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Post by Phizz on Mar 11, 2014 18:11:40 GMT
but I would rather do the beach & museums before shopping. Amen!!
~Phizz
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Post by Ensign Sandra on Mar 11, 2014 20:51:29 GMT
Beach works for me. And then more beach.
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Post by captsueb on Mar 12, 2014 3:37:30 GMT
Boy, I'm sure glad I decided on the hotel near the beach! The advantage being just a little further away from downtown. But not too far. Many a 10 minute drive or less. As far as museums, the most well known is the Lightner museum. I've been there twice. An interesting collection. Not sure if it will be a group thing. Everyone goes thru a museum at a different pace. Might be better as an individual endeavor.
I wasn't planning a scheduled trip to the outlet mall. Not really a cultural or historical site is it? Just wanted to let you know it's available.
I was speaking with the hotel today about our block. Other than Otter and ShipoftheLine, any possibility of a spouse coming along? The rooms on hold are all rooms with 2 Queens beds. I had the hotel add 2 rooms with 1 King bed. I can always ask for more if the need arrives. That's just what's in the block on hold.
Looks like we could get the conference room for 3 days. The bride renting the space only needs the room Fri night to Sat night. So we can have it all day Thurs, Fri until 8 pm and all day Sunday. I haven't even begun to finalize the schedule. I was thinking 2 days would be enough. But if I decide I need the room later it may be gone. She said she'd put it in the contract "but I could cancel Saturday later if I wanted" . Right. Contract is a contract. I'll have to see what she finally sends over. I'm going to look at all my St Augustine stuff this weekend. Maybe I can get an idea of a schedule. At least we'd have the room available if we wanted to change things around at the last minute.
The Pirate Museum can be done on your own. It's right in the historic area across the street from the Castillo de San Marcos. There is a pirate cruise we could do. A family version during the day and over 21 version at night, with full bar if I'm not mistaken. A possibility.
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Post by Bucky on Mar 12, 2014 13:32:00 GMT
Two days would be enough for the conference room if we are only watching a handful of movies I would think, but that is your call Sue. It sounds like everyone would rather spend their time on the beach (Anyone fancy a swim?!) or exploring.
Ohmygawd, there is a lot to do in this town! And I think we should have enough cars to truck around in so no one would have to rent one. But we will know closer to the event.
And for those that may want to see the Wizarding World on before/after con side trip, Universal has an ad in our paper today hiring for the new park so that means that it may be opening in May or June; hence, it will definitely be open by the time the con rolls around. You never know with these places ~ "Opening Summer 2014" is so vague, which gives them a very wide window. I will warn you, you have to buy tickets to both Universal parks in order to visit each HP Wizarding World park (they are connected via the Hogwarts Express). It makes no sense other than to put more $$ into their pockets.
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Post by papergirl1974 on Mar 12, 2014 13:35:39 GMT
I will have to ask hubby, but I am thinking he wants to go. No, I take that back, he would definitely want to go, LOL!
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Post by Bucky on Mar 12, 2014 13:57:43 GMT
I will have to ask hubby, but I am thinking he wants to go. No, I take that back, he would definitely want to go, LOL! Sweet! That would be awesome if you guys made it.
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Post by LadyJamers on Mar 12, 2014 15:20:02 GMT
Realistically, two days should be enough. Three would be nice, but to leave by 8 pm on Friday? Not really doable because wouldn't we want to be out in the sun during the day? Around 7 pm is when we would get into the conference room, IF we were going to use it. I DO like the idea of a night time or day time cruise. If we do the night time one, we could party and all, if we did the day time one, we could watch the scenery and take cool pics. Some of the pics would be nice at night, but it is a whole different ball game when it comes to pics.
Do they have public transportation? We could take that to get downtown. The way the gang was in Key West, all most people wanted to do was hang out at the pool and the jacuzzi hot tub, any way. (Not that there is anything wrong with that -- I personally am going to pack a beach blanket.)
