Santa Cruz area? [link]

There’s a new retreat center at Baker Beach in Marin, literally under the Golden Gate Bridge, called Cavallo Point - The Lodge at Golden Gate. But it’s really expensive. [link]

Marin Headlands [link] Rodeo Beach is quite close to San Francisco yet right on the ocean. You drive through a tunnel from the first exit after the GG Bridge, then go west until you get there.

Marin/Sonoma coastal - Marconi Center [link] [link] Owned by the state parks system since 1984, the 62-acre retreat has just finished a $1.95 million renovation project in efforts to become a lower-key version of the Monterey Peninsula's Asilomar Conference Grounds. This is about a 2 hour drive from SFO, maybe 3 hours, depending on how scenic the route taken.

Speaking of which, here’s the local gold standard: Monterey, CA peninsula – Asilomar [link] This place is spectacular, and you can’t beat the price for the Monterey/Carmel Valley. It’s not exactly near a major airport though for those who are averse to driving from either San Jose or SFO, there is a Monterey airport.

What's the show? Can you say? Should we get tickets to see it?

It's this. I'm handling the remount for the original designer. I haven't actually seen anything yet, so I can't make any judgment about the show itself.

DC area peeps:

I'm going to be in your town on Halloween and a few days after. I'll have family stuff Halloween day/night itself, and on Saturday the 1st I'm going to head up to Baltimore with Sparky, but I was hoping I might be able to arrange a group dinner on either Sunday the 2nd or Monday the 3rd. Would anyone be around?

I should be ... although our conference is that week, so I may get called in to work over the weekend ... sigh.

We should be in town. Sundays usually work better for us.

Ms Havisham and I will be around...

So Sunday night? Does anyone have a place they'd like to try or rec?

Sorry, but I've been on a little roll with compiling this info and have to post it while I have access to a computer.

Here's the info from back in the thread about F2F 2009:

Fay kicks off F2F 2009 talks: Fay "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Feb 7, 2008 11:52:11 pm PST “ Sadly there's no way in Hades I'll be able to make it to this year's F2F, but I'm already wondering about 2009. And can I ask - is there a specific reason that the F2F isn't ever (afaik?) in July?”

Some talk about F2FR 2009 goes down the page and peters out shortly after Suzi asks if Denver is considered the West Coast. Then we break off and it’s time to discuss & organize & go to F2F 2008 in Madison. Cudos again to Sail Aweigh for all terrific organizing!

Some time later, I bring up the idea of renting something in a non-urban setting, possibly a place that’s in or near a cool destination town or small city (like the San Juan Islands, or Monterey, or Pt. Townsend). Java cat "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Apr 23, 2008 6:31:37 pm PDT Washington State Parks. [link] From that post: There are Environmental Learning Centers: [link] Check this out – it’s on Orcas Island! !!! Dude, a temporary Buffista Island! It’s beautiful up there. It could be later in the year instead of earlier if it were there, like, before school starts, not right as school is ending. Just a thought.

Plei mentions Ft. Flagler P.M. Marcontell "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Apr 25, 2008 10:47:30 am PDT If you guys are interested in the idea (isn't next year the West Coast's turn?), Fort Flagler is also cool: [link] We had a class retreat there in college. It was awesome. You're also fairly close to Port Townsend if you need to make a supply run.

Sparky mentions a spot on San Juan Island Sparky1 "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Apr 30, 2008 5:41:50 am PDT There's always the spot on San Juan Island where we had the cookout for my wedding. It has 9-10 cabins and camping, but one would need a car to get to downtown. But there are probably plenty of hotels on San Juan near the downtown area that could accomodate a Buffista gathering, and people could just walk off the ferry and be there. [link] (Snug Harbor Marina Resort)

Fay "F2F 4: Too Much Candy, Never Enough Mojitos." Jun 23, 2008 4:56:11 pm PDT Fay again offers to lobby and organize for F2F in Thailand

ETA to drop in the link to Washington State Environmental Learning Centers: [link] Spacious and comfortable, these lodges with clustered cabins and other rustic facilities offer groups the opportunity to get away from it all in an outdoor, natural environment. Youth groups, retreats and family or business gatherings of 15 to 260 people can find accommodations in a camp setting at environmental learning centers in 10 state parks. (Fees listed under each facility are subject to change.)

I should be around Halloween weekend. I don't really have anywhere to recommend, though.

We do need to make some decisions about next year's F2F, I agree. We had bandied about Seattle in the summer, right? Fay said she could come if it were in July, so Ima pimp that!