Sheryl, I grew up in East Lyme! I didn't know we were neighbors.

ETA: Yep, what Anne said. And the Groton airport isn't an option--it barely has any commerical flights (it's unbelievably wee) and it's expensive to get there. The Providence and Boston (which is a quick train ride to Providence) airports are much better airport options.

I don't think it's really fair to ask people to pick and choose, though. The point is one location for everyone who wants to, to get together.

Exactly. Not to mention planning ONE weekend is a monumental task of cat-herding. Trying to plan two? Eeeesh.

I love the idea of Providence (because I've never been there!), but I also like the idea of Philly or Baltimore, because they're a little more centrally located. And have decent transportation, not for nothing.

Now if someone won the lottery...

Yes. This. And, as much as I love small, quaint towns, larger cities generally are easier for more people to get to and get around in affordably. Also, they will tend to have more variety in terms of activities for people to go do during the day, which is a plus given the group's wide range of interests.

We really could, in many ways, get the best of both worlds in Asbury Park. Well, a third world if you count beaches as their own world.

Lots to do, easy to reach, cheap.

(I'm sure the same could be said for some other resort towns in the off season.)

Groton/New London airport? I didn't even know they were served by commercial airlines. I have family in Groton and the few times i've flow in it had to be to the Burlington airport. Travel from VA is always by car because while absolutely gorgeous, it is not really close to any commercial airports. {ponders how many people the family could accommodate in four bedrooms....it would be pretty cozy}

Bonus - vid on how to fend off a bear

If I'm going to have to fend off bears during f2f weekend, I'd prefer they be the sort I'd encounter in Provincetown.

Fending off nature does not rank high on my list of F2F activities.

Also, we might raise a few more eyebrows in a smaller town when the corsets and leather come out and I'm not sure that's an additional item we would want to deal with.

Just one point, as well, which isn't a small one: for those of us coming across the country, the plane ride really is enough; I think a location requiring both a plane ride followed by a train (or bus) ride would be difficult, both in terms of time and cost.

I think a location requiring both a plane ride followed by a train (or bus) ride would be difficult, both in terms of time and cost.

This is a really important point - we don't want people traveling from far places to spend half their F2F weekend getting there.