I would like to have a good array of comfy furniture, beverages and snacks readily available, and some interesting walks and outdoor activities in the area.

Coolfont Resort in West Virginia is nice. Great cabins/chalets for lodging, and some are big enough to host smaller parties, if not Prom. I haven't spent much time there, but the town reportedly has all sorts of spa-y and nature-y activities.

But that's on the wrong coast until at least 2007, and even then it might be too hard to get to.

I'm sure the middle of the country probably has any number of places like that, LJ. Also, wouldn't places like that be likely to have some sort of airport shuttle, or is that just positive thinking on my part?

Did you have to pay for alcohol, Laura?

And which one was it? I went to one in St Petersburg (?? I think) and it was a miserable experience that was only ameliorated by finding out the staff was as miserable as we were.

Misery loves her some company.

No idea if this link will work, but possible NOLA hotel?

That's a decent location. You'll have to walk a little* to get to some of the stuff further in the Quarter, but it's closer to stuff like the Aquarium and the restaurants on Canal Street.

• By "a little" I mean "anywhere from two to ten blocks", but considering the time of year, it'll be warm.

Looks pretty!

The location looks hard to beat, Jessica. In the Quarter (ok, on the edge instead of in the middle). No more than one block from the streetcar. If Royal Street still has decent funky shopping, looks like a contender.

If Royal Street still has decent funky shopping, looks like a contender.

It does. I prefer the other side of the quarter away from Canal, but exactly 10 minutes of walking will get you there. We'd also be close to the Hotel Monteleone which means we could go to the Carousel Bar (which actually revolves like a carousel).

Count me in on the ''cheaper/nicer hotel is better than a bunch of stuff to do since hanging out with y'all is my primary interest" team.

On the resort idea (And this isn't for this year, but it's an idea I've been kicking around) I've got a contact at a great Guest Ranch in the Sierra Nevadas. We could most likely rent the entire facility. Full bar, pool, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, dance floor, pool tables, etc. etc. Around 20 cabins that each sleep up to 4, and a main lodge with hotel style rooms. Might be a good place for a future F2F. We could probably pull it off for a reasonable price and the cost would include all meals and things like that.