I've noticed that some of the local groups are posting on the Travel Group forum about their upcoming meetings.
I know that there are several around the US, and maybe other places too. Where can people go to meet fellow travelers? Maybe people haven't discovered the Travel Group forum?
Nigel, you are helping direct people to the Travel Group Meetings Forum by posting this question!
In my experience, someone notices another poster's location and if it's nearby, suggests meeting somewhere. Panera seems to be popular. The groups seem to grow from there.
As for meeting in Europe, I've noticed some invitations popping up occasionally, as I'm sure you have, along the lines of "I'll be in Florence June 12-16, anyone want to meet for coffee?"
As for finding the Meetings Forum, how does anyone find a particular forum (like packing, travel partners, etc.)? Read the Webmaster notice or check the directory.
In reading this very pedestrian answer, I hope you weren't looking for something more existential.
The meeting notices for the various meetings around the country use to be posted in this General Europe section of the Destinations Q & A Heading. The Webmaster created a new tab of Travel Group Meetings under the Tip & Trip Reports Heading.
Many of the meeting are on the Third Saturday of the month. The Denver folks were the first to hold the meetings. Then they started promoting and reporting on their meetings on this site. Panera was picked because it was half way between where the first two people met plus there is free wifi and the waitstaff doesn't come around asking you if you need anything. (Very European to have the table as long as you want it.)
So the third Saturday is coming up so there will be postings of this month's gatherings. If there is one near you it is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning if you like to travel and or talk about past travel or getting ideas and help about future travel.
And on that note I have to say there will NOT be a Kansas City Area travel meeting this month due to many of us going to be unavailable to attend. The next Kansas City Area gathering will be March 21st. Check the Travel Group Meetings tab under the Tips and Trip Reports Heading about this time next month for our details.
All groups are always looking for new folks to join them.
Our Sacramento group always meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month. We choose to meet at Panera Bread for the reasons listed above. When our group first started almost 5 years ago people found us by reading our monthly meeting announcements or being told about it by Private Message. Since the format of this forum changed, many people don't use their names and locations. That makes it harder to reach out to those seeking help, informing them of the meetings. Now that information about travel meetings is relegated to another area that will not be obvious to most users, it remains to be seen if new posters can find out that meetings across the country actually take place.
Nigel, You would be welcome at the Moscow-Pullman-Lewiston-Clarkston-Surrounding area travel group meeting most third Saturdays. Its at the One World Cafe and Coffee House in Moscow, Idaho. I think I can speak for the group here, and anyone else interested will be welcome too. During the summer you can also wander through the farmers market and buy trinkets and food.
Ditto Monte's invitation to N. Idaho! The closest Panera is 300 or so miles away and we are an independent group anyway, so meeting at a local place I think suited all of us. The place we meet has a small back room we reserve. Occasionally people have been in there studying and we have invited them to stay and join us. One gal actually did!
Excuse me you Idahoan's (?) but if Nigel is going to attend a meeting it will be in Sacramento. Even the Bay Area is acceptable. To me. :-) It's not too far for us to drive there. Fair warning that we are calling dibs on him.
Lol Andrea! Idaho is just like Paris.
Uh, ok no it's not but we do have fun. No Eurostar or gypsy petition girls but how about pickups and a couple of loaded log trucks? Monte's aforementioned Farmers Market in summer is fun and eclectic. Several food booths run by international students or faculty giving it a bit of flair! Egyptian Koshari anyone?
Nigel might like The Palouse.
"Lol Andrea! Idaho is just like Paris." Uh huh...sure it is... I'm sure it resembles Paris as much as Sacramento does. That's not saying much. :-)
Nigel,
Let's start a Rick Steves' European Residents Group. We could pick a different country each quarter. Rome in March, Switzerland in June, England in September, Germany in December....
Germany in December? I don't think so. I've been in Germany in December. But ... if it's too cold to do anything else, why not meet?
Why not Germany in March, or June? Rome in December?
Andrea, don't you mean the Sacramento Group meets the 3rd Saturday rather than Thursday? (Now I'm hoping to get down to Sacramento in the fall since we have a wedding in July.)
Yes Darcy, you are correct. Thanks for catching that. I'm going to correct it now.
I hope you don't come in September. We will be in Victoria. I would hate to miss you.
Ok Andrea, September is out. How about October? Then maybe we could go to the Oktoberfest at the Turn Verein!
Good of you to post this Nigel because I think new and not-very-regular visitors will not see Travel Group meeting posts now that it's been moved to the bottom of the list under "Tips and Trip Reports". Yes, it shows up under "All Topics" but unless it keeps getting bumped up posts quickly move farther and farther down until they're so far down and then on another page they're easily forgotten.
Our group, SF Bay Area, meets the 2nd Saturday of the month because many of us like to go to the Sacramento Group meeting on the 3rd Saturday of the month... a very fun group!
I just posted about our meeting next Saturday, February 14th, and I hope people will see it...
So, if you ever get out here for a visit Nigel, you'll have to stay a whole week so you can go to both the Sac meeting and ours!
Darcy, see you in Oktober!
Thanks, Nigel !
Darcy, Oktober is perfect. I'd be happy to go to Oktoberfest with you!
Sorry to highjack your thread Nige.
David. Brilliant. I couldn't have said it better. Thanks.
December in Germany is fine -- Christmas markets and all that.
If I come to the US this year, it will probably be Sacramento in Nov. or possibly late Oct. I certainly will plan my vacation around the meeting. Who wouldn't.
I too would like to have a meeting in central Europe, and Germany is perfect.
Call me odd, but I like that there is a special section just for the meetings. I think it is easier for newcomers to find it there, than buried in the General Europe section.
Ms. Jo, our October meeting will be on the 17th and November on the 21st. I hope you can manage to plan your trip around one of them. Jim and I are looking forward to seeing you again.
Very fun meeting today... Wish you could join us Nigel!
Make it September in London and/or October in Rome, and I just might show up!
