William Holland, in north Georgia and Wildacres near Little Switzerland, NC, offer lapidary classes on anything from mineral identification to stone cutting and stained glass silversmithing etc.  Elderhostel also offers mini classes for a week or more.

If you have a hobby check your national associations to see what might be offered in yhour area or at a central point. I once attended a large format photography class with people from across the US. You can also type in the topics you would like to learn on the computer then see if there is a local group focusing on that interest.

From one who has only had a weekend getaway in the last four years, I’m aching to go ANYWHERE! Alas, this year it’s not possible. There is an economic alternative, a place to go where you can travel any place in the world, and even back in time. I’m talking about your local genealogical library. I’m suggesting this at the risk of being self-serving, because I am a part-time library assistant, but I have seen many people over the years who leave the library with "family members" they’d never met before. Sometimes vacationing is not so much a matter of going somewhere as a matter of relaxing and learning new things about yourself. (Oh, yes, genealogy is hard work but very fulfilling.)

Living in Florida we have many visitors during the year.  They always say, "you must come visit us".  So this year, we have decided we will do just that. 

First we will visit friends on Cape Cod.  We haven’t been there for years.   I love it there!  The beaches are so different from Florida.  We usually go when the crowds are gone.

We will visit my sister - she lives in the Arkansas Ozarks in the most beautiful place.  Eureka Springs.  It will actually be a family reunion.  The mountains there remind me of the North Carolina mountains. 

We are meeting friends (I’ve know her since 2nd grade) in Asheville this summer for a two week stay to get away from the Florida heat.  They have rented a house.

These are our plans for now.  We will wait and see on the economy.  Also, at the present time, we are keeping a close eye on our business.  Hope we don’t have to cancel our trips!

Lady Gator, I should’ve been in the travel business instead of an interior designer.   I get very excited reading everyone’s post about possible vacation destinations!   I know Cape Cod well as I lived in MA for quite awhile.   I purchased an 1806 farmhouse on the upper cape to restore and resell.   The towns along the cape are all unique and have something different to offer.   I preferred the smaller towns such as North Falmouth, Sandwich, etc. because of the history.   I completed the restoration of that beautiful old farmhouse and put it on the market.  The day it sold I felt like a bit of my heart sold with it

 "If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air…."   enoy the Cape of Cod!