Learning/self-improvement vaction in Illinois/Iowa?
December 13, 2019 6:33 AM Subscribe
Next May I'm going to be in Illinois/Iowa for a week with not much to do (long story). Are there any cool places that run week long retreats, intensive courses, or just ways to be immersed in something new alongside interesting people for a few days that you'd recommend?
My last few vacations have involved things like a standup comedy course, a meditation retreat, and a week long libertarian festival (even though that's not my political leaning), so I'm pretty open-minded. See some of my previous Ask MeFi questions for further details :)
My last few vacations have involved things like a standup comedy course, a meditation retreat, and a week long libertarian festival (even though that's not my political leaning), so I'm pretty open-minded. See some of my previous Ask MeFi questions for further details :)
Response by poster: @Johnny Fair point! I'm half planning to travel through Des Moines and Chicago as part of my longer trip, so anything around there would be great. But honestly, I'm at such a loose end that if there's something outstanding at Shawnee forest, that's not out of the question.
posted by Junebug79 at 6:49 AM on December 13, 2019
posted by Junebug79 at 6:49 AM on December 13, 2019
Both Des Moines and the Quad Cities (specifically Rock Island) have very nice botanical gardens, with periodic events happening. Neither place's website has anything up for May yet, as far as I could find, but at least some of the activities seem to be educational. Might be worth e-mailing both in late March or so to ask what they'll be doing that week.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 7:58 AM on December 13, 2019
posted by Spathe Cadet at 7:58 AM on December 13, 2019
The International Preservation Studies Center (formerly known as the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies) in Freeport IL runs several-day, very well reputed courses on various topics in historical preservation and collections care -- you could learn gilding, or book repair, or mannikin making, or historical plaster repair.
posted by nonane at 12:22 PM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by nonane at 12:22 PM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
I know absolutely nothing about Iowa's Maharishi Vedic City except the fact that it exists, having seen it on Google Maps and gone, "Huh." You might find it a subject worth researching.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 1:00 PM on December 13, 2019
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 1:00 PM on December 13, 2019
Quad cities are fairly decent entertainment and history wise. I do believe theres a sky diving simulator in one of those towns. It's only 2 1/2 hours to Chicago from Bettandorf. (I'm assuming you'll be in the Quads because of the slash between Illinois and Iowa)
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2019
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2019
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posted by Johnny Assay at 6:40 AM on December 13, 2019