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Would you make your next vacation a learning vacation?

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arlenewrightcorrell's avatar Posted on Monday, February 08, 2010 by arlenewrightcorrell

Would  You Make Your Next Vacation a Learning Vacation if it was "Budget Friendly", taught you something artist that you never thought you could do and had fun doing it?

As a resident artist and art instructor at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center in KY, one of my assignments is create stained glass, fused glass, Lead-Channel Glass, Jewelry making and all kinds of art medium workshops that would be attractive to vacationers in the US and abroad.

My concern is would people, today, take this kind of vacation. I know I would and have for many years. We even took family vacations when they were offered in locations where I or my husband could attend the desired workshop while the other took the 5 kids sight seeing.

However, families and the world has changed greatly in the past 30 years and I am soliciting opinions on this question.

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responses (18)

LakeLady's avatar LakeLady
LakeLady said to arlenewrightcorrell
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My husband and I have taken a number of "vacations" that were photography workshops - not just trips but "work" shops.  We thoroughly enjoyed this way of taking a vacation.  Currently we are looking for another workshop.  We want more than just to go take pictures we want to learn.  I think stained glass, quilting, or any number of subjects would be appropriate depending on your interest.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to LakeLady
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Thank you so much.   Please check if Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center offers any workshops that may interest you.  The nice thing about all these workshops is that we offer them in a very lovely area that abounds with other things to do.

dynamomma's avatar dynamomma
dynamomma said to arlenewrightcorrell
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Yes.  I would love to go on a archaeologist dig, or on a cruise with Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay and some of the "I can do it" gurus.  But expense and time is always a factor.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to dynamomma
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Have you considered digs in the US. They have them out in the west.  Or why not try some less famous "I can do it" gurus.  Learning is not a "sometime" thing, it is an "all time" thing.  At Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center we are "I can do it" gurus in 22 different workshops starting as low as $99.00 and can be done in 1 day. Check us out and maybe you can dig up some hidden talents inside you.

dynamomma's avatar dynamomma
dynamomma said to arlenewrightcorrell
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I'll check it out. Thank you.

Donna Hull's avatar Donna Hul…
Donna Hull said to arlenewrightcorrell
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Learning vacations are the rising star in baby boomer travel. Although I haven't taken an "official" one, as a travel writer, I receive press releases about them on a daily basis. The best part of a learning vacation is that you can make it as intense as you want. So much is available. If you're not into organized experiences, there are many other otpions. One that I can think of is a visit to XDiamond Ranch near Greer, AZ. They have a resident archaeologist working on a dig and you can help (or watch). A photography workshop tour is another choice - my husband and I have taken several of those. I think a stainedglass vacation workshop has great potential.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to Donna Hull
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Thank you Donna Hull for your input.  Do you have any ideas on how I can get this information out to people who arrange these kinds of vacations or even who they might be?

I would appreciate any of your expertise you care to share about getting the word about about Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Centers 22 different art workshops.

Fran Young's avatar Fran Youn…
Fran Young said to arlenewrightcorrell
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Hi Arlene - I just 'discovered' you here on Vibrant Nation, and like your writing and ideas. 

A suggestion for "getting the word" out about this center, and especially your original query about "Would you make your vacation a learning vacation" might best be asked on a crafty, creative site.  I like the Somerset Studios magazines and online blogs. 

For asking the public, in general, try Hub Pages, where you, as a reporter, can query people all over the world for their insight into how to promote your information about Avalon Stained Glass School.  It's free, and the Q & A section is fast and easy to post your question, receive interest, make friends who will work with you to promote an idea they love.

Also, eHow is a great place to write your knowledge and lessons, and also promote your interests by attaching a link.

And, finally, try HARO (Help a Report Out), also free.  It allows you to post your query anonymously, to which knowledgeable people can respond, and then you can take the opportunity to communicate with like-minded people about whatever it is you wish to promote.

Another thought....how about submitting an article to a magazine such as Country Living?  They are always open to submissions, and would possibly be very interested in the whole creative retreat/vacation idea and what better readership can you get than this?

Good luck! 

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to Fran Young
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I will try all your suggestions. thanks for you brillant ideas.

lens_lady's avatar lens_lady
lens_lady said to arlenewrightcorrell
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One dream of mine would be to take cooking classes in Tuscany, Italy. Another dream would be to spend the better part of a year in Tuscany, but it is so expensive to rent for that long.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to lens_lady
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I hope you make your dream come true.  I have been to Tuscany and it is one of my most favorite places.   if I was younger I also would spend a year there painting.  Why not check out some house sitting possibilities?  You might not get to spend 1 year in 1 house, but you might get to spend 1 month each in 12 houses!

If you own your own home, you might be able to do a house exchange.

Who knows. Start thinking outside the envelope.

 

lens_lady's avatar lens_lady
lens_lady said to arlenewrightcorrell
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Yes, I have relatives there who could help me. I think they might feel slighted if I did not go through them. On the other hand, their help is probably worth a lot in terms of people treating me right. I really want to make it happen someday...an "Under the Tuscan Sun" experience..without the real estate challenge. If I live like an Italian, it will probably be affordable -depending on the Euro. I'd like to get to know my relatives better and speak Italian more fluently. Also, a wonderful town is Verona. It's human-sized and not overbearing like the tourist meccas.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to lens_lady
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Well it sounds like a plan.. so do it.  Who knows what doors will open up for you.  To say nothing of great bread, fresh fruits and veggies, wonderful olives and really, really great cheap wine!  .... and all those new people you will meet..

Arlene Wright-Correll

lens_lady's avatar lens_lady
lens_lady said to arlenewrightcorrell
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Oh yeah! I'll never forget seeing the wine delivery guy in my father's hometown. Every morning he would go house to house in his three-wheeled truck. In the bed of the truck was a chianti wine bottle that was as big as the bed of the truck. Somehow he would siphon the wine out to each buyer and have  a little conversation to boot. Sweet.  This is why the rural experience in Italy is so precious.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to lens_lady
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a wonderful memory thanks for sharing

Sunblossom's avatar Sunblosso…
Sunblossom said to arlenewrightcorrell
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I'm going to say no...not because I am uninterested in learning, but because I have such limited vacation time, that I really need it to rest, relax and rejuvenate, nor do I have the money to invest.

arlenewrightcorrell's avatar arlenewri…
arlenewrightcorrell said to Sunblossom
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Everyone needs to rest, relax and rejuvenate and all of us do it differently.  I relax and reduce stess by concentrating on a painting where everything else fades away.  Watercolor painting is not only easy to do, interesting, but really inexpensive to do.  The only thing cheaper in the art world is graphite or colored pencil drawing. 

Regardless, I do hope you take your vacations when you have the time and that they truly rejuvenate you.  There are lots and lots of cheap vacations out there.  When we were raising 5 kids, the cheapest way for us to go and it was relaxing was camping.  Plus it gave me lots of scenery to paint.

Arlene Wright-Correll

Sunblossom's avatar Sunblosso…
Sunblossom said to arlenewrightcorrell
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I am definitely not an outdoor girl...my kids camp, and love it, but I am a homebody and actually, I really enjoy staying at home for a vacation, will be doing that in a couple of weeks....and puttering, sleeping in, eating whenever, doing whatever--kind of like playing hookey, I get some perverse pleasure of being at home while everyone else is at work...I make jewelry all year long, and that, plus cooking is my relaxation...

Pure and Natural