I find it interesting that we are turning the Horatio husbands to the dark side. ;-)
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Post by captsueb on Mar 12, 2014 16:45:53 GMT
It looks like Sept 17-22 are going to be the dates. October is out all together and I still can't get the last week of Sept off from work. Also Otter has her wedding that weekend.
I thought 2 days for the conference would be good too. If I was going to show just one movie on Friday or Saturday I thought we could all pile into my hotel room since I'm getting a suite. If the group is small like a dozen or so, it would be ok. If we have a larger turnout it would be cramped.
Also we will be in St Augustine during the rainy season. If for some reason we had one day that was a wash out we could also sit in the conference room and watch movies, play whist, etc. I'm thinking Murphy's law. If I don't book the 3rd day we'll need it. If I do book it, we won't need it.
I was thinking of just showing one movie Friday morning since we would only have the room until 8pm. Then we spend the rest of the day out. Friday night we could go out and do something else, like the pirate cruise or ghost walking tour. Or we can just spend the evening on the beach. I still have to figure it all out. I can also just take Friday or Saturday at the conference room across the street it we needed it in the evening. Again, I have to work out a schedule.
The hotel is making up the contract so I haven't seen it yet.
I figured we'd have enough private cars to drive into town. I had a mini van in Key West which worked out well. But it was pricey. I could get a mid size SUV for less. My little Corolla doesn't hold many people.
I'm going to give the option of purchasing a trolley/train ticket to everyone. It can pick us up at the hotel and bring us back and forth into town. It also travels to most of the tourist sites. Unfortunately the ride into town is about 40 minutes because our hotel is early in the pick up schedule. It then goes to all the other hotels. Coming back is a shorter time. We could take cars into town and park at the downtown parking garage. Then anyone with a trolley ticket can use it to see the sites or go back to the hotel at a later time if they don't want to go back in someone's car or at a different time.
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Post by Bucky on Mar 13, 2014 1:51:48 GMT
Just saw this on line regarding Wednesday night. They have free concerts at the St. Augustine Pier. The band that Wednesday is called Navy Pride (rock-pop)! That is from 7-9. Restaurants around there have specials. That might be fun.
I have my SUV and can carry 5 total. If the other Florida gals come too, we should have plenty I think. And I can bring extra stuff - beach towels, chairs, that genre.
I'd love to do a ghost tour, and SA would be a great city to do one in!
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Post by captsueb on Mar 13, 2014 2:46:55 GMT
The St Augustine Pier is barely a 1/2 mile away from the hotel. Something to consider. If we did that I don't think I'd do a movie too. People will be tired from traveling and probably won't want to get to bed too late to be ready for Thursday.
Bucky, where did you see this info so I can take a look at it?
I think the beach/hotel on the beach might have beach chair service available. I saw it some where. Have no clue as to the cost. Will check into it. If it's reasonable you won't have to drag those things along.
I'm seriously beginning to think 4 days is not enough for this convention!
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Post by Bucky on Mar 13, 2014 3:10:36 GMT
There are several StA visitor sites, but this is where I found that concert info ("Events" tab): Florida Historic Coast I ordered a visitor guide from there.
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Post by QueueMistressMags on Mar 13, 2014 14:01:27 GMT
That sounds like an excellent evening-of-arrival activity, Bucky! Navy Pride yet! It's a sign!
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Post by Bucky on Mar 13, 2014 20:58:51 GMT
I know, right?! I just thought if it were a lovely evening, an idea would be to grab some food and drinks, spread out a blanket or two, sit on the beach and listen to some music.
And I put in for time off at work and ~ low and behold ~ no one else was on the books, so I definitely have that time off. Wooot!
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Post by Bucky on Mar 22, 2014 21:24:27 GMT
My friend is in St. Augustine this weekend and posted this as they cruised through the marina. Cool!
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Post by LadyJamers on Mar 23, 2014 1:33:39 GMT
It looks like Sept 17-22 are going to be the dates. October is out all together and I still can't get the last week of Sept off from work. Also Otter has her wedding that weekend. So, this may sound like a dumb question, but, we can ask work for having September 16-23 off from work for the convention?
